Survey of the Letters of Paul:  1 Timothy 5:25

Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

Verses 24-25 are a separate section in this chapter.
 
1 Timothy 5:24-25
24 Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
 
THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF ULTIMATE CONCEALMENT
1 Timothy 5:24–5
 
Some men’s sins are plain for all to see, and lead the way to judgment; the sins of others will duly catch up on them. Even so, there are good deeds which are plain for all to see, and there are things of a very different quality which cannot be hidden.
 
THIS saying tells us to leave things to God and be content. There are obvious sinners, whose sins are clearly leading to their disaster and their punishment; and there are secret sinners who, behind a façade of blameless virtue, live a life that is in essence evil and ugly. What other people cannot see, God does. As the thirteenth-century theologian Thomas Aquinas said, ‘Man sees the deed, but God sees the intention.’ There is no escape from the ultimate confrontation with the God who sees and knows everything.
 
There are some whose good deeds are plain for all to see, and who have already won the praise and thanks and congratulations of others. There are some whose good deeds have never been noticed, never appreciated, never thanked, never praised, never valued as they ought to have been. They need not feel either disappointed or embittered. God knows the good deed also, and he will repay, for he is never in anyone’s debt.
 
Here, we are told that we must neither grow angry at the apparent escape of some people nor grow embittered at the apparent thanklessness of others, but that we must be content to leave all things to the ultimate judgment of God. ~Barclay Commentaries
 
 Now to the commentaries:
 
 The verse is in two phrases:
 
 1] Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand.
 2] And they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
 
 Before we get into these two phrases, let us read the Matthew Henry commentary:
 
 There are secret, and there are open sins: some men's sins are open before-hand, and going before unto judgment; some they follow after. God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make known the counsels of all hearts. Looking forward to the judgment-day, let us all attend to our proper offices, whether in higher or lower stations, studying that the name and doctrine of God may never be blasphemed on our account. ~Matthew Henry Concise commentary.
 
 1] Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand.
 
 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand - The same rule applies to good works. Some get credit for more by far than they deserve, while the good deeds of others will not be fully revealed until judgment. Then all will be estimated aright. ~People's New Testament
 
 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand - The character of some people is clear, and accurately understood. There can be no doubt, from their works, that they are good people. We need not wait for the day of judgment to determine that, but may treat them here as good men, and introduce them to offices which only good men can fill. The idea here is that their character may be so certain and undoubted that there need be no hesitation in setting them apart to the office of the ministry. ~Barnes Notes
 
 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand - Though those who are very holy and very useful in the Church cannot be unknown, yet there are others not less holy who need to be brought forward; who do much good in private; and their character and
 good works are not fully known till after diligent inquiry. These are they who do not let their left hand know what their right doeth. ~Adam Clarke
 
 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand - The characters of some men, on the other hand, are so fair and bright; and it is so clear a point, that they have received the grace of God in truth; and have a rich furniture for the ministry; and are sound in the doctrine of faith; and are men of such godly lives and conversations, that they prevent any formal inquiry, examination, and judgment; and there can be no difficulty in admitting them at once: and therefore the above rule is not designed for such persons, but to guard against those with whom things do not appear so very clear and manifest: ~John Gill
 
 2] And they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
 
 And they that are otherwise cannot be hid - That is, they cannot be ultimately concealed or misunderstood. There are arrangements in the divine government for bringing out the character of every man so that it may be clearly understood. The expression here refers to good men. The idea is, that there are some good men whose character is known to all. Their deeds spread a glory around them, so that no one can mistake what they are. They correspond, in respect to the publicity of their character with those mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:24, whose “sins are open beforehand;” for the good deeds of the one are as manifest as the sins of the other. But there are those who are “otherwise.” They are modest, retiring, unobtrusive, unknown. They may live in obscurity; may have slender means for doing good; may be constitutionally so diffident [dif-i-duh nt] [lacking confidence in one's own ability, worth, or fitness; timid; shy]. that they never appear on the stage of public action. What they do is concealed from the world. These correspond in respect to publicity with those mentioned in 1 Timothy 5:24, “whose deeds follow after them.” Yet, says the apostle, these cannot always be hid. There are arrangements for developing every man’s character, and it will be ultimately known what he is. The connection here, seems to be this. As Timothy 1 Timothy 5:24 was to be on his guard in introducing men into the ministry, against those whose character for evil was not developed, but who might be concealing their plans and practicing secret sins, so he was to endeavor to search out the modest, the unobtrusive, and those who, though now unknown, were among the excellent of the earth, and bring them forward to a station of usefulness where their virtues might shine on the world. ~Barnes Notes
 
 And they that are otherwise cannot be hid - if they are men of bad principles or practices, they will be discovered in time; for there is nothing hid that shall not be revealed; time will make all things manifest; their errors and sins will break out, and be exposed: and therefore it is right to wait a while, and not to be quick in the reception of them into the Gospel ministry; for otherwise, much mischief may be done to the souls of men, and much dishonour brought on the ways and doctrines of Christ. ~John Gill
 
 And they that are otherwise cannot be hid - Not so manifest. Cannot be long hid - From thy knowledge. On this account, also, be not hasty in laying on of hands. ~John Wesley Explanatory Notes
 
 I now want to look at a number of quotes that speak to good and bad character, integrity and principle.
 
 I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day. ~Abraham Lincoln
 
 Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none. ~William Shakespeare
 
 Wisdom is knowing what to do next; virtue is doing it.
 
 Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught.
 
 Character is much easier kept than recovered.
 
 There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience.
 
 Your life may be the only Bible some people read.
 
 The only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down their friends, side-stepping responsibility, and pushing their luck!
 
 Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.
 
 Laws control the lesser man. Right conduct controls the greater one.
 
 A man has to live with himself, and he should see to it that he always has good company.
 
 Character is doing the right thing even when it costs more than you want to pay.
 
 Not being able to govern events, I govern myself.
 
 Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip. ~Will Rogers
 
 The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.
 
 Now some parting scriptures from the Bible:
 
 For: Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand:
 
 1 Timothy 3:7 [see lesson]
 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
 
 Matthew 5:16
 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
 
 Acts 9:36 ...an example of seeing good character
 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
 
 Acts 22:12
 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,
 
 Philippians 1:8-11
 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;
 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
 
 For: And they that are otherwise cannot be hid:
 
 Psalm 37:1-6
 1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
 2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
 5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
 
 Matthew 6:3-6
 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
 5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
 
 Luke 11:33
 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.

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