This section of Chapter 2 has two verses:
2 Timothy 2:20-21
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels
of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of
earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he
shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet
for the master's use, and prepared unto every good
work.
We will begin with the Barclay's commentary as
always.
VESSELS OF HONOUR AND OF DISHONOUR
2 Timothy 2:20–1
…paraphrased
In any great house, there are not only gold and
silver vessels; there are also vessels of wood and
earthenware. And some are put to a noble use and
some to an ignoble use. If anyone purifies himself
from these things, he will be a vessel fit to be put
to a noble use, ready for any good work.
THE connection between this passage and the one
which immediately precedes it is very practical.
Paul had just given a great and high definition of
the Church as consisting of those who belong to God
and are on the way to righteousness. The obvious
response is: how do you explain the existence of the
chattering heretics in the Church? How do you
explain the existence of Hymenaeus and Philetus?
Paul’s reply is that in any great house there are
all kinds of utensils; there are things of precious
metal and things of base metal; there are things
which have a dishonourable use and things which have
an honorable use. It must be so in the Church. As
long as it is an earthly institution, it must be a
mixture. As long as it consists of men and women, it
must remain a cross-section of humanity. Just as it
takes all kinds of people to make a world, so it
takes all kinds of people to make the Church.
That is a practical truth which Jesus had stated
long before, in the parable of the wheat and the
tares (Matthew 13:24–30, 13:36–43). The point of
that parable is that the wheat and the tares grow
together, and, in the early stages, are so like each
other that it is impossible to separate them. He
stated it again in the parable of the dragnet
(Matthew 13:47–8). The dragnet gathered of every
kind. In both parables, Jesus teaches that the
Church is necessarily a mixture and that human
judgment must be suspended, but that God’s judgment
will in the end make the necessary separations.
Those who criticize the Church because there are
imperfect people in it are criticizing it because it
is composed of men and women. It is not given to us
to judge; judgment belongs to God.
But it is the duty of Christians to keep themselves
free from polluting influences. And if they do that,
their reward is not special honour and special
privilege but special service. Here is the very
essence of the Christian faith. A really good person
does not regard goodness as offering an entitlement
to special honour; that person’s one desire will be
to have more and more work to do, for that work will
be the greatest privilege. The last thing a good
person will do will be to seek to stand aloof from
others. On the contrary, that person will seek to be
among them, at their worst, serving God by serving
them. The good person’s glory will not be in
exemption from service; it will be in still more
demanding service. No Christian should ever think of
being fit for honour but always as becoming fit for
service. ~Barclay's commentaryNow to the other commentaries. We will begin with
the general and go to the specific.
From the Matthew Henry Main for verse 20:
Another thing that may comfort us is that though
there are some whose faith is overthrown, yet there
are others who keep their integrity, and hold it
fast (2 Timothy 2:20): In a great house there are
not only vessels of gold, etc. The church of Christ
is a great house, a well-furnished house: now some
of the furniture of this house is of great value, as
the plate in a house; some of small value, and put
to mean uses, as the vessels of wood and earth; so
it is in the church of God. There are some
professors of religion that are like the vessels of
wood and earth, they are vessels of dishonour. But
at the same time all are not vessels of dishonour;
there are vessels of gold and silver, vessels of
honour, that are sanctified and meet for the
Master's use. When we are discouraged by the badness
of some, we must encourage ourselves by the
consideration of the goodness of others. Now we
should see to it that we be vessels of honour: we
must purge ourselves from these corrupt opinions,
that we may be sanctified for our Master's use.
Observe,
1. In the church there are some vessels of honour
and some of dishonour; there are some vessels of
mercy and other vessels of wrath, Romans 9:22-23.
Some dishonour the church by their corrupt opinions
and wicked lives; and others honour and credit it by
their exemplary conversation.
Quoted verse:
Romans 9:22-23
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to
make his power known, endured with much
longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to
destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his
glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore
prepared unto glory,
Let us look at part of the commentary on Romans
9:22 so we can understand the reference to it.
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What
if God ... - If God does what the
apostle supposes, what then? Is it not
right? This is the second point in the
answer to the objection in Romans 9:19.
