Let’s say that your left knee has started giving you some pain, but… you ignore it as best you can. Over time it becomes bad enough that you have to start taking take over-the-counter pain medicine. But it is not getting any better. Furthermore, the pain in your knee is making you favor your other leg which is now starting to complain. Because of the pain, you aren’t getting any exercise, and you fear that is affecting your strength and heart. You can’t sleep; the pain is hindering your concentration – your ability to think, and your relationships. And despite your best efforts, it is interfering with your prayer life, hurting your spiritual condition. Finally you admit that you have to see a medical professional. You are told that you have one of several different problems: osteoarthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, a meniscus tear, ligament damage or even a fracture. You hear that if you don’t have the problem fixed soon, there will be additional health problems. You have already reached that conclusion.
I could change this illustration to talk about teeth problems, a bad back, plantar fasciitis or eye problems. When one part of the body suffers, other parts of the body will eventually feel the effects. And when the body is in bad shape, it is hard to keep if from affecting the spirit.
There was a body of Christ in the Macedonian city of Philippi. It was filled with brothers and sisters in Christ, each with talents given to them, through which they were to serve and glorify the Saviour. But at the ecclesiastical knee of that church, one bone had begun quarreling with its neighbor. Maybe they were just getting old and crotchety. Or perhaps some arthritis had gotten between them, with its irritating influences. Euodias and Syntyche weren’t getting along as well as they had in the past. It was getting so bad that the entire body was suffering. And even other bodies could see that the body in Philippi wasn’t as healthy as it once was.
Paul was concerned, and he was probably not the only one. “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”
There are two words in these two verses both of which have synonyms which give me our title for this evening. Paul says, “I beseech,” and “I intreat,” which are two ways of saying, “I plead with you…” This problem in Philippi was troublesome enough to bring Paul to the point of begging. I’ll use those two Biblical words as the two points of his short lesson.
“I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”
“Beseech” is one translation of a rather common and important New Testament Greek word. Ordinarily I don’t share the specific word with you, because there is little point, for either of us. But this word is different. It is “parakaleo” (par-ak-al-eh’-o). Most of the time it is translated: “beseech,” “entreat,” and “desire.” Sometimes it is rendered: “pray,” and I can see the relationship – “I pray that you two be of the same mind.” Beside these translations, the second most common rendition of the word is “comfort.” “Paraklesis” is “comfort” and “paraklaletos” is “comforter.” At the root of all these words is the idea of “coming along side” in a comforting fashion. The Holy Spirit is the Christian’s comforter, because He often puts His spiritual arm around us and hugs. Although He is always there, He “comes” to us in the sense of sharing the warmth of His blessing with us.
In effect what Paul was telling these two ladies, even in the word “beseech,” was “come back to each other.” Shake hands; exchange hugs. He doesn’t say anything at this point about putting away their differences. In fact, the differences must have been minor, because he never actually mentions the specific problem. This was simply – “get together; share a cup of tea; spend some time in prayer and worship.”
“I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same MIND in the Lord.” Usually when 21st century Christians hear the word “mind,” – “be of the same mind,” they think of thinking. We think – “You ladies need to EXAMINE the issues dividing you; perhaps you need to compromise.” While that is not an unbiblical interpretation, the word is more related to the heart than the head.
I pointed out last week that I’m constantly quoting Colossians 3; well I’ll do it again. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on this above, not on thing on the earth.” “Set your affection” is the same Greek word as “be of the same mind,” and affection is a matter of the heart. The Lord Jesus uses the same word where it is translated “savourest” – like “savoring a good meal.” And in Roman 8 we read: “They that are after the flesh do MIND the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Unsaved people relish, appreciate and enjoy the things of the flesh – titillating things, tempting things. But those who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit find their affections and joys in the things of the Spirit.
Perhaps clarifying his beseeching, Paul says, “be of the same mind in the Lord.” To what is he referring when he says “in the Lord?” Of course, it is to the Lord Jesus Christ, but can we be more specific? It could be Paul was thinking about mutual love for the doctrines of Christ, but this just doesn’t feel like a doctrinal issue. If it was, wouldn’t he have mentioned the doctrine? It could be, “Since you are both sisters in Christ how is it you don’t have the same heart and mind as Christ?” Some commentators simply say, “Agree with the Lord,” or “Agree with each other in the Lord.”
