William Kelly

The too frequent plunging into service before learning the Lord's mind, as shown in Phil. 2, is what the Spirit warns against here, for it is sure to lead to the activity of the flesh and not of the Spirit. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord." This cuts at the root of the whole matter. It is not, Run into service in order to get joy, but, "rejoice in the Lord." And unless there is joy in Him, service is most dangerous. "To write the same things to you to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe." He had already at the beginning said much about "rejoicing"; he does so again at the end. But the apostle did not mind repeating his words to impress them the more upon them.