Lesson 57 Explore 2: Responding to Sin With Love and Mercy | Watchtower Study
STUDY ARTICLE 34
Responding to Sin With Love and Mercy
“God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance.”-
(Romans 2.4: Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, because you do not know that God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance?)
FOCUS
How the elders try to help those in the congregation who get involved in serious sin.
1. What is true of some who commit a serious sin?
IN THE preceding article, we saw how the apostle Paul handled a case of serious wrongdoing in Corinth. The sinner was unrepentant and had to be removed from the congregation. However, as our theme text shows, some who have committed a serious sin can be reached. They can be led to repentance.
(Romans 2.4: Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, because you do not know that God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance?)
How can the elders help them to repent?
2-3. What should we do if we come to know that a fellow believer has committed a serious sin, and why?
2. Before the elders can help, they need to be aware of the matter. So, what should we do if we come to know that a fellow believer has committed a serious sin-something that could result in his being removed from the congregation? We should encourage the wrongdoer to go to the elders for help.-
(Isaiah 1.18: “Come, now, and let us set matters straight between us,” says Jehovah. “Though your sins are like scarlet, They will be made as white as snow; Though they are as red as crimson cloth, They will become like wool.)
(Acts 20.28: Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own Son.)
(1 Peter 5.2: Shepherd the flock of God under your care, serving as overseers, not under compulsion, but willingly before God; not for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly;)
3. What, though, if the wrongdoer refuses to speak to the elders? Then we would go to the elders ourselves to make sure that the person will get the necessary help. That is the loving thing to do because we do not want to lose our brother or sister. If the wrongdoer continues in his course, he will further impair his relationship with Jehovah. He may also damage the reputation of the congregation. So we courageously take action out of love for Jehovah and for the wrongdoer.-
(Psalm 27.14: Hope in Jehovah; Be courageous and strong of heart. Yes, hope in Jehovah.)
HOW THE ELDERS ASSIST THOSE WHO GET INVOLVED IN SERIOUS SIN
4. What is the elders’ goal when they meet with someone who has committed a serious sin?
4. When someone in the congregation commits a serious sin, the body of elders selects three qualified brothers from among them who will serve as a committee. These men need to be modest and humble. While they will try to help the erring one to repent, they recognize that they cannot force someone to change.
(Deuteronomy 30.19: I take the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you today that I have put life and death before you, the blessing and the curse; and you must choose life so that you may live, you and your descendants,)
The elders acknowledge that not all wrongdoers will respond in a positive way, as did King David.
(2 Samuel 12.13: David then said to Nathan: “I have sinned against Jehovah.” Nathan replied to David: “Jehovah, in turn, forgives your sin. You will not die.)
Some wrongdoers may choose to ignore Jehovah’s admonition.
(Genesis 4.6-8: Then Jehovah said to Cain: “Why are you so angry and dejected? If you turn to doing good, will you not be restored to favor? But if you do not turn to doing good, sin is crouching at the door, and its craving is to dominate you; but will you get the mastery over it?” After that Cain said to his brother Abel: “Let us go over into the field.” So while they were in the field, Cain assaulted his brother Abel and killed him.)
Nevertheless, the elders’ goal is to lead the wrongdoer to repentance if at all possible. What principles guide them as they meet with the wrongdoer?
5. What counsel will the elders have in mind when they meet with the wrongdoer? (2 Timothy 2:24-26) (See also picture.)
5. The elders view the wrongdoer as a precious, lost sheep.
(Luke 15.4: “What man among you with 100 sheep, on losing one of them, will not leave the 99 behind in the wilderness and go after the lost one until he finds it?)
(Luke 15.6: And when he gets home, he calls his friends and his neighbors together, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’)
Therefore, when they meet with the individual, they are not harsh in their speech, attitude, and approach; nor do they view the meeting as a mere routine in which they follow a set procedure. Instead, they will display the qualities found at
(2 Timothy 2.24-26: For a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, showing restraint when wronged, instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him to do his will.)
(Read.) The elders remain mild, gentle, and kind as they strive to reach the wrongdoer’s heart.
CAPTION: Just like ancient shepherds, the elders endeavor to recover a lost sheep (See paragraph 5)
6. How will the elders prepare their own heart before meeting with a wrongdoer? (Romans 2:4)
6. The elders prepare their own heart. They try to imitate Jehovah in all their dealings with a sinner, remembering Paul’s words: “God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance.”
Read Romans 2.4: Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, because you do not know that God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance?
The elders must remember that they are primarily shepherds under the direction of Christ.
(Isaiah 11.3, 4: And he will find delight in the fear of Jehovah. He will not judge by what appears to his eyes, Nor reprove simply according to what his ears hear. He will judge the lowly with fairness, And with uprightness he will give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth And put the wicked to death with the breath of his lips.)
(Matthew 18.18-20: “Truly I say to you, whatever things you may bind on earth will be things already bound in heaven, and whatever things you may loosen on earth will be things already loosened in heaven. Again I tell you truly, if two of you on earth agree concerning anything of importance that they should request, it will take place for them on account of my Father in heaven. For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.”)