But isn’t “in the Lord,” defined in the context – chapter 2? “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Were these ladies quarreling over social preeminence? Was each considering herself above the other? “Look not every man (or woman) on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christlikeness – having the mind of Christ – includes humility and obedience to the will of God. Christlike Christians put the Lord before their own agenda, even if it means death, as it did the Lord Jesus.
How many Baptist churches have split over questions which have nothing to do with doctrine or ministry? How many churches have been divided because two ladies grew apart for one reason or another? We may joke about splits over the color of the carpet or the curtains, but I have heard of such things. “If we will have pot luck lunches every Sunday; it’ll be over my dead body.” I don’t think that’s what Paul meant by “obedient unto death.” How about what happens when there are large gifts given to the church? What should we do with that extra money? How many Baptists are like Judas as revealed in John 12? “Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” Someone says, “I don’t think we should send this money to the missionary, when our parking lot needs to be paved.” Another says, “We shouldn’t increase our missionary support until we increase the support of the pastor.” “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they submit their hearts and minds to the Lord, and in a surrendered fashion seek the Lord’s leadership, forgoing their own opinions.”
Paul’s second plea was to someone he calls his “true yokefellow.”
“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women…and help Clement also…” I wonder if Clement was the husband of one of the women mentioned? He may have been squeezed between his wife and his mother on whether the church should have real or artificial plants in the auditorium. Poor Clement may have needed prayer and some Christian support. By the way, some people claim to see his man in some famous historical figure, like Clement of Rome, but there is no proof of that.
The word “intreat” is different than “beseech,” but the basic intent is the same. “Step up there true yokefellow and help those ladies to resolve their differences. And Clement needs your assistance as well. You know what the problem is.”
You and I don’t know who Clement, nor do we know who was this true yokefellow. There are a variety of guesses, but that’s all they are. Some say that he was Timothy and others suggest Silas; both of whom had a history with that church. But they also both moved on with Paul to other cities and other ministries. Perhaps, there is a blessing in the fact that this man is unnamed. Today’s “true yokefellows” are not always well-known in this world, but certainly God knows who they are.
The Lord Jesus spoke about being yoked, but I think He had another idea in mind. Christ said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” That came after the words: “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Wasn’t the Lord linking this yoke to salvation?
I think Paul was talking about the yoke which binds together all the ministers and evangelists of the Lord. Not the local ministerial association, which links the Methodist, Baptist and Pentecostal ministers. Rather it is that bond in Christ which brings together Paul with Scott Silvers, Brandon Harroll and Justin White. But those brethren fellowship with dozens of other men of whom I know very little or I have never met. We will not know of whom Paul spoke until we sit around the campfire in Heaven talking about such things. And then there are all those other unnamed servants of God of whom Paul speaks – “fellow-labourers.”
Assuming “those women which laboured with Paul in the gospel” were Euodias and Syntyche, please notice that they were good and godly people. They were as diligent as the male evangelists in sharing the gospel with other ladies and the children, perhaps even with certain men. They prayed as much for Paul as the men who gathered together on Saturday morning. Their hearts were not earth-bound. They were thinking of heaven and eternity. They were aware that their lives – and the lives of the people around them – were temporary. But even good, well-intentioned people can get side-tracked from time to time.
“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women…” Help them to see, once again, that there are the more important things than their petty quarrels. Help them to get back to the basics and the matters of eternal consequence. Help them to see that their lack of agreement is hurting their labor in the gospel. Help them to understand that their prayers are being hindered by their bickering. Matthew 18:19 – “Again I say unto you, that if two or you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”
Conclusion:
Going back to our opening illustration: When there is an injury, and two parts of the body aren’t getting along properly, the whole body suffers. And sometimes, all that is necessary is for the feuding parts to kiss and make up.
“I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same MIND in the Lord.”