Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 11/7/2009

Question
QUESTION: How do you reconcile the shunning and hatred of people who leave or get booted with Matthew 5:38-47? Notice verse 47 in particular. It seems like Jesus is clearly saying NOT to shun or hate anybody doesn't?

ANSWER: Hello Joshua,

Sorry for the delay and thank you for your patients.  If you read any of my latest answers you will se why I have taken time to get back to you.

You may not agree with the what I have written but I do hope I have explained our to you  the biblical explanation as to the way we see it behind your question.

The text you mention from Matthew 5:38-47 is a very important text for all Christians to live by.  JWs are encouraged to take it very seriously, so, I can understand why you feel it seems to be contrary to our stand on disfellowshiping.

To understand just what Jesus was getting at perhaps we should consider his audience and the general ideas that prevailed at that time.  The Sermon on the Mount (matt chapter 5 to end of chapter 7) was early in his preaching and teaching sojourn and there were not many followers at that time.  People came to listen to this remarkable teacher because he was after all just a carpenter but he spoke with authority that their religious leaders did not have did not have …(Matthew 7:28-29 “28 Now when Jesus finished these sayings, the effect was that the crowds were astounded at his way of teaching; 29 for he was teaching them as a person having authority, and not as their scribes.”)

What was the point of his words at Matt 5?   Those present on that occasion were Jews, who were aware of God’s command: “You must not take vengeance nor have a grudge against the sons of your people; and you must love your fellow as yourself.” (Lev. 19:18) First-century Jewish religious leaders held that “the sons of your people” and “your fellow” referred only to Jews. The Mosaic Law required that the Israelites stay separate from other nations, but the viewpoint had developed that all non-Jews were enemies, to be hated as individuals.

In contrast, Jesus declared: “Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you.” (Matt. 5:44) His disciples were to act lovingly toward all who showed hostility to them. According to the Gospel writer Luke, Jesus said: “I say to you who are listening, Continue to love your enemies, to do good to those hating you, to bless those cursing you, to pray for those who are insulting you.” (Luke 6:27, 28) Like first-century individuals who took Jesus’ sayings to heart, we should “do good to those hating” us by responding to any hostility with gracious actions. We “bless those cursing” us by speaking to them in a kind way. And we “pray for those persecuting” us with physical violence or other forms of “insulting” treatment. Such petitions are loving requests that persecutors might have a change of heart and take action that brings them God’s favor.

Why show love for our enemies? “That you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens,” said Jesus. (Matt. 5:45) If we heed that counsel, we become “sons” of God in that we imitate him, who “makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous.” As Luke’s account puts matters, God “is kind toward the unthankful and wicked.”—Luke 6:35.

Stressing how important it was for his disciples to ‘continue loving their enemies,’ Jesus said: “If you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing?” (Matt. 5:46, 47) If we were to limit our love to those who reciprocate, this would not merit any “reward,” or favor, from God. Even tax collectors, who were generally despised, showed love for people who loved them.—Luke 5:30; 7:34.

The common Jewish greeting included the word “peace.” (Judges. 19:20; John 20:19) This was an implied wish for the health, welfare, and prosperity of the person greeted. It would not be an “extraordinary thing” if we were to greet only those whom we consider to be our “brothers.” As Jesus pointed out, something similar was done by “people of the nations.”

Inherited sin made it impossible for Christ’s disciples to be flawless, perfect. (Rom. 5:12) Yet, Jesus concluded this part of his discourse by saying: “You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) He was thereby encouraging his listeners to imitate their “heavenly Father,” by perfecting their love—making it complete by loving their enemies. The same thing is expected of us.

Later on in Jesus’ ministry we find these words as recorded at Matthew 18 :15-17 “15 “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 17 If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector.”  

