| August 16, 1998 |
Vol. I, No. 16
|
Matt. 18:15-17
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass
against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if
he shall hear thee, thou has gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then
take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses
every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear
them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let
him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (KJV)
In these verses some think they find the one procedure that must be used in every instance of sin committed by a brother in the Lord. Such a misunderstanding is based on the failure to realize that the Lord built some limitations into this passage, thus making this procedure relevant to personal offenses committed against an individual. It is also based on the failure to realize that the Lord established other procedures for other kinds of situations of sin, as we shall presently notice. Look at the following limitations:
1. Brother: This procedure is applicable to situations involving a brother in Christ, not a person in the world.
2. Sin: The matters to which the Lord’s plan apply are matters of sin. It is not just a matter of hurt feelings or differing judgment that is under consideration here.
3. Against you: Personal offense (sin) is what Jesus was pinpointing in this passage. It is not sin committed in the presence of others (public sin) or sin committed against the church in general. We can learn from other passages that this procedure outlined by the Lord was not used in other kinds of situations of sin.
In Acts 5:1-11 the apostles did not employ this plan in the case of Ananias and Sapphira’s lying. In Gal. 2:11, Paul did not follow this procedure in the case of Peter’s hypocrisy. In 1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 1:17; 3 John 9; Rev. 2:14-15 and other passages the Lord’s apostles did not first go to the people indicted by them as teaching falsely or trying to “run the local church.” In these instances, public attention was called to various sins and the sinners were named. It becomes obvious that the plan outlined by Christ in Matt. 18 was neither designed for all sins nor employed in all cases of sin.
It is far better to study passages carefully, noting their features and limitations, before stretching them to fit what they were never meant to fit. A more complete knowledge of the Scriptures will help one to avoid hastily drawn or poorly based conclusions.
--Bobby L. Graham
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HYPOCRITE AND A GOOD MAN MAKING A MISTAKE
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-10). This passage clearly shows that no one is sinlessly perfect, but it does not brand all as hypocrites.
The word “hypocrite” comes from a Greek word meaning “play actor.” The word denotes one who either (1) pretends to be something he isn’t, or (2) pretends to believe something he does not really believe. The fact that a person sins, does not prove him to be a hypocrite devoid of conviction. Good people sin and make mistakes.
1. Good people make mistakes in judgment. After being with Jesus day and night for three and a half years in preparation to fish for men, Peter contemplated going back to fishing for fish, John 21:3-17. Choosing one’s occupation is a matter of judgment, but Peter was using poor judgment.
2. Good people make mistakes out of carelessness. Numbers 35:23 pictures a scene where a man brings harm to another in an unguarded moment. Good people make mistakes by not being as careful as they should.
3. Good people make mistakes through ignorance. No one has all knowledge, therefore we are subject to make mistakes that would be avoided if we were properly informed, 1 Tim. 1:13.
4. Good people sin through weakness. Peter’s denial of Jesus was such an error. He succumbed to the fear and/or shame that attached itself to the immediate circumstances, Matt. 26:65-74. What he did was a sin, but it was not a deliberate sham. He was a good man, making a mistake because of human weakness.
These things are not said to excuse sin. Sin is still sin, and it should be confessed and forsaken, but let us take care that we do not brand one as a hypocrite simply because he has erred. The truly good man or woman will own up to his/her sins. The hypocrite is the person who says he has not sinned, or that someone else was at fault, etc., thus he relinquishes his right to an Advocate with the Father by denying his need for such, 1 John 1:8 through 2:6.
--CRJ
There is an old saying to the effect, “You’ve made your bed, you’ll have to lie in it.” In the days of Isaiah, God’s people had been very lax in their obedience to God. They had even grown to put their confidence in an alliance with Egypt rather than trusting God to deliver them from Assyria. Their provision was wholly inadequate. By choosing to ally themselves with Egypt rather than with God, they had made for themselves a bed that was “too short for a man to stretch out on, and the covering so narrow that he cannot wrap himself in it” (Isa. 28:20). They had made their bed -- and a miserable excuse for a bed it was. But they would have to lie in it!
Likewise in our own day, with the day of judgment looming before us, Acts 17:31, many have made for themselves a similar resting place -- a bed totally inadequate. Some have put their trust in uncertain riches, 1 Tim. 6:17, which will have no power to deliver them in the day of judgment, Prov. 11:4. Others trust in their moral goodness alone to deliver them, not realizing that more than good morals is required -- that even the best of men need to hear and respond to the gospel in order to be saved, Acts 10:2, 22; 11:14.
There are many religious minded people who have put their trust and confidence in the theory that they can be saved by faith only. Such a concept is not only lacking in the New Testament, but is flatly denied by it. “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:24). One must believe the gospel, but he must also obey it, 2 Thess. 1:7-9.
Another common mistake that is often made by religious people is that of blindly following religious leaders who lead them into the ditch, Matt. 15:14, rather than in the pathway of Jesus. While it is true that religious leaders must account to God in the judgment for their leading, their followers also need to be aware that THEY will be required to give account for their following a false way. BOTH the blind LEADER and the blind FOLLOWER will fall in the ditch, Matt. 15:14. See also Isa. 9:14-16 and Hosea 4:6, 9.
The only adequate provision you can make for the judgment is to trust Jesus, and obey His will as revealed in the New Testament Scriptures, Heb. 5:9; Rev. 22:14, etc.
--CRJ
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:10-12).
Note that the blessedness is expressed toward those who are persecuted FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS’ SAKE. Jesus said, “for My sake.” There is no blessing promised to a person who is persecuted simply because he is obnoxious, nor simply because he is different. It is true that Jesus’ followers will be different from others because they follow Him, but they do not need to go out of their way to be weird. Just following Jesus will be difference enough.
This blessing applies to any and all of Christ’s disciples. “Blessed are you when they revile...” Also note, He does not say, “IF they persecute you,” but “WHEN they persecute you...” Paul tells Timothy, “ALL who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12).
Next, let us look at what our reaction to persecution should be. We should rejoice. Rejoice because, though we have tribulation in this temporary realm, we have a home in heaven where there is no sin, no sickness, persecution, or death. Rejoice because being persecuted puts us into the best of company -- that of prophets, apostles, evangelists and teachers who have lived among God’s faithful since time began. Rejoice because such suffering helps us to develop patience that is needed in other aspects of life, James 1:2-3). It is a marvelous to be in company with Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, Peter, Stephen, and Jesus Himself as we travel life’s journey with them and with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and other saints of all ages in the final state of God’s eternal kingdom in the immediate presence of God upon His throne. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
--CRJ