Discipline and Forgiveness
Discipline is never a fun thing – neither for the discipliner nor the one being disciplined. I think back to when I was a child. My parents had to discipline me at times. I could be quite the stubborn child, so they had to curb my behavior. I can tell you this; I didn’t enjoy it! Now, of course, I see how much that discipline was because of their love for me and their desire for my ultimate good. Proverbs 13:24 says, “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.” Before we go further, let’s get the right idea about what a “rod” is and what it is not. A rod is a shepherds tool used to correct and guide the sheep. Just as it wasn’t something used to beat the sheep, it is also not to be interpreted as something used to beat children. A rod was something used to guide the sheep on the right path and correct them when they strayed from the path. Why? because the shepherd didn’t want the sheep to wander off and get hurt or worse, get killed. This is why the writer of Proverbs tells us those who spare the rod really don’t care much about their children. The parent should always be at the ready to correct their children and guide them on the right path. They should want their children to walk on righteous paths. Hebrews 12:10-11 says this about discipline; “They (fathers) disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” The end result of discipline should be what it will produce. For the sheep, it is walking on a path that is safe. For us, it is a life of righteousness and peace.
Vs 1-4 In fact, I made up my mind about this: I would not come to you on another painful visit. For if I cause you pain, then who will cheer me other than the one being hurt by me? I wrote this very thing so that when I came I wouldn’t have pain from those who ought to give me joy, because I am confident about all of you that my joy will also be yours. For I wrote to you with many tears out of an extremely troubled and anguished heart—not that you should be hurt, but that you should know the abundant love I have for you.
In chapter 1, Paul gave an explanation of why he changed his plans to come to Corinth earlier. He reminded them that his last visit was less than enjoyable. He had to discipline them, which caused pain on both sides. So, instead of coming when he “planned”, he wrote them a very serious letter. Paul describes this letter as written with “many tears out of a extremely troubled and anguished heart”. He didn’t enjoy disciplining them, but, because he loved them, he had to. The letter wasn’t meant as a tool to “beat them up” but as a way for them to get back on the path of righteousness and peace. We are not sure what the issue was, but it was serious enough for Paul to want to avoid adding to the pain. Interestingly enough, it was to avoid the pain on both ends. He thought that his coming to them might be painful for them because of a possible lack of repentance they had and therefore, it would also be painful for him and put a strain on their relationship. Have you ever had to correct a friend who just didn’t want to hear the truth or didn’t want to make positive changes? You may of said some things for their own good, but they didn’t receive it well. The relationship becomes strained because of their bad choices. This is what Paul was dealing with in his relationship with the church at Corinth.
Vs 5-11 If anyone has caused pain, he has caused pain not so much to me but to some degree—not to exaggerate—to all of you. The punishment inflicted by the majority is sufficient for that person. As a result, you should instead forgive and comfort him. Otherwise, this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. I wrote for this purpose: to test your character to see if you are obedient in everything. If you forgive anyone, I do too. For what I have forgiven—if I have forgiven anything—it is for you in the presence of Christ. I have done this so that we may not be taken advantage of by Satan. For we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Here we find out a bit more of what Paul wrote to them. There is unforgiveness in the church. There was need of discipline in the church and so the church disciplined someone. But then, after this person had repented, the church was unwilling to forgive and accept him back into the fold. We don’t know who this person is – perhaps it is the same man Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5: “It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles—a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are inflated with pride, instead of filled with grief so that he who has committed this act might be removed from your congregation. For though I am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already decided about the one who has done this thing as though I were present. When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus, turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.” It was a very grievous sin to be sure, but if the man had repented, then they needed to extend forgiveness. The Greek says they were to charizomai, extend grace to and parakaleó “encourage up close” the man. Otherwise his grief might overwhelm him. The man is begging to be forgiven, desiring to be back in fellowship with the church, yet it is being withheld from him. Paul’s letter was a test for them. Would they be obedient? And then Paul says something interesting. He is heartsick about their unforgiveness because it opens up an opportunity for Satan to take advantage of them.
I have to say, I had never thought of it this way. So, how exactly will our lack of forgiveness open up opportunities for Satan? Paul gives us a clue when he says to charizomai and parakaleo. First charizomai – to extend grace. When we do not extend grace to the repentant, it heaps more guilt on them, pushing them out of the fellowship. They are alone without believers to build them up and help them back on the path. They could eventually give up and be lost because of us. But it also does something to us – it builds up our own pride. We think they are less than us and we are so much better because we would never do what they did. We forget that we too have been extended amazing and undeserved grace from God Almighty. When we don’t parakaleo or extend sincere encouragement to those who are looking to repent and walk again in righteousness, we will leave them broken on the side of the road instead of lovingly brought back into the fold. It will harden our heart toward people around us who need a touch of grace and mercy. We dare not allow Satan that foothold in our lives. Instead, we need to release the grace God has given us to those believers who are truly desirous of walking in righteousness.
Vs. 12-3:3 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door for me. I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus, but I said good-bye to them and left for Macedonia. But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. And who is competent for this? For we are not like the many who market God’s message for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God. Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, recognized and read by everyone. It is clear that you are Christ’s letter, produced by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God—not on stone tablets but on tablets that are hearts of flesh.
Paul begins this portion of his letter outlining why God opened up the way for him to go on to Macedonia. He was preaching in Troas and God was opening doors for him. Paul shows us here that we are to watch for those open doors. One of the reasons Paul changed his plans was because he felt the door was closed for that time in Corinth, but God was opening up a way to go to Macedonia. Paul was following God – and sometimes that means plans will change. This is what we need to be ready for. We may have our own plans, but we need to release those and allow God to guide us on His path. Remember that rod? That was it’s other function – to guide the sheep on the right path. Another thing Paul points out is, as we walk that path God has set out for us, we are to be the fragrance of Christ. Our lives are to exhibit Christ in all things. For some, this will lead them to a life of righteousness and peace and for others, it may remind them of the wrong path they are on. Paul is urging the Corinthian church to follow God in all things. Extend forgiveness to the repentant man and bring him back into the fold. Be the fragrance of Christ to those around them, so they will be the living, walking letter of God extending grace and encouragement.
This is God’s word to us as well. Plans are great, but be open to the plans God has – even if it means changing course. Don’t allow Satan a foothold by your unforgiveness. Instead, extend that amazing grace you have been gifted with to those who ask for it. Help lead them back to the right path and accept them back into the fold. Be the fragrance of Christ in the world. For some, it will lead them to change the course of their own lives to follow Christ. For others, it will be show them the wrong path they are on and, perhaps, lead them to the right path. Most of all, allow for discipline in your life. That rod and staff of the Good Shepherd is there for our good. God loves us and wants to keep us on the right path. Revelation 3:19 says, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” And then Job 5:17-18 “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.” Allow God to produce in us righteousness and peace and bring healing as He extends his grace and love to us.
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