Quoted verse:
Romans 9:19
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet
find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
The answer has respect to the “two classes”
of people which actually exist on the earth
- the righteous and the wicked. And the
question is, whether “in regard to these two
classes God does in fact do wrong?” If he
does not, then the doctrine of the apostle
is established, and the objection is not
valid. It is assumed here, as it must be,
that the world is “in fact” divided into two
classes - saints and sinners. The apostle
considers the case of sinners in Romans
9:22. |
Now back to the points for our
verse tonight from the Matthew Henry Main:
2. A man must purge himself from these [corrupt
opinions, false doctrines and wicked lives]
before he can be a vessel of honour, or meet for his
Master's use.
3. Every vessel must be fit for its Master's use;
every one in the church whom God approves must be
devoted to his Master's service and meet for his
use.
4. Sanctification in the heart is our preparation
for every good work. The tree must be made good, and
then the fruit will be good.
~Matthew Henry Main
Now to the Matthew Henry Concise which covers verses
14-24
Those disposed to strive, commonly strive about
matters of small moment. But strifes of words
destroy the things of God. The apostle mentions some
who erred. They did not deny the resurrection, but
they corrupted that true doctrine. Yet nothing can
be so foolish or erroneous, but it will overturn the
temporary faith of some professors. This foundation
has two writings on it. One speaks our comfort. None
can overthrow the faith of any whom God hath chosen.
The other speaks our duty. Those who would have the
comfort of the privilege, must make conscience of
the duty Christ gave himself for us, that he might
redeem us from all iniquity, Titus 2:14. The church
of Christ is like a dwelling: some furniture is of
great value; some of smaller value, and put to
meaner uses. Some professors of religion are like
vessels of wood and earth. When the vessels of
dishonour are cast out to be destroyed, the others
will be filled with all the fullness of God. We must
see to it that we are holy vessels. Everyone in the
church whom God approves, will be devoted to his
Master's service, and thus fitted for his use.
~Matthew Henry Concise
Here is something from the Biblical Illustrator
Holiness and service
Through the whole of Scripture we find that whatever
God sanctifies is to be used in the service of His
holiness. Holiness and selfishness, holiness and
inactivity, holiness and sloth, holiness and
helplessness, are utterly irreconcilable. Whatever
we read of as holy was taken into the service of the
holiness of God. Holiness is essential to effectual
service. In the Old Testament we see degrees of
holiness, not only in the holy places, but as much
in the holy persons. In the nation, the Levites, the
priests and then the High Priest, advance from step
to step; as in each succeeding stage the circle
narrows, and the service is more direct and entire,
so the holiness required is higher and more
distinct. It is even so in this more spiritual
dispensation; the more of holiness, the greater the
fitness for service; the more there is of true
holiness the more there is of God, and the more true
and deep is the entrance He has had into the soul.
The hold He has on the soul to use it in His service
is more complete. ~Biblical Illustrator
Quoted verse:
Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us
from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Now to the specific commentaries. Let us read verse
21 again:
2 Timothy 2:21
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he
shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet
for the master's use, and prepared unto every good
work.
Only one commentary I found broke the verse out in
parts and that was the John Gill.
1] If a man therefore purge himself from these.
2] He shall be a vessel unto honour.
3] Sanctified.
4] And meet for the master's use
5] And prepared unto every good work
1] If a man therefore purge
himself from these.
If a man therefore purge himself from these - That
is, as Bengel puts it, ‘if any one shall by
purifying himself have gone out of their number.’
The compound verb ‘purge out’ only occurs besides in
1 Corinthians 5:7 where the preposition gives the
force ‘purge out from your houses the old leaven.’
Wordsworth forcibly notes here; ‘a man may at one
time of his life be numbered among vessels to
dishonour, and yet may become a vessel to honour, by
cleansing himself out from their number and
condition. Mark this assertion of Free Will.’ And
again, ‘a Christian man may not go out of the great
house which is the Visible Church of God: he cannot
separate himself wholly from sinners, but he must
cleanse himself from them as sinners; that is, he
must not communicate with them in their sins.’
