DAILY TEXT, Monday, March 16, 2026. Finally I confessed my sin to you (Psalm 32:5).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2026

Monday, March 16, 2026

Finally I confessed my sin to you (Psalm 32:5).

The elders do not rush to the conclusion that a person who has sinned does not want to repent. Some 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 sinner will seriously reflect on what has been said and humbly ask Jehovah for forgiveness in prayer (Psalm 38:18). It may be that by the next meeting, his attitude will have completely changed.

To help the person to repent, the elders should show empathy and kindness. They ask Jehovah to bless their efforts, hoping that the person will regain their senses and repent. (2 Tim. 2:25, 26) w24.08 22, 23 pars. 12, 13

When a sinner repents, whose credit is it, and why?

If a sinner repents, this is cause for great joy (Luke 15:7, 10). But to whom does the credit belong? To the elders? Recall that Paul said that “perhaps God will give repentance” to sinners (2 Tim. 2:25). So the credit for this vital change of mindset and attitude belongs not to any human, but to Jehovah, who helps the wayward Christian to change. Paul then mentioned some of the excellent results of such repentance: it leads the sinner to a more accurate knowledge of the truth, helps him regain his senses, and enables him to escape Satan’s snares (2 Tim. 2:26).

How can the elderly continue to help the repentant sinner?

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

To whom was Paul referring in 1 Timothy 5:20 when he spoke of “those present”?

(Read 1 Timothy 5:20.) Paul told Timothy—who was also an elder—to reprove sinners “before all those present.” To whom was he referring? 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. Discreetly, the elders will tell only these brothers that the matter has been addressed and the sinner has been corrected.

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