DAILY TEXT, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. I gave him time to repent (Rev. 2:21).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2026

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

I gave him time to repent (Rev. 2:21).

The elders try to find out what steps led a brother to commit a sin. For example, has he gradually grown weaker because he has stopped studying or preaching regularly? Has he neglected the quantity and quality of his prayers? Has he allowed wrong desires to take root in him? Could bad associations or inappropriate entertainment have influenced his heart? Does he understand the effect his decisions and actions have had on his Father, Jehovah?

The elders will ask the brother thoughtful questions, but without asking for unnecessary private details. By treating him kindly, they will help him to express himself freely and to understand what led him to sin (Prov. 20:5). They can also use examples to help the brother see why what he did was wrong. During their first meeting, he may begin to sincerely regret what he did or even repent. w24.08 22 pars. 9-11

How did Jesus treat sinners?

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

What can elders do to give the person time to repent?

Like Jesus, the elders do not rush to the conclusion that a person 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 person will seriously reflect on what they have said and humbly ask Jehovah for forgiveness in prayer (Ps. 32:5; 38:18). It may be that by the next meeting, their attitude will have completely changed.

To help the person come to repentance, the elders should show empathy and kindness. They ask Jehovah to bless their efforts, hoping that the person will regain his senses and repent. (2 Tim. 2:25, 26)

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).

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