In 2 Corinthians 2, the apostle Paul gives instructions to the church to “forgive and comfort” the man who had been disciplined by them. It’s almost certain that the man under consideration was the man guilty of fornication, referred to in 1 Corinthians 5. They had done as Paul commanded, and withdrew fellowship from him. The text obviously intimates the man’s eventual repentance, and now Paul calls upon the Corinthians to forgive him, and receive him back into their fellowship.
Why would they hesitate to bring him back? Because his sin and rebellion had caused them grief! He hadn’t personally grieved Paul, as Paul was not part of that congregation, but all of them in Corinth, “to some extent,” had been caused grief by him.
The word grief here, (lupeo), means to make sorrowful, to offend, (Thayer). Two simple, but important points are here made.
First, no matter the trouble, sorrow and offense we endure from a man who is caught and remains in sin — we are called to forgive and comfort him upon repentance. It is not right for us to hold sin against another. We are to express our love to them and receive them back, regardless of the grief they may have caused us.
Second, when you sin, your sin causes grief to others. It may be slight, it may be great, but your actions impact your brethren! Sin is characteristically selfish and self-centered. You’re not only hurting yourself. Something to think about!
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