Jesus knew that there would arise some problems in the congregation and he set out a method of resolving them.  Notice that the individual that did not respond to council and become reconciled to the congregation was to be traded as one of the nations and as a tax collector.  Now to a Jew a tax collector was not liked.  There were a “hated” profession. The treatment though was not to be one of total abandonment as Paul shows in his letter to the Corinthians.  In his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 5 we find this account

(1 Corinthians 5:1-13) 5 Actually fornication is reported among YOU, and such fornication as is not even among the nations, that a wife a certain [man] has of [his] father. 2 And are YOU puffed up, and did YOU not rather mourn, in order that the man that committed this deed should be taken away from YOUR midst? 3 I for one, although absent in body but present in spirit, have certainly judged already, as if I were present, the man who has worked in such a way as this, 4 that in the name of our Lord Jesus, when YOU are gathered together, also my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 YOU hand such a man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, in order that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 6 YOUR [cause for] boasting is not fine. Do YOU not know that a little leaven ferments the whole lump? 7 Clear away the old leaven, that YOU may be a new lump, according as YOU are free from ferment. For, indeed, Christ our passover has been sacrificed. 8 Consequently let us keep the festival, not with old leaven, neither with leaven of badness and wickedness, but with unfermented cakes of sincerity and truth. 9 In my letter I wrote YOU to quit mixing in company with fornicators, 10 not [meaning] entirely with the fornicators of this world or the greedy persons and extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, YOU would actually have to get out of the world. 11 But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. 12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do YOU not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked [man] from among yourselves.”

Notice verse 11 “ But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man”

The apostle John also gave a warning about those that have gone astray from the faith (2 John 9-11) “9 Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. He that does remain in this teaching is the one that has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to YOU and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into YOUR homes or say a greeting to him. 11 For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.”

The admonition here is not say a greeting or we may become “a sharer in his wicked works.”

After al that can I assure you that disfellowshiping NOT a first resort.  It should be the last possible avenue open to the congregation in order to keep it “spiritually clean”.  ALL effort must be made by the congregation to help a “straying” individual first from their “wrong” course. Like any juridical matters there are mistake can and have been made.  A person that had been told that they are to be disfellowshiped has 2 lines of appeal that they can take.

If a person is disfellowshiped they are welcomed back into the congregation as in the example recorded at 2 Corinthians 2:5-10  (this appears to be referring to the man in the account of 1 Corinthians 5) ““5 Now if anyone has caused sadness, he has saddened, not me, but all of YOU to an extent—not to be too harsh in what I say. 6 This rebuke given by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary now, YOU should kindly forgive and comfort [him], that somehow such a man may not be swallowed up by his being overly sad. 8 Therefore I exhort YOU to confirm YOUR love for him. 9 For to this end also I write to ascertain the proof of YOU, whether YOU are obedient in all things. 10 Anything YOU kindly forgive anyone, I do too. In fact, as for me, whatever I have kindly forgiven, if I have kindly forgiven anything, it has been for YOUR sakes in Christ’s sight. “

When a person really demonstrated that they have repented of their serious sin they are again accepted back into the fold.

So yes we do take Matthew 5 seriously, and we reconcile with the fact that the congregation must be kept free of the influences of Satan and the general “world”.  Sometimes this means removing one from our midst IF they show no contrition or repentance, but the way is always open for them to return.  We also follow the advice of Paul and John  by “never receive him into YOUR homes or say a greeting to him.” Or  mixing in the company of such a one..  


Please feel free to ask for any clarifying questions





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your detailed answer. The two thoughts that come to mined though are that I don't see that Paul was talking about people that say they don't believe Jesus came back "invisibly" in 1914 or that the Watchotwer is "Jehovah's corporation/faithful and discrete slave", in other words I don't think some of the people the Watchtower gets rid of are the serious sinnners Paul was talking about.

