Watchtower Study, Week of October 28 - November 3, 2024, How Love and Mercy Are Shown to Those Who Commit Serious Sin, Underlined Answers.

Watchtower Study, October 28-November 3, 2024, How Love and Mercy Are Shown to Those Who Commit Serious Sin, Underlined Answers.

Yellow: Direct Response

Light Yellow: Additional Answer

Celeste: Extra Points

“In his goodness God is seeking to bring you to repentance” (ROM. 2:4).

1. When someone commits a serious sin, what is sometimes possible to achieve?

In the previous article, we saw that the apostle Paul told the congregation at Corinth how to handle a man who had committed a serious sin. Because he had not repented, he had to be removed from the congregation. However, as the theme text indicates, it is possible to bring a person to repentance. (Rom. 2:4) How does Jehovah use the elders to try to help a sinner repent?

2, 3. What should we do if we learn that a brother has committed a serious sin, and why?

2 Suppose we hear that a brother has committed a serious sin—that is, he has done something that could get him removed from the congregation. What should we do in that case? Of course, before the elders can help him, they first have to know about the matter. So we should encourage him to go to the elders and ask for help. (Isa. 1:18; Acts 20:28; 1 ​​Pet. 5:2)

3 But what if the person does not want to tell the elders? We want to make sure that he gets the help he needs, so we would go and talk to them. This is a sign of love, because we do not want to lose our brother. If he does not change, he will further damage his relationship with Jehovah and may also tarnish the good name of the congregation. So even though it may be difficult, we will be brave and talk to the elders for the sake of Jehovah and our brother. —Ps. 27:14

HOW ELDERS HELP THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED A SERIOUS SIN

4. What is the purpose of the elders when meeting with a person who has committed a serious sin?

4 When a brother commits a serious sin, the body of elders selects three qualified elders from among their number to form a committee and meet with him. They should be modest and humble, recognizing that although they will try to help him repent, they cannot force him to change. (Deut. 30:19) They understand that not all sinners react positively, as King David did. (2 Sam. 12:13) Some choose not to heed Jehovah’s counsel. (Gen. 4:6–8) Still, the elders’ goal is to do everything possible to bring the sinner to repentance. What principles guide the committee of elders as they meet with the person?

5. What advice should elders remember when meeting with the sinner? (2 Timothy 2:24-26; see also image.)

5 The elders view the sinner as a precious sheep of Jehovah that has gone astray. (Luke 15:4, 6) This is reflected in their attitude and in the way they speak to and treat the sinner when they meet with him. They are not harsh or severe, nor do they view the meeting as a cold procedure or a mere formality. Rather, they display the qualities mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:24-26 (read it). At all times, they act with kindness, goodness, and gentleness in an attempt to touch the sinner’s heart.

ILLUSTRATION

A shepherd is out with his flock looking for a sheep that has gone astray. The sheep is caught in a thorn bush and has a wound on its leg. Like the shepherds of old, the elders do everything they can to recover the lost sheep. (See paragraph 5.)

6. How do elders prepare their hearts before meeting with the sinner? (Romans 2:4)

6 The elders prepare their own hearts. They keep in mind Paul’s words: “In his kindness God is seeking to bring you to repentance.” (Read Romans 2:4.) So they strive to imitate Jehovah’s kindness toward sinners. They must remember that they are first and foremost shepherds and must follow Christ’s instructions and example. (Isa. 11:3, 4; Matt. 18:18-20) Before meeting with the sinner, the committee prays to Jehovah to help them bring the sinner to repentance. They search the Bible and our publications for information, asking Jehovah to give them discernment to understand the person and the situation. They determine what they need to know about factors that may have influenced the person’s attitude, thinking, and acting.—Prov. 20:5.

7, 8. In what ways can elders imitate Jehovah’s patience when meeting with a sinner?

 7 The elders imitate Jehovah’s patience. They are mindful of Jehovah’s past treatment of sinners. For example, Jehovah patiently reasoned with Cain and told him that he could regain Jehovah’s approval but warned him of what would happen if he did not change. (Gen. 4:6, 7) On another occasion, Jehovah sent the prophet Nathan to correct King David, and Nathan used an example to touch his heart. (2 Sam. 12:1–7) In addition, Jehovah sent his prophets “time after time” to the disobedient nation of Israel. (Jer. 7:24, 25) Jehovah did not wait for his servants to repent before helping them. Instead, he took the initiative and called on them to repent while they were still sinning.

8 How can elders follow Jehovah’s example in trying to help someone who has committed a serious sin? As 2 Timothy 4:2 indicates, they need to “be patient with the person.” They should always control themselves and speak calmly to the person to motivate him to do what is right. If the elders become angry or frustrated, the person may stop listening or even refuse to repent.

9, 10. What can the elders do to help reason with a brother who has sinned?

9 The elders try to find out what steps led the brother to commit sin. For example, has he gradually become weaker because he has stopped studying or preaching regularly? Has he been neglecting the quantity and quality of his prayers? Has he been letting bad desires take root within him? Could it be that bad company or inappropriate entertainment has influenced his heart? Does he understand the effect his decisions and actions have had on his Father, Jehovah?

10 Elders will ask thoughtful questions but not ask for unnecessary private details. By treating the brother kindly, they will help him express himself freely and understand what led him to sin. (Prov. 20:5) And, just as Nathan did with David, they can use examples to help the brother see why what he did was wrong. During the first meeting with the brother, he may begin to sincerely regret what he did or even repent.

11. How did Jesus treat sinners?

11 The elders strive to imitate Jesus. For example, Jesus asked Saul of Tarsus, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked this apt question to help him understand that what he was doing was wrong (Acts 9:3-6). And in Revelation 2:20, 21, Jesus mentioned a certain “Jezebel” and said, “I gave her time to repent.”

