2 Thessalonians 3:6

“Now we command you, brethren, &c.] The apostle is now come to the main thing itself he has in view in this part of the epistle, which is to encourage a regard to the discipline of God's house; and to exhort this church to excommunicate, or remove from communion, all disorderly persons; and those who are to do this he points out, and calls upon, and even commands; and these are the fraternity, the “brethren”, the society of believers, all the members of the church; for to them to whom belongs the power of receiving members, to them only belongs the power of excluding offenders: the executive power lies in the hands of the elders or pastors of churches; they are the persons by whom the church…”

“we command you--Hereby he puts to a particular test their obedience in general to his commands, which obedience he had recognized in Th2 3:4. withdraw--literally, "to furl the sails"; as we say, to steer clear of (compare Th2 3:14). Some had given up labor as though the Lord's day was immediately coming. He had enjoined mild censure of such in Th1 5:14, "Warn . . . the unruly"; but now that the mischief had become more confirmed, he enjoins stricter discipline, namely, withdrawal from their company (compare Co1 5:11; Jo2 1:10-11): not a formal sentence of excommunication, such as was subsequently passed on more heinous offenders (as in Co1 5:5; Ti1 1:20). He says "brother," that is,…”

“Now we command you, brethren - The apostle now 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 turns to an important subject - the proper method of treating those who were idle and disorderly in the church. In the previous Epistle he had adverted to this subject, but in the mild language of exhortation. When he wrote that Epistle he was aware that there were some among them who were disposed to be idle, and he had tenderly exhorted them “to be quiet, and to mind their own business, and to work with their own hands;” 1 Thessalonians 4:11. But it seems the exhortation, and the example of Paul himself when there 1 Thessalonians 2:9, had not been effectual in inducing them to be industrious. It became, therefore,…”

“That walketh disorderly - Particularly by not working. Not according to the tradition he received of us - The admonition we gave, both by word of mouth, and in our former epistle. 2 Thessalonians 3:10”

“3:6-15 In his previous letter, Paul had addressed the problem of lazy members of the church who refused to work (1 Thes 4:11-12; 5:14). Some had ignored his message and example, so he gives additional instruction for dealing with these members. 3:6 Paul’s command is given by the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thes 4:2). • Church members should shun Christians who live idle lives (see 2 Thes 3:7, 11-13; 1 Thes 5:14). To stay away from the lazy would make a strong impression on them (Matt 18:17; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 5:9-13), promoting shame (2 Thes 3:14) and repentance, but stopping short of excommunication (3:15).”

“in the: Co1 5:4; Co2 2:10; Eph 4:17; Col 3:17; Th1 4:1; Ti1 5:21, Ti1 6:13, Ti1 6:14; Ti2 4:1 that ye: Th2 3:14, Th2 3:15; Mat 18:17; Rom 16:17; Co1 5:11-13; Ti1 6:5; Ti2 3:5; Heb 12:15; Heb 12:16; Jo3 1:10, Jo3 1:11 walketh: Th2 3:7, Th2 3:11; Th1 4:11, Th1 5:14 after: Th2 3:10, Th2 3:14, Th2 2:15 2 Thessalonians 3:7”