Before meeting with the wrongdoer, the committee will prayerfully consider their goal: to lead the wrongdoer to repentance. They will do research in the Scriptures and in our publications and will pray for discernment. They will consider what they need to know about the individual’s background that may have contributed to his thinking, attitude, and conduct.-
(Proverbs 20.5: The thoughts of a man’s heart are like deep waters, But the discerning man draws them out.)
7-8. How can the elders imitate Jehovah’s patience when they meet with a wrongdoer?
7. The elders imitate Jehovah’s patience. They keep in mind how Jehovah dealt with wrongdoers in the past. For example, Jehovah reasoned patiently with Cain, warning him about the consequences of sin and offering him hope of restoration.
(Genesis 4.6, 7: Then Jehovah said to Cain: “Why are you so angry and dejected? If you turn to doing good, will you not be restored to favor? But if you do not turn to doing good, sin is crouching at the door, and its craving is to dominate you; but will you get the mastery over it?”)
Jehovah admonished David by means of the prophet Nathan, who used an illustration that touched the heart of the king.
(2 Samuel 12.1-7: So Jehovah sent Nathan to David. He came in to him and said: “There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich man had very many sheep and cattle; but the poor man had nothing but one small female lamb, which he had bought. He cared for it, and it grew up together with him and his sons. It would eat from the little food he had and drink from his cup and sleep in his arms. It became as a daughter to him. Later a visitor came to the rich man, but he would not take any of his own sheep and cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” At this David grew very angry against the man, and he said to Nathan: “As surely as Jehovah is living, the man who did this deserves to die! And he should pay for the lamb four times over, because he did this and showed no compassion.” Then Nathan said to David: “You are the man! This is what Jehovah the God of Israel says: ‘I myself anointed you as king over Israel, and I rescued you from the hand of Saul.)
And Jehovah “kept sending” his prophets “again and again” to the wayward nation of Israel.
(Jeremiah 7.24, 25: But they did not listen or incline their ear; instead, they walked in their own schemes, stubbornly following their wicked heart, and they went backward, not forward, from the day your forefathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day. So I kept sending all my servants the prophets to you, sending them each day, again and again.)
He did not wait for his people to repent before helping them. Rather, he took the initiative by urging them to repent.
8. Elders follow Jehovah’s example when trying to help those who have got involved in serious sin. As
(2 Timothy 4.2: Preach the word; be at it urgently in favorable times and difficult times; reprove, reprimand, exhort, with all patience and art of teaching.)
directs, they reason “with all patience” when dealing with a troubled fellow believer. A study note on that verse says of such an elder: “He would always need to show restraint, patiently appealing to [the sinner’s] desire to do what [is] right. If [the elder] were to give in to annoyance or frustration, he might alienate or even stumble [the sinner].”
9-10. How can elders help the sinner reason on his course?
9. The elders try to determine the circumstances that led up to the sin. For example, did the Christian slowly become weak because he neglected personal study or the ministry? Have his prayers to Jehovah become infrequent or superficial? Has he been allowing wrong desires to guide him? Has he made unwise choices in his associations or entertainment? How might such choices have affected his heart? Does he recognize how his recent decisions and actions have affected his Father, Jehovah?
10. By asking meaningful questions without being unnecessarily intrusive, the elders kindly draw out the wrongdoer and help him to reason on his course.
(Proverbs 20.5: The thoughts of a man’s heart are like deep waters, But the discerning man draws them out.)
In addition, they might use illustrations to help the person to reason and to see the wrongness of his actions, as Nathan did with David. Perhaps during the first meeting, the person will begin to feel real sorrow over the course he has followed. He may even repent.
11. How did Jesus deal with sinners?
11. The elders strive to imitate Jesus. When dealing with Saul of Tarsus, the resurrected Jesus asked a probing question: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Jesus thereby helped him to reason on his wrong course.
(Acts 9.3-6: Now as he was traveling and getting near Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He asked: “Who are you, Lord?” He said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”)
And in the case of “that woman Jezebel,” Jesus said: “I gave her time to repent.”-
(Revelation 2.20, 21: “‘Nevertheless, I do hold this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and misleads my slaves to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her sexual immorality.)
12-13. How might the elders give a wrongdoer time to repent? (See also picture.)
12. In imitation of Jesus, the elders are not hasty to conclude that a wrongdoer will not repent. While some may repent during the committee’s first meeting with them, others may need more time. So the elders may arrange to meet with the sinner more than once. Perhaps after that first meeting, the erring Christian will begin to think seriously about what he has been told. He may approach Jehovah in humble prayer.
(Psalm 32.5: Finally I confessed my sin to you; I did not cover my error. I said: “I will confess my transgressions to Jehovah.” And you pardoned the error of my sins. (Selah))
(Psalm 38.18: I confessed my error; I was troubled by my sin.)
Thus, at a subsequent meeting, the sinner may have a different spirit from the one he showed at the first meeting.
13. To help lead the sinner to repentance, the elders show empathy and kindness. They hope and pray that Jehovah will bless their efforts and that the wayward Christian may come to his senses and repent.-
(2 Timothy 2.25, 26: instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him to do his will.)
