Verse By Verse Devotional On 2 Corinthians By Pastor Jack #46

A Time to Not Forgive?

2:7 "...on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him."

In speaking about the man who has been rightfully "punished" by the Corinthian congregation, Paul says that it is now time to forgive the man since he has been struck with the sorrow of repentance.

We can read this without even noticing something that flies in the face of much modern Christian thinking. Paul’s words saying that it is time to forgive make it clear that there is also a time to NOT forgive. Before this fellow’s display of godly sorrow, presumably it would have been wrong for the Corinthians to forgive him.

Is this in violation of Christ’s commands to forgive? Is this based on a vindictive, judgmental spirit? Are we claiming to be better than those who fall into sin if we refuse to forgive them? Doesn’t Jesus tell us to forgive "seventy times seven"? (Matt.18:22) Doesn’t He say, "Pardon, and you will be pardoned"? (Luke 6:37) Doesn’t Paul elsewhere say, "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."? (Eph.4:32)

The subject of forgiveness is not a simple one. We are certainly supposed to be always ready to forgive, and there are some sins that are of a nature that we should just overlook them ("Let love cover a multitude of sins." 1Pet.4:8). But at times a person’s sin warrants a rebuke and our forgiveness should be based on repentance:

"If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4)

Notice that Jesus says, “IF HE REPENTS, forgive him.” (Presumably if he doesn’t repent, you follow the steps of Matt.18:15-17.)

This refusal to forgive until there is repentance, though, must never be something that springs from resentment or vengeance. It must always spring from love. Refusal to forgive because of love? Exactly. There are times when it is not good for a person to receive forgiveness until he repents -- in order to signal to him the danger of refusing to repent and to motivate him to make it right with God by dealing with his sin.

This refusal to forgive then, is not something that happens in our hearts. (Lack of forgiveness in our hearts will destroy us.) In our hearts we must always be loving the person and hoping for their best and praying for their welfare, wanting to forgive and never holding a grudge. Rather, the refusal to forgive is an official position we take toward another -- for his welfare. This is what the Corinthians had appropriately done toward this man. And now it had had its intended effect, and it was time to extend to him an official forgiveness.

Our Father in heaven, forgive me my sins as I forgive those who sin against me. Help me to be as forgiving toward others as You are towards me. And when it is my duty because of love to withhold official forgiveness, please give me grace to be courageous and strong so that I can be faithful to Your command. And open the eyes of Your people, Lord, to the Biblical call to use this tool for the sake of those who sin and will not repent, that they may be won back to You, and that Your name might be made holy.