Think On These Things

[Phil 4:7-9]

Phil 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

The apostle Paul uses many lists as he teaches. Pulling this verse out by itself, for study, is difficult because it is a list within a list. Anyway, we know the Holy Spirit wants to bless us with the Word!

Paul is about to wrap things up here with one of his lists. It’s interesting that as Paul uses “whatsoever” to introduce each item in this list. And in the Greek this word “whatsoever” is plural, which suggests that several things could be included under each heading.

Phil 4:8 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Phil 4:8 (NASB) …let your mind dwell on these things.

Dwell: Present imperative verb; is a commitment to along-term way of doing something. A command to keep on doing an action as one’s general habit or life style.

Believers must dwell, on these (8 categories) of things. It must be a part of a Bible believer’s lifestyle to think on these things. Keeping our thoughts in these areas is very important to the believer. In fact, thinking on these things is a prerequisite for experiencing the peace of God and having freedom from anxiety, we see this in (v.9):

Phil 4:9 (NASB) The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

The presence of the God of peace is with you when your thought life is right with God.

The consequence of dwelling on unholy things of the world is that joy, nearness and peace of God are lost and our hearts are no longer guarded, verse 7 tells us this.

Phil 4:7 (NASB) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

When you allow yourself to think ugly thoughts, you have let your guard down given the enemy access to your mind. Then temptation comes and sin arises.

True: Not concealing, but true, truly think and speak the truth.

Honest: Venerable, honorable, sometimes the Bible calls this grave.

Just: is equitable in character or actions, think innocent, holy or right.

Pure: is clean, innocent, modest, chaste.

Lovely: Think friendly thoughts towards others.

Good Report: Something or someone well spoken of, reputable.

Virtue: Excellence.

Praise: Commendable thoughts, praise.

Proclamation or Declaration:

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, right, pure, lovely and whatever is a good report; if there is anything good in it, these are the things I am determined to think about all the time.

Do what the Bible says by following Paul’s advice.

Phil 4:9 (NASB) The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Practice: (or Do in KJV) Not only were the Philippian believers to think upon whatsoever was true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (Phil. 4:8), but they were also to “put into practice” the things they had learned.

Proclamation or Declaration:

I govern my conduct on things which I have learned and received from the Word of God, and His peace is always with me.

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond