Verse 13. The idea of longsuffering (v. 12) is expanded by two verbal adjectives: bearing with one another and forgiving each other. The first means to endure,- to suffer, and even to permit others to walk over you, your ideas, and your plans (I Cor. 6 :7 ). The second implies not only a difference of opinion or method, but also that one has been wronged. In such a case we must not only bear with the brother, but also forgive him, to wipe the debt off the books (Luke 7:42). To say, “I forgive, but I won’t forget” is less than Chris tian. “But he’ll turn right around and take advantage of me,” you say. So what did our Lord advise? Mat thew 18:21, 22! We must not hold a grudge or even a memory of the transgression. “If anyone has a complaint.” If any brother has a just reason to ask for redress against another, he is to follow the process outlined in Mat thew 18:15-17. A g a in s t a n o th e r probably refers to another brother, though we also ought to forgive un believers as did our Lord (Rom. 5: 8 ). “Even as also the Lord.” In the same manner and to the same ex tent that our Lord, the Judge (John 5:22-27, 30) forgave, so must we. He paid a terrible price for our for giveness, none of which was forced upon Him. He did it out of love. He is called “Lord” here to remind us that it was not the human Jesus, but the exalted Creator and Ruler of the universe who suffered in our place. Verse 14. “And above all these things” means that in addition to all mentioned in verses 12, 13, the fol lowing is the capstone and is that which gives life and meaning to the new man (v. 10) (put on) love. He praised them for their love in 1 :4. Now he wants them to increase and develop perfect love for all men, the mark of the Christian (John 13:35). “Which is the bond of perfection.” Love holds all the graces together in
the new man and draws the Christian through them on to perfection. The word translated “bond” is the same as in 2:19; Ephesians 4:3; Acts 8: 23, and means “hold together with chains.” So great is love that with out it the other graces become hollow mockery. By it the new man is fash ioned into the image of the Creator (v. 10). Verse 15. “And let the peace of Christ.” God is desirous of giving us peace — not the absence of war, strife, or even problems. Instead, it is the integration of the personality in the midst of twentieth century turmoil (John 16:33). Not only are you to let peace in, but to let it rule your hearts. Peace must be predominant in our nature; it must preside over our daily strug gle, and must govern our hearts as we seek the solutions to our prob lems. At the end of the sentence, Paul tacks on another command, seeming ly unrelated: “And be thankful.” Peace is not an armed truce, but rather reconciliation with God. Be fore we can be at peace with Him and with ourselves, our whole lives must be turned around (2:20-3:14). Verse 16. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” is the ninth and last command on the development of the Christian personality. Allow this message about Christ to come into and fill your heart. Let it do so by careful listening, much reading, pro found study, and constant medita tion. We should know the whole Bi ble, but especially all of the New Testament. In this case, “richly” means “greatly” or “abundantly.” “In all wisdom.” Not worldly but divine wisdom (I Cor. 2:5-8). (See 1:9; Eph. 1:8.) It is not enough to know and even memorize the Word. No! We must think it through until we understand the implications of each passage (v. 2 ). Let us seek more wisdom (James 1:5; I Cor. 2: 16). 29
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