CAPTION: The elders may meet with a wrongdoer more than once in order to give him time to repent (See paragraph 12)
14. Who deserves the credit when a sinner repents, and why?
14. If the sinner repents, that is a cause for great joy!
(Luke 15.7: I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous ones who have no need of repentance.)
(Luke 15.10: In the same way, I tell you, joy arises among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”)
Who deserves the credit? Do the elders? Recall what Paul wrote about sinners: “Perhaps God may give them repentance.”
(2 Timothy 2.25: instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth,)
A study note on that verse comments: “The credit for such a change in thinking and attitude goes, not to any human, but to Jehovah, who helps the wayward Christian make this vital change. Paul goes on to mention some of the beautiful results of such repentance-it leads the sinner to a more accurate knowledge of the truth, it helps him come back to his proper senses, and it enables him to escape from Satan’s snares.-
(2 Timothy 2.26: and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him to do his will.)
15. How may the elders continue to help a repentant wrongdoer?
15. When a wrongdoer repents, the committee will arrange for shepherding visits so that the person can continue to receive the help he needs to fight against Satan’s snares and to make straight paths for his feet.
(Hebrews 12.12, 13: Therefore, strengthen the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and keep making straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but, rather, may be healed.)
Of course, the elders do not reveal to anyone the details of the sinner’s course. About what, though, might the congregation need to be informed?
“REPROVE BEFORE ALL ONLOOKERS”
16. According to 1 Timothy 5:20, what “onlookers” does Paul refer to?
16. Read 1 Timothy 5.20: Reprove before all onlookers those who practice sin, as a warning to the rest.
Paul wrote those words to his fellow elder Timothy in connection with how to handle “those who practice sin.” What did he mean? He did not necessarily mean that the whole congregation were the “onlookers.” Rather, he was referring to those few who might already know of the sins. They could be eyewitnesses, or they could be those whom the wrongdoer confided in. The elders would discreetly make them aware that the matter was handled and that the sinner was corrected.
17. If a serious sin is widely known in the congregation or is likely to become known, what announcement would be made, and why?
17. In some instances, the wrongdoing may have become widely known in the congregation or is likely to become known. In such a case, the “onlookers” would include the entire congregation. So an elder would announce to the congregation that the brother or the sister has been reproved. Why? Paul answers: “As a warning to the rest” not to fall into sin.
18. How will the elders handle situations involving baptized minors? (See also picture.)
18. What about baptized minors-those under 18 years of age-who engage in serious wrongdoing? The body of elders will arrange for two elders to meet with the minor and his Christian parents. The elders will find out what steps the parents have already taken to help their child come to repentance. If the minor has a good attitude and the parents are reaching him, the two elders might decide that it is not necessary to take the matter any further. After all, it is the parents’ God-given responsibility to provide loving correction to their children.
(Deuteronomy 6.6, 7: These words that I am commanding you today must be on your heart, and you must inculcate them in your sons and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.)
(Proverbs 6.20: Observe, my son, the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the instruction of your mother.)
(Proverbs 22.6: Train a boy in the way he should go; Even when he grows old he will not depart from it.)
(Ephesians 6.2-4: “Honor your father and your mother” is the first command with a promise: “That it may go well with you and you may remain a long time on the earth.” And fathers, do not be irritating your children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and admonition of Jehovah.)
The elders will thereafter occasionally check with the parents to make sure that the minor is getting the help he needs. However, what if a baptized minor unrepentantly persists in a wrong course? In that case, a committee of elders will meet with him along with his Christian parents.
CAPTION: When a minor gets involved in serious sin, two elders will meet with the minor and his Christian parents (See paragraph 18)
“JEHOVAH IS VERY TENDER IN AFFECTION AND MERCIFUL”
19. How do elders strive to imitate Jehovah when dealing with wrongdoers?
19. Elders who serve on committees have a responsibility before Jehovah to keep the congregation clean.
(1 Corinthians 5.7: Clear away the old leaven so that you may be a new batch, inasmuch as you are free from ferment. For, indeed, Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed.)
They also want wrongdoers to be moved to repentance if possible. To that end, elders maintain a positive, hopeful outlook. Why? Because they want to imitate Jehovah, who is “very tender in affection and merciful.”
(James 5.11: Look! We consider happy those who have endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome Jehovah gave, that Jehovah is very tender in affection and merciful.)
Note how the aged apostle John showed such a spirit. He wrote: “My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one.”-
(1 John 2.1: My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not commit a sin. And yet, if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper with the Father, Jesus Christ, a righteous one.)
20. What will we consider in the final article of this series?
20. Sadly, there are times when a Christian refuses to repent. If so, he must be removed from the congregation. How do the elders handle such serious cases? We will consider that matter in the final article of this series.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
• According to what goal do the elders have when meeting with a wrongdoer?
(Romans 2.4: Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, because you do not know that God in his kindness is trying to lead you to repentance?)
• What guidance does provide for elders?
(2 Timothy 2.24-26: For a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, showing restraint when wronged, instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him to do his will.)
• What does it mean to “reprove before all onlookers”?
Responding to Sin With Love and Mercy
[End of article.]