1 Thessalonians 2:13–16 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

Paul expresses his gratitude that the believers in Thessalonica received God’s Word for what is was: God’s Word. The believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promises in the Old Testament, the Messiah who came through and to the Jews so that He could be the Savior of all people.

He then mentions that mistreatment of the followers of Jesus by the Jews because they did not believe He was the promised Messiah. They did everything in their power to keep anyone from listening to Him or following Him. They thought they were done with Jesus when they put Him to death, but they had no idea what was about to happen. Jesus conquered death and told His disciples to tell everyone else what He had done for the world. So that is what they did.

Paul issues a stinging indictment for those who would not put their faith in Jesus:

In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

Some think this is too harsh. But God wants unbelievers to believe. He does not want anyone to remain in their sins and be under His wrath. But that is the reality for those who do not put their faith and confidence in the Son of God who came into the world to save everyone. Jesus Himself spoke of this:

John 3:16–18 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

There is no reason for anyone to remain under God’s wrath. Jesus took care of that. Let us pray that more people will take Him up on His offer of forgiveness and life.