~Cambridge
Quoted verse:
1 Corinthians 5:7
Purge out therefore the old leaven,
that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For
even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
If a man therefore purge himself from these - He
that takes heed to his ways and to his doctrines,
and walks with God, will separate himself, not only
from all false doctrine, but from all wicked men,
and thus be sanctified and proper to be employed by
the Master in every good word and work. The apostle
has not made the application of these different
similes, and it is very difficult to tell what he
means. ~Adam Clarke
If a man therefore purge himself from these - That
is, if a man clears himself, and keeps himself clear
from such men as Hymenaeus and Philetus, who are
comparable to wooden and earthen vessels, and are
dishonourable ones; if he shuns their defiling
company, and polluting principles; if he keeps clear
of their heresies, and is not carried away with the
errors of these wicked men, and is not drawn aside
by them into immoral practices, but stands fast in
the faith, and departs from iniquity: ~John Gill
If a man therefore purge himself from these - If a
man wishes to be a noble vessel, of gold, for
honorable uses in the Lord's house, let him cleanse
himself from earthly lusts. ~People's New
Testament
If a man purge himself from these - Vessels of
dishonour, so as to have no fellowship with them.
~John Wesley Explanatory Notes
The next commentary is from the Pulpit Commentary.
THE DUTY OF SEPARATION FROM THE VESSELS OF
DISHONOUR. "If a man therefore purge himself
from these, he shall he a vessel unto honour,
sanctified, meet for the Master’s use, prepared unto
every good work." The thought of separation from the
false teachers was, no doubt, uppermost in the
apostle’s mind, but it has a wider scope.
1. It is our duty to withdraw from error. This
withdrawal may be effected in several ways. The
apostle says to Timothy, "From such withdraw
thyself" (1 Timothy 6:5); he says to Titus, "A man
that is a heretic avoid" (Titus 3:10). The
separation may take place by the heretic being cast
out of communion; or avoided in the intercourse of
life; or, in the last resort, the believer may
withdraw himself from the society which fails to
cast him out. Or the believer may be called upon to
"purge himself"—terms which seem to imply personal
defilement in a separate walk of holiness and
purity. He must purge himself from heresy and
impurity.
2. The right dedication and destination of the
vessel for honour.
(1) He will become "sanctified," in its double sense
consecrated to God and walking in the purity of a
separated life.
(2) He will be serviceable to the Master of the
house in all the various ministries to which he may
be called.
(3) He will be prepared unto every good work. Unlike
the unwise and the evil man, who is to all good
works reprobate, he is, as created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, enabled to run in the way of the
Lord’s commandments. ~The Pulpit Commentary
Quoted verses:
1 Timothy 6:5 [see
Lesson]
Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and
destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is
godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Titus 3:10
A man that is an heretick after the first and second
admonition reject;
2] He shall be a vessel unto
honour.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he
shall be a vessel unto honour - If a man “cleanse”
or “purify” himself; compare John 15:2. The word
“these” refers, here, to the persons represented by
the vessels of wood and of earth - the vessels made
to dishonor, as mentioned in the previous verse 2
Timothy 2:20. The idea is, that if one would
preserve himself from the corrupting influence of
such men, he would be fitted to be a vessel of
honor, or to be employed in the most useful and
honorable service in the cause of his Master. On the
word “vessel,” see Acts 9:15. ~Barnes Notes
Quoted verses:
John 15:2
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh
away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he
purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
2 Timothy 2:20 [see
Lesson]
But in a great house there are not only vessels of
gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth;
and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
Acts 9:15 ...Jesus speaking of Paul
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a
chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
He shall be a vessel unto honour - he will be made
manifest, and appear to be a vessel chosen to
honour; and will be an honourable member of the
church here, and will be honoured by Christ
hereafter: ~John Gill
3] Sanctified.
Sanctified - he will appear to be one that is set
apart by God the Father, and whose sins are purged
away by the blood of Christ, and who is sanctified
internally by the Spirit of God; for external
holiness springs from internal holiness, and is, an
evidence of it: ~John Gill
4] And meet for the master's use.
And meet for the master’s use - Suitable to be
employed by the Lord Jesus in promoting his work on
earth. ~Barnes Notes
And meet for the master's use - the use and service
of Christ, who is the master of the house; either
for the ministry of the word, the administration of
ordinances, or for some service or another, which he
calls him to, and employs him in. ~John Gill
5] And prepared unto every good
work.
And prepared unto every good work - which an
unregenerate man is not; he is to every good work
reprobate; he is not capable of performing good
works; he is not prepared for them, nor ready at
them; but a true believer, one that is regenerated,
and sanctified by the Spirit of God, he is created
in Christ Jesus unto good works; and has in the
performing of them right principles, aims, and ends,
as well as a supply of grace, by which he is enabled
to do them. ~John Gill
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