Lesson 461

(Lesson 461)(11-19-12) 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren."

In this lesson, Paul ridicules those in the Church who would take a brother/sister to a court outside the Church.

He is, clearly, telling Church members, who find fault with their brothers or sisters, to settle their own disputes, even if it requires bringing in an objective brother/sister to help with the matter.

Paul goes on to advise them they should forgive those who take advantage, "Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren." Matt. 5:40, "And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also."
The great lesson within this text is that tolerance should be the standard between Christians.~