12, 13. What can the elders do to give the person time to repent? (See also images.)

12 Like Jesus, the elders are not quick to conclude that a person does not want to repent. Some people repent during the first meeting with the committee, but others need more time. So the elders may meet with the sinner more than once. Perhaps after the first meeting the person thinks seriously about what they have said and humbly asks Jehovah for forgiveness in prayer. (Ps. 32:5; 38:18) Perhaps by the next meeting his attitude will have changed completely.

13 To help a person come to repentance, elders should show empathy and kindness. They ask Jehovah to bless their efforts in the hope that the person will come to his senses and repent. —2 Tim. 2:25, 26.

ILLUSTRATION

Series of images: 1. Three elders are meeting with a brother. They are talking to him, but he is looking away. 2. On another occasion, the elders meet again with the brother. They are talking to him, and he is paying attention to them. The elders may meet more than once with the person who has sinned in order to give him time to repent. (See paragraph 12.)

14. When a sinner repents, who gets the credit, and why?

14 If a sinner repents, this is a reason for great joy. (Luke 15:7, 10) But whose credit is this? The elders? Recall that Paul said that “perhaps God will grant repentance” to sinners. (2 Tim. 2:25) So the credit for this important change of mind and attitude goes not to any human being but to Jehovah, who helps the straying Christian to change. Paul then listed some of the wonderful results of such repentance: it leads the sinner to a more accurate knowledge of the truth, helps him to come to his senses, and enables him to escape from Satan’s traps. (2 Tim. 2:26)

15. How can the elders continue to help the repentant sinner?

15 If the person repents, the elders will continue to make shepherding visits to help him strengthen his faith, resist Satan’s temptations, and make straight paths for his feet. (Heb. 12:12, 13) Of course, the elders won’t reveal to anyone the details of what this brother did. But what might need to be reported to the congregation?

“CENSORSHIP IN FRONT OF ALL PRESENTS”

16. Who was Paul referring to in 1 Timothy 5:20 when he spoke of “those present”?

16 (Read 1 Timothy 5:20.) Paul told Timothy—also an elder—to rebuke sinners “before all present.” Who was he referring to? Not necessarily the entire congregation, but the few brothers who may already know what the sinner did, either because they saw it with their own eyes or because the sinner confessed it to them. The elders will quietly tell only these brothers that the matter has been taken care of and the sinner has been corrected.

17. If the sin is widely known in the congregation or is likely to become so, what announcement will be made, and why?

17 In some cases, the sin is widely known in the congregation or is likely to become so. Then “those present” would be the entire congregation. So an elder would announce to the congregation that the brother or sister has been censured. For what purpose? Paul explained, “so that it may serve as a warning to others” so that they will not commit a serious sin.

18. What do the elders do when a baptized minor commits a serious sin? (See also image.)

18 What if the baptized Christian who committed the serious sin is under 18? The body of elders will select two elders to meet with the minor and his or her Witness parents. These elders will find out what steps the parents have already taken to help their child make needed changes and repent. If the minor has a good attitude and is accepting help from his or her parents, the two elders may decide that a committee meeting with the parents is not necessary. After all, God has given parents the responsibility to lovingly correct their children. (Deut. 6:6, 7; Prov. 6:20; 22:6; Eph. 6:2–4) Afterward, the elders will check in with the parents from time to time to make sure the minor continues to get the help he or she needs. Now, what happens if the baptized minor does not repent and refuses to change? In that case, a committee of elders will meet with him and his Witness parents.

ILLUSTRATION

Two elders meet with a baptized minor and his parents in their home. One of the elders is reading a scripture to them. If a minor commits a serious sin, two elders will meet with him and his Witness parents. (See paragraph 18.)

“JEHOVAH IS VERY LOVING AND MERCIFUL”

19. How do elders imitate Jehovah in dealing with those who commit serious sin?

19 Elders who serve on committees want to make sure that the congregation is kept clean because it is a responsibility given to them by Jehovah. (1 Cor. 5:7) But they also want to do all they can to help sinning Christians repent, so they maintain an optimistic, positive attitude. In this way, they imitate Jehovah, who is “very loving and merciful.” (Jas. 5:11) Consider these loving words that the apostle John wrote when he was very old: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not commit a sin. But if anyone does commit a sin, we have a helper who is at the Father, Jesus Christ, who is righteous.”—1 John 2:1.

20. What will we see in the last article of this series?

20 Unfortunately, there are times when a Christian who has committed a serious sin refuses to repent. If this happens, he or she must be removed from the congregation. How do the elders handle such cases? We will discuss this in the final article in this series.

HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND?

According to Romans 2:4, what is the elders' purpose in meeting with a person who has committed a serious sin?

To recover and help Jehovah's little sheep that has been lost, that has strayed from the flock.

How can elders apply 2 Timothy 2:24-26?

The elders can apply what is said in 2 Timothy 2:24,26, in their way of dealing with the person who committed a sin, they should not be harsh or severe, at all times they should behave with kindness, goodness and gentleness to try to reach his heart. 

What does the instruction “Censorship in front of all those present” mean?

The instruction to “Reprove before all present” has two applications. First, if the sin is known to a few brothers, who may already know what the sinner did, either because they saw it with their own eyes or because the sinner himself confessed it to them. The elders will discreetly tell only these brothers that the matter has been dealt with and the sinner has been corrected.

Second, if the sin is widely known in the congregation or is likely to become so. Then, “Those present” would be the entire congregation. So an elder would announce to the congregation that the brother or sister has been censured.