The other concern is what the Watchtower has said about deep hatred for the invidual themselves, such as in the Watchtower 1952 1st October page 599 where it says ""Haters of God and his people are to be hated, but this does not mean that we will take any opportunity of bringing physical hurt to them in a spirit of malice or spite, for both malice and spite belong to the Devil, whereas pure hatred does not. We must hate in the truest sense, which is to regard with extreme and active aversion, to consider as loathsome, odious, filthy, to detest."
and The Watchtower October 1, 1993 p.19

"When they deliberately choose such badness after knowing what is right, when the bad becomes so ingrained that it is an inseparable part of their makeup, then a Christian must hate (in the Biblical sense of the word) those who have inseparably attached themselves to the badness. True Christians share Jehovah’s feelings toward such apostates; they are not curious about apostate ideas. On the contrary, they ’feel a loathing’ toward those who have made themselves God’s enemies, . . ."

I mean some of the "haters of God" they are talking about are people that simply don't find that Jesus returned "Invisibly" in 1914 in the Bible. Infact Jesus said beware of anybody that said he returned in Matthew 24:26,27 didn't he? And how is it a grave sin to say you don't find the Watchtower being "Jehovah's corporation" anywhere in the Bible? I just don't understand how that is serious sin. And could you clarify the Watchtower's position on beards and long hair? My understanding is it's not a full official disfellowshingping offense but it is a "bad standing" thing? I know there's one spot where Paul mentioned long hair, but where could you get the idea that beards are bad in the Bible?  

Answer
Hello Joshua,

Thank you for the follow up, and for being patient with me.

When we look at the words of Paul we find he had to give council about staying by the things that were taught.  Note what he said to Timothy (CAPITALS MINE FOR EMPHASIS)

1 Timothy 4:11-16.. “11 KEEP ON GIVING THESE COMMANDS AND TEACHING THEM. 12 Let no man ever look down on your youth. On the contrary, become an example to the faithful ones in speaking, in conduct, in love, in faith, in chasteness. 13 While I am coming, continue applying yourself to public reading, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not be neglecting the gift in you that was given you through a prediction and when the body of older men laid their hands upon you. 15 Ponder over these things; be absorbed in them, that your advancement may be manifest to all [persons]. 16 Pay constant attention to yourself and to your teaching. STAY BY THESE THINGS, FOR BY DOING THIS YOU WILL SAVE BOTH YOURSELF AND THOSE WHO LISTEN TO YOU.”..

2 Timothy 4:2-5..” 2 preach the word, be at it urgently in favorable season, in troublesome season, reprove, reprimand, exhort, with all long-suffering and [art of] teaching. 3 For there will be a period of time when THEY WILL NOT PUT UP WITH THE HEALTHFUL TEACHING, BUT, IN ACCORD WITH THEIR OWN DESIRES, THEY WILL ACCUMULATE TEACHERS FOR THEMSELVES TO HAVE THEIR EARS TICKLED; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. 5 You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do [the] work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.”..

In 2 Tim. Above we see the warning that some will want to have glory for themselves and will deviate from what was taught them and mislead many.  This starts when we begin to insist on our thoughts being correct and what is taught is wrong.

You are correct there are some that are disfellowshiped for what seems a minor infraction of not believing something.  However this is not generally the case.  That sort of action is taken when some one tries to teach what they think is what the Bible teaches.  This causes divisions and the Bibles council is that there should be no divisions.

1 Corinthians 1:10... "Now I exhort YOU, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that YOU should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among YOU, but that YOU may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought." see also Acts 20:30 "and from among YOU yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves."


The Bible forewarned that there would be an apostasy from with in the congregation. The causing of divisions can certainly lead to that.

2 Thessalonians 2:3..."Let no one seduce YOU in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. "
Here are some other texts that show us that to follow the Christ there is a need to be watchful  and the results that caused some to be expelled from the congregation for what they were teaching

1 Timothy 1:16-20..."16 But shun empty speeches that violate what is holy; for they will advance to more and more ungodliness, 17 and their word will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of that number. 18 These very [men] have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they are subverting the faith of some 19 holding faith and a good conscience, which some have thrust aside and have experienced shipwreck concerning [their] faith. 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander belong to these, and I have handed them over to Satan that they may be taught by discipline not to blaspheme."


