Pr. (Gen 49:1) - Genesis 49:1

Genesis 49:1

^49:1^ And Jacob called his sons, and said to them: gather yourselves together that I may tell you the things that shall befall you in the last days.

1. These words are applicable to this epistle. For they touch on two things applicable to it, namely its fruit and its matter.

Hence it says that I may announce what will befall you in the last days. This epistle treats of the three things that will happen in the last days. There will be dangers to the church in the time of the Antichrist. In the last days there shall come dangerous times (2 Tim 3:1). Likewise, the punishments of the wicked. Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends (Ps 72:17). Finally, the rewards of the good. Strength and beauty are her clothing (Prov 31:25). And these things are dealt with in this epistle.

2. Its usefulness is shown by the words gather yourselves together. For this epistle achieves a gathering together, namely the gathering together of those who have harmony in the truth. For they were disagreeing with one another about the future judgment on account of what the Apostle said in the first epistle, then we who are living, who are left, shall be taken up together with them into the clouds, etc. (1 Thess 4:17). He will gather together the dispersed of Israel (Ps 146:2).

It likewise achieves a harmony of wills, because when they consider that everything temporal will perish at the last day, one is given to understand that they gather themselves together around the one thing worth seeking, namely a heavenly reward. Gather together your heart in his holiness (Sir 30:24).

Again, it achieves a harmony of thoughts around one stable truth. But I know their works, and their thoughts: I come that I may gather them together (Isa 66:18).

3. And so the fruit and matter of this epistle are clear, for in the first epistle he armed them against past persecutions, while here he arms them against persecutions to come.