Lesson ▪ 1995
Tags: Thanksgiving; Gratitude
Excerpted from Thanksgiving in the New Testament: An Inductive Study

In a very real sense all the preceding material has been leadinge up to this final section. The previous sections have laid the conceptual framework upon which the remaining material can be hung. By now, four things should be clear: first, what is meant by thanksgiving in the New Testament; second, that the practice of gratitude is the Christian’s duty; third, that there are numerous examples of it in the New Testament; and, fourth, that thankfulness is an expression of one’s beliefs about life. The task at hand is to answer various practical questions concerning thanksgiving—as to what we are to be thankful for, as to who we are to be thankful to, as to how we are to go about being thankful.

A. Gratitude ... For What?

1 . All Things

The question is, “What is there to be thankful for?” The Bible’s answer is, “Everything!” Most Bible interpreters readily admit that the Bible commands gratitude in every situation of life; this is indeed true.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Th 5.18).

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Col 3.17).

The Bible, however, goes much further. Not only are Christians instructed to thank God in everything, but for “all things.”

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5.20).

This goes against the tendencies of human nature, but is truly congruent with a biblical world view. If one believes that God is indeed in control of every circumstance of his life, and that he operates in complete wisdom and goodness, then he can truly be thankful for all things.

2. Material Blessings

While the New Testament does command gratitude in and for all things, it does give some specific ideas of things for which one ought to be thankful. Material blessings are certainly worthy of thanksgiving. References are made to gratitude for food and financial gifts.

“Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving” (1 Tim 4.3-4).

“Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God” (2 Cor 9.11-12).

3. Circumstances

The New Testament also gives examples of people expressing gratitude to God for circumstances in which they saw his hand. Paul was thankful that, in God’s providence, he had not baptized many members of the Corinthian church.

“I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name” (1 Cor 1.14-15).

He was also grateful when he met some fellow believers in an unfamiliar place and situation.

“And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and The Three Taverns: whom when Paul saw, he thanked God, and took courage” (Acts 28.15).

4. Other People

One of the most common subjects of gratitude in the New Testament is other people. It was common to rejoice with others for the blessings in their lives. Paul frequently began his epistles by thanking God for what had happened in the lives of those to whom he wrote.

“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints” (Col 1.3-4).

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world” (Rom 1.8).

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Rom 6.17).

“I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints” (Phlm 4-5).

5. Spiritual Realities

Finally, it is biblically valid to thank God for spiritual realities, i.e., for things that are true in the spiritual realm. Paul expressed gratitude for spiritual victory.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15.57).

Jesus thanked his Father for hearing his prayer.

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me” (Jn 11.41).

Paul thankfully acknowledged his divine commission for ministry.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Tim 1.12).

And he referred to his inability to thank God enough for the joy of seeing others persist in the faith.

“Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: for now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God[?]” (1 Th 3.7-9).

It makes perfect sense that the New Testament abounds in gratitude for spiritual realities. The New Testament Christians believed in an invisible spiritual realm; their citizenship was in heaven. Therefore, it was most natural for them to interpret the events of life in spiritual terms, and to thank God for his blessings in the spiritual realm.

B. Gratitude ... To Whom?

A second question that must be asked in reference to the practice of gratitude is, “To whom should gratitude be expressed?” The New Testament sets several precedents that are very helpful in answering this question.

1. To God

It is obvious, by an overwhelming mountain of evidence, that gratitude is to be expressed to God. However, this general statement does not suffice, for it does not tell which members of the Trinity are to be addressed. Indeed, for the most part, the New Testament does not specify any member, but simply refers to thanking “God” or “the Lord.” Apparently, in these cases, the entire Trinity is in view.

“And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Lk 2.38).

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you” (Rom 6.17).

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor 9.15).

a. God the Father

A number of references are made to thanking God the Father. This is particularly true of Jesus’ giving of thanks.

“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Mt 11.25).

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me” (Jn 11.41).

“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you” (Col 1.3).

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col 1.12).

b. God the Son

Thanksgiving is only explicitly addressed to Jesus once in the New Testament, excepting in the records of his earthly ministry.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Tim 1.12).

c. God the Holy Spirit

The New Testament contains no precedent for addressing the Holy Spirit in thanksgiving.

2. To Human Servants

There is (meager) biblical precedent for thanking fellow men and women who have done deeds of service. The New Testament lists a single instance, in which Paul and the churches of the Gentiles thanked Priscilla and Aquila for their selfless service.

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles” (Rom 16.3-4).

C. Gratitude … How?

A final question remains to be answered: how is gratitude to be expressed? This is a question that could be answered in a myriad of ways. Here are offered some answers that have biblical approval; they are not intended to exhaust the possible correct answers.

1. Joyfully

Joy is, at the same time, a motive for thanksgiving and the attitude in which it should be expressed. Because thanksgiving is in reality a confession of God’s goodness, it cannot but be a joyful activity.

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight” (Lk 10.21).

“For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God[?]” (1 Th 3.9).

2. Constantly

It has already been noted that believers are to thank God for all things. This overlaps with another concept—that thanksgiving is to be constant activity. That this is indeed the case is readily evident in the reading of the following texts.

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men. but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Th 2.13).

“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph 5.20).

“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers” (1 Th 1.2).

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth” (2 Th 1.3).

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Th 5.18).

The reference to continuous thanksgiving activity is made even more clear in the Greek grammar underlying these verses. Particularly, present tense verbs and participles are used, signifying continuous action.

3. Publicly

There is definite biblical justification for public acts of thanksgiving. Jesus uttered prayers of thanksgiving in public, as did the apostle Paul.

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me” (Jn 11.41-42).

“And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat” (Acts 27.35).

In addition, public prayers of thanksgiving in local church worship are viewed as normal in the first epistle to the Corinthians.

“Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified” (1 Cor 14.16-17).

4. Sincerely

The New Testament teaches that when the believer is confronted with choices that have no definite moral implications, his attitude is to be one of thanksgiving—regardless of the choice that he makes. The issue at stake is not behavior, but sincerity in one’s expression of gratitude.

“He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks” (Rom 14.6).

5. Spontaneously

Finally, gratitude should be characterized by spontaneity. It should be the natural outgrowth of a life of faith. That is the implication of Col 2.6-7:

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord. so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein [in the faith] with thanksgiving” (Col 2.6-7).

Thanksgiving is a sacred privilege and responsibility. It will be our activity throughout eternity, and is our opportunity in time. Gratitude is the fruit of a life in tune with truth and with God. At the same time, it is the pathway to joy and spiritual growth. Ingratitude, conversely, is the product of a life of self-will and rebellion against God. It leads to spiritual and moral destruction. We ought to learn to take this blessing and responsibility with the utmost seriousness, and yet to do so in such a way as to bring enjoyment to God and to ourselves.