Whom does the Lord commend?

Wesley Wright

Lighthouse Bible Church

Sunday, August 2, 2026

 

2Co 10:12-18

Title: Whom does the Lord commend?

 

What you’ll hear today:

Whose commendation matters?

How should you and I boast?

The so-called limits of Gentile ministry

 

There’s a difference between those who commend themselves, and those whom the LORD commends (2Co 10:12). The former group is without understanding, and without the wisdom of God.

 

Paul already addressed the idea of those who commend themselves earlier in our book, remember:

2Co 3:1-7

 

Those who commend themselves set up a false standard that they (of course) met: Pro 26:12,

Mat 21:23-32

 

The unbelieving world badly needs God’s wisdom (in His Son Christ), and they need understanding: Pro 4:1-9

 

Not only are those who commend themselves wrong, but their focus is misguided. Men are fickle, and frail, and finite, and their commendation does not ultimately matter.

 

Commendation from men does not ultimately matter. Avoid those who commend themselves: Luk 18:9-14

 

Commendation from men does not ultimately matter. Paul’s concern was what the Lord thought, not man: 1Co 4:1-5

 

Pau mentions a certain boasting in 2Co 10:17-18. Boasting has an understandably negative connotation. Who can rightly boast?

 

Let your boasting (your glorying) be toward the one true God. Boast freely, but do so in the Lord:

1Co 1:21-31

 

Paul is referring to an OT concept in our 2 Corinthians passage: Jer 9:23-26

 

Who can rightly boast? Boast freely, but do so in the Lord. Paul boasted, but look at how he did so: Gal 6:14-18

 

It’s God’s commendation that matters, not mere men who can change how they feel about you at a moment’s notice.

 

God the Father commended His Son, and those who will be commended will point to that same Son: Mat 3:13-17

 

It’s God’s commendation that matters. Jesus Christ received honor from His Father, and did not receive honor from men: Joh 5:33-46

 

It’s God’s commendation that matters. Paul gave God alone the credit for his ministry: Rom 15:14-21

 

The thought that some had was that Paul and the others had exceeded their authority

2Co 10:13-16) and that their apolostic ministry did not extend out to where they were.

 

Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles: Act 9:10-19,

Act 22:12-21

 

Remember that the Old Testament tells of a coming Messiah that would bring justice to the Gentiles. These apostles pointed to that same Messiah: Isa 42:1-4

 

Boasting or glorying rightly means giving credit where it’s actually due — to our Lord. All that we have in this world in the next, He provided, chiefly in His Son. We’re nothing apart from Him.

 

Self-commendation is misguided, and those who commend themselves have been deceived. God’s approval matters, and that’s where our focus is. The world has no use for that, and they need understanding.

 

Wisdom and understanding help you mark and avoid false teachers. We’ll discuss and more next week in chapter 11, Lord willing.