A GREAT HOUSE, VESSELS OF GOLD, SILVER AND WOOD

The apostle uses the illustration of a large house. This could be any large house, perhaps in Ephesus in the day when Paul wrote this epistle to Timothy and which contained vessels of gold and silver as well as wood and earth.

The purpose of this illustration is to focus attention on ves­sels unto honour. In contrast, there are the vessels which would remain in the kitchen and never be seen by the master or used in the preparation of the food or at his table. If we are to be like the former vessels unto honour, then we will need, by God’s grace, to purge ourselves from the profane and vain babblings, v. 16, the false teaching and teachers, vv. 17, 18, and the iniquity, v. 19. Only then we will be sanctified and pre­pared for every good work.

What makes a vessel useful, and thus honourable, in the eyes of God is its purity and this is true of any vessel. Just as much as there are certain bowls and plates that we use more than others, so some believers are more sanctified and useful to the Lord than others. They have availed themselves of the provision of cleansing promised by the Lord for, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’, 1 John 1. 9. Being usable is not about avoiding other vessels but rather avoiding the source of defilement, as described above. The Lord wants to use His people and they need to be fit for every good work, including those appropriate for the workplace, the school, or even in the home. This will happen only as we keep ourselves sanctified by His grace and power and as we set ourselves apart to Him, as vessels unto honour.

What higher purpose is there for the believer than to be used by the Master? The desire of each one of us should be to be found ‘meet for the Master’s use and prepared unto every good work’, v. 21. Whilst in these verses the emphasis may be upon doctrinal purity primarily, it is clear from the verses that follow that he also stresses the need for moral purity. What an important truth for today!