2 Corinthians 12:21 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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2 Corinthians 12:21

Comments

This does not mean that Paul was proud and that God would have to deal with him by humbling him among them all. That idea does not fit the context at all. Paul is not talking about himself needing to be humbled, but about the effect that it would have on him if he was to have another painful visit like his second visit, in which he was forced to spend his time correcting them. What he is concerned about is that he will be deeply grieved because in spite of the true gospel which he preached among them, he finds that the Lord’s people have fallen into such a poor state and condition. If he comes and there are the sort of problems he has spoken of in verse 20, so that he needs rebuke and reprove them, it will be a visit very different to what he wants. They were his family, he loved them. And he would come among them and he would see his family, degenerate, opinionated, quarrelsome and all the rest of it. And he was one with them. That is how he felt about them. So he would be humbled with them. What gives him joy is to see believers manifesting the fruit of the Spirit, showing an eagerness to advance in understanding, and serving the Lord gladly. He explains in what way he would be humbled: because he would have to ‘bewail [mourn over, grieve over] many which have sinned, and not repented’, instead of rejoicing in their spiritual progress. Why does he put it this way? Because he wants to show how close a connection there is between his own happiness and the spiritual wellbeing of the church members. He identifies three parts of sin. First, ‘uncleanness’ – this is applied to sexual sin by us. It relates back to Old Testament ceremonial uncleanness, and it describes sexual sins that cut us off from God and make us unable to approach him. Some had not repented of this, and yet they reckon themselves to be teachers: they pray, they worship but it does them no good, and they deceive themselves. Next, ‘fornication’ – this refers to the sin itself – promiscuity. And then ‘lasciviousness’ – the engine or dynamo of sin: lust, impure thoughts, a sensual mind of one not keeping himself from impure things. Those deeds further energised by thinking. All sins have these three parts.

Application

It is possible not to repent properly, and then the sin has not gone away. It is still buried in us; it is ready to come out once again and redevelop. There was light repentance. Maybe there has been an outburst of proud anger. We say, ‘Lord, forgive me’, but we have not really repented of it. ‘I cannot live like this’, we say. ‘I do not want to inflict this upon my family and people around me.’ Well that is good. ‘I will desist. I will control myself.’ But it was not deeply enough repented of, so it comes back. But we can do that with all sorts of sins. ‘I regret saying that, I regret doing that, I regret that attitude. I regret failing in that duty.’ But have we wept it away? Has it been repented of? That is the cure. Not only for the cleansing of God but for the reorientation of our own hearts. You really reviewed your sin, not excusing yourself. You made sure you were really meant it before God and sought his forgiveness.

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Introduction

2 Corinthians 12:21 Commentary and Bible Study