The Need for a Forgiving Spirit

Several months ago I purchased the Believer's Bible Commentary by William MacDonald, and decided to try keeping up in it with the read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year schedule our church provides.  It has been so interesting that I often find myself reading ahead!

Last week I noticed (and how many times have I read this before?) the correlation between Matthew 18 and Luke 17 (especially verses 3 and 4.  The commentary had a great section on this and I would like to share it below.  This is from pages 1434-1435; the emphasis is Mr. MacDonald's.  Please look at the verses in your Bible before reading, and keep it open before you.

"In the Christian life there is not only the peril of offending others.  There is also the danger of harboring grudges, of refusing to forgive when an offending person apologizes.  That is what the Lord deals with here.  The NT teaches the following procedure in connection with this subject:

"1.  If a Christian is wronged by another Christian, he should first of all forgive the offender in his heart (Eph. 4:32).  This keeps his own soul from resentment and malice.

"2.  Then he should go to the offender privately and rebuke him (v. 3; also Matt. 18:15).  If he repents, then he should be told that he is forgiven.  Even if he sins repeatedly, then says that he repents, he should be forgiven (v. 4).

"3.  If a private rebuke does not prove effective, then the person who has been wronged should take one or two witnesses (Matt. 18:16).  If he will not listen to these, then the matter should be taken before the church.  Failure to hear the church should result in excommunication (Matt. 18:17).

"The purpose of rebukes and other disciplinary action is not to get even or to humiliate the offender, but to restore him to fellowship with the Lord and with his brothers.  All rebukes should be delivered in a spirit of love.  We have no way of judging whether an offender's repentance is genuine.  We must accept his word that he has repented.  That is why Jesus says: 'And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you saying, "I repent," you shall forgive him.'  This is the gracious way our Father treats us.  No matter how often we fail Him, we still have the assurance that 'If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1 John 1:9)."

This section summarized Jesus' teaching very nicely for me, and was a good reminder of how I need to handle offenses against me.  This also leads to a need to contemplate just what an offense is, and what should or should not be considered an offense.  The Bible also says that "Love covers a multitude of sins."  So there are times when I should cover an offense, whether real or perceived, in the interest of loving my fellow believer.

We were discussing this on the way to church recently, and my younger son brought up I Timothy 5:19-20 as well:  "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.  Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."  This is a good reminder, as many churches today do have elder rule.  I remember Dr. John MacArthur preaching about this, and he wrote a small book about it as well.  More food for thought.

Observations/applications:

**God means what He says in His Word.  Obedience is not an option but a
   requirement.

**What God requires, He gives the grace needed to perform.

**Failing to do what God requires is sin, which, left unconfessed and
   unrepented of, will bring chastening on His child.

**A friend who has been a pastor pointed out that these steps do not have to
   be rushed through; it may take some time, and more than one meeting, for    the offender to realize and admit his offense.  This reminded me, as
   mentioned above, of God's graciousness and patience with me when I sin.

**There do not appear to be any exceptions or any distinctions between
   Christians in regard to these passages (clergy vs. laity, for example); they
   apply to all of us who are believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.