2 Coríntios 11:29

DISCOURSE: 2042
CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY

2 Coríntios 11:29. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?

TRULY, the testimony of a good conscience is a source of unbounded joy. There are, and ever were, those who would traduce the characters of the best of men. The Apostle Paul himself was reproached by many, yea, and by many who professed themselves Christians too, as a “weak” man, and “a fool [Note: ver. 16, 21.].” He was able, however, to give very abundant proof, that, whilst others gloried on false grounds, he had just and good ground for glorying; and that, “in no respect was he inferior, either to them, or to the very chiefest Apostles [Note: ver. 5, 21–28.].” In truth, the very things which rendered him contemptible in the eyes of many, were those which redounded most to his honour. His enemies thought that “hunger and thirst, and cold and nakedness, and persecutions” for Christ’s sake, were occasions for reproach; whereas the Apostle judged that they were grounds rather for approbation from men, and for thanksgivings to God. And, whilst he vindicated himself thus from the charges that were brought against him, he could appeal to his very enemies, and ask, whether his labours had been of a mere general and ostentatious kind; or whether they had not, even to that very hour, been so universal and particular, as to entitle him to gratitude from every member of the Christian Church: “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?”

Now, in this appeal we may see,

I. The infirmities incident to the people of God—

There were at that time, and have been in every age of the Church, some who need all possible attention from their brethren:

1. Those who are weak—

[There are “children” in the family of Christ, no less than “young men” and “fathers.” In truth, there are many who are “weak” in knowledge, having but very indistinct views of the Gospel and its attendant privileges — — — Some also are “weak” in faith, even as the Apostles themselves shewed themselves to be on many occasions [Note: Mateus 6:30; Marcos 4:40; Lucas 8:25.]: “they stagger at the promises of God;” and, when greatly tried, are unable firmly to rely upon them — — — Some, too, are “weak” in hope: for though, under the Christian dispensation, we do not see so much of doubts and fears as under the darker dispensation of the law; yet we can have no doubt but that in the apostolic age, as well as now, there were many sincere persons, who felt secret misgivings respecting their own state before God, and wanted that “full assurance of hope” which some were privileged to enjoy. In conflict, doubtless, many are “weak.” It is no easy thing to contend even with flesh and blood, and still more with the principalities and powers of darkness: not a man on earth would be able to stand, if not upheld by an almighty arm: in fact, the only way to be strong in the Christian warfare is, to feel ourselves “weak,” and to be “strong only in the Lord and in the power of his might” — — —]

2. Those who are offended—

[The consequence of weakness is, a liability to be offended and cast down by untoward circumstances of any kind. It is no uncommon thing for persons to be offended even at the very mysteries of our holy religion. When our Lord spake of our eating his flesh and drinking his blood, some of his Disciples exclaimed, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it [Note: João 6:41.]?” Upon which, our Lord, knowing in himself that his Disciples murmured at it, saith to them, “Doth this offend you? What, and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before [Note: João 6:60.]?” So, at this day, many of the sublimer truths of Christianity are “hard sayings” in the ears of some, whose “hearts, we yet hope, are, on the whole, right with God” — — — Our Lord intimated that it would be so, when he said, “Blessed is he who shall not be offended in me [Note: Mateus 11:6.].”

And, as some are offended at the word of God, so are others at his providence: especially when they see what persecutions they have to endure for righteousness’ sake, and how the ungodly triumph over the very Church and cause of God [Note: Mateus 13:21.] — — —

Nor are the falls or apostasy of professors an uncommon occasion of offence. We are apt to forget, that “all are not Israel who are of Israel.” There was a Judas even amongst the Apostles themselves: and of the immediate followers of our Lord, so many went back and walked no more with him, that even the stability of the Apostles themselves was endangered [Note: João 6:66.]

What then is,

II.

The duty of their more established brethren towards them?

Certainly the Apostle’s example is that which we ought to follow, even as he himself followed Christ: of whom it is said, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory [Note: Mateus 12:20.].”

“With the weak, then, we must be weak”—
[We are on no account to despise our weaker brethren, but to treat them with all imaginable condescension and kindness; as the Apostle himself tells us: “We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, “The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me [Note: Romanos 15:1; Romanos 15:3.].” We should listen to their statements with an attentive ear: we should enter into their feelings, and sympathize with them in their troubles: we should deal tenderly with their mistakes, and should gladly give them the advantage of our superior knowledge and experience. We should come down, as it were, upon their ground: and endeavour to make their way plain before their face. We should “strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees; and say to them that are of a fearful heart, Fear not; your God will come and save you [Note: Isaías 35:3.].”This is particularly inculcated in the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed [Note: Hebreus 12:12.].” This doubtless is the duty of ministers primarily; because they are as fathers, who ought to feel for their children with parental tenderness; and even, as mothers, to “travail in birth with them, till Christ be formed in them [Note: Gálatas 4:19,].” But it is also the duty of every true Christian: for it is said, “Bear ye one another’s burthens, and so fulfil the law of Christ [Note: Gálatas 6:2.].”]

And “those who are offended, we should burn” with ardour to restore—
[Behold the state of the Galatian Church: see them when they were in danger of being turned aside through the influence of Judaizing teachers: what zeal the Apostle manifested to keep them sound in the faith! He hesitated not to reprove even Peter himself, and that before the whole Church [Note: Gálatas 2:14.]. See the Churches, both of Rome and Corinth, when they were in danger of being drawn to act contrary to the convictions of their own minds, in reference to the eating of meats, and the observing of certain days according to the Jewish law: he enjoined the more enlightened part, who understood the nature and extent of Christian liberty, to abstain from the use of that liberty in the presence of their weaker brethren, lest they should, by the indiscreet use of it, cast a snare and a stumbling-block before any [Note: Romanos 14:1; Romanos 14:13; 1 Coríntios 8:4.]: and as for himself, he determined not to eat meat so long as the world should stand, rather than make a weak brother to offend [Note: 1 Coríntios 8:13.]. Whatever be the stumbling-block in our brother’s way, we should be inflamed with a desire to remove it, as much as we should to rescue an only child from any peril to which he was exposed. The value of his soul, and the honour of God as interested in it, should be present to our minds; and we should labour with all our might, and with the utmost tenderness of spirit, for the recovery and salvation of his soul — — —]

And now see, from hence,
1.

How arduous is the office of a minister!

[Had he indeed only to perform a certain routine of duties, his office would be easy enough: but when he has to give an account of every soul committed to his charge, and should be able to say of every individual among them, “Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” methinks the most zealous minister in the world must perform his office “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling [Note: 1 Coríntios 2:3.].” St. Paul himself was constrained to say, “Who is sufficient for these things [Note: 2 Coríntios 2:16.]?” — — —]

2. How lovely is true religion!

[Religion consists, not in the adoption of any creed, but in a conformity to the Divine image. Doubtless there is no salvation but in Christ Jesus; and, whatever measure of holiness we attain, it can form no ground of glorying before God: but the faith which alone will save us, is “a faith that worketh by love.” We may have the knowledge of angels, the liberality of saints, and the zeal of martyrs; and yet, for want of love, “be only as sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal.” See the Lord Jesus, during his ministry on earth: “He bare our sins and carried our sorrows,” first in a way of sympathy [Note: Mateus 8:16.], and afterwards as an atoning sacrifice [Note: Isaías 53:4.]. In the latter sense, this was his exclusive office; but in the former, it is ours also. Let us then shew forth in our conduct the excellence of his Gospel; and exercise towards others the tenderness and compassion which we have ever met with at his hands — — —]