All those who believe in Jesus are the temple of God. The Spirit of God dwells in each believer. We are the house of God. The house of God is large (20). Many people are in it with different personalities, dispositions, and different degrees of faith, hope, and love.
God is in me and will never leave me. The Spirit will always be in me and all those who believe in Jesus. I have met all kinds of people who claim the same.
A wealthy person’s house has objects of gold, silver, wood, and clay. When guests come over the expensive plates and utensils come out. When just the family is eating the inexpensive common plates and cups are used. So is the analogy in verse 20.
Those who have great faith, hope, and love in and for Jesus are highly praised by God. They are his special possessions. Those whose faith in God is weak, whose hope is in things other than God, whose love is divided between God and money are not honored by God (20).
Hymenaeus and Philetus were not honorable men in the congregation at Ephesus (17). Timothy would be wise to stop associating with dishonorable people like them (21). Doing so will stop the constant bickering over words (14). If I want to be praised by God and set apart for the master’s use I am to be prepared in this way to do good things.
