"Consider one another to provoke unto love"; that is, having got to God in grace, we must be diligent in acting toward others in grace. Paul introduces "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together" to meet the tendency there was to avoid public testimony, and to think that private faith would do in times of persecution such as these were. This was their natural tendency; and, whether it be persecution or reproach, it is the same thing. The latter is perhaps our snare. "And so much the more, as ye see the day approaching"; for judgment is surely coming. If the power of evil increases, there is the more need to cling closely to Christ. And we must not suppose that the world is improving because the Spirit is working; on the contrary, this is just the proof that judgment is nearing. The more rapidly souls are gathered in, the more reason we have for believing the coming of the Lord to be at hand. 'While the long-suffering of God is salvation, the hope should ever be a present one to the Church. It was the wicked servant who said, "My lord delayeth his coming"; yet He did delay it.
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward"; and let us remember that we shall "have need of patience"; but "Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."