and to esteem them exceeding highly in love for their work's sake. [Paul here admonishes the church as to how it shall treat its elders. He bids the church recognize their leadership, respect them, and hold them in affection because of the blessed and divine work which they were discharging, the work being that enjoined by the third term of the great commission; viz.: admonishing or teaching the church to observe all things whatsoever Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:20). Such teaching is an essential duty of an elder (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:24; Titus 1:9). This section is closely connected with the last verse of the preceding one, the instruction of the elders being the chief means of effecting the edification there mentioned.] Be at peace among yourselves. [Mark 9:50. Contempt for the instruction and authority of the elders is the first step toward that strife and faction which is here reproved.]

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Old Testament