Hebrews 3:12... “Beware, brothers, for fear there should ever develop in any one of YOU a wicked heart lacking faith by drawing away from the living God”

2 Peter 2:1-3... “1 However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among YOU. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. 2 Furthermore, many will follow their acts of loose conduct, and on account of these the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively. 3 Also, with covetousness they will exploit YOU with counterfeit words. But as for them, the judgment from of old is not moving slowly, and the destruction of them is not slumbering.”


In this next text it gives a description on how the first century Christians were to view those that departed. The picture presented here is not flattering.  Take particular note of verse 22

2 Peter 2:15-22... "15 “Abandoning the straight path, they have been misled. They have followed the path of Balaam, [the son] of Beor, who loved the reward of wrongdoing, 16 but got a reproof for his own violation of what was right. A voiceless beast of burden, making utterance with the voice of a man, hindered the prophet’s mad course. 17 These are fountains without water, and mists driven by a violent storm, and for them the blackness of darkness has been reserved. 18 For they utter swelling expressions of no profit, and by the desires of the flesh and by loose habits they entice those who are just escaping from people who conduct themselves in error. 19 While they are promising them freedom, they themselves are existing as slaves of corruption. For whoever is overcome by another is enslaved by this one. 20 Certainly if, after having escaped from the defilements of the world by an accurate knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they get involved again with these very things and are overcome, the final conditions have become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have accurately known the path of righteousness than after knowing it accurately to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 The saying of the true proverb has happened to them: “The dog has returned to its own vomit, and the sow that was bathed to rolling in the mire.”...

Jude 8 , 11..."8 In like manner, notwithstanding, these men, too, indulging in dreams, are defiling the flesh and disregarding lordship and speaking abusively of glorious ones. . .11 Too bad for them, because they have gone in the path of Cain, and have rushed into the erroneous course of Ba′laam for reward, and have perished in the rebellious talk of Ko′rah"...


You mention the Watchrower of October 1 1952.  The portion you quote is from paragraph 11 many I quote from paragraph 14?

14 Jehovah’s people express as their own other prophetic words: “Awake thou to help me, and behold. Even thou, O Jehovah God of hosts, the God of Israel, arise to visit all the nations: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. They return at evening, they howl like a dog.” Here the enemies of Jehovah are viewed just like flea-bitten, mangy, scavenger dogs. “Scatter them by thy power, and bring them down, . . . let them even be taken in their pride, and for cursing and lying which they speak. Consume them in wrath, consume them, so that they shall be no more: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob, unto the ends of the earth.” (Ps. 59:4-6, 11-13, AS) These are the true sentiments, desires and prayers of the righteous ones today. Are they yours? You may be sure they will be to the extent you know and love the name Jehovah. If you do not know him, then obviously you will be unconcerned about what happens. But if you love Jehovah then you will be greatly concerned about what happens to his holy name, and about those who would cast it into the mud, slime and filthiness of this degenerated, disgusting old system of things.


The writers of the articles have learned not to use such colorful language  as in that particular article.  The point of the article is saying that if we love God we will love what he loves and hate what he hates

Proverbs 8:13…”The fear of Jehovah means the hating of bad. Self-exaltation and pride and the bad way and the perverse mouth I have hated”. . .

Proverbs 6:16-19.. “16 There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: 17 lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, 18 a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, 19 a false witness that launches forth lies, and ANYONE SENDING FORTH CONTENTIONS AMONG BROTHERS”…

Zechariah 8:17…” And calamity to one another do not YOU scheme up in YOUR hearts, and do not love any false oath; for these are all things that I have hated,’ is the utterance of Jehovah”..

Malachi 2:16…” For he has hated a divorcing,” Jehovah the God of Israel has said; “and the one who with violence has covered over his garment,” Jehovah of armies has said. “And YOU must guard yourselves respecting YOUR spirit, and YOU must not deal treacherously.


(Proverbs 8:13) 13 The fear of Jehovah means the hating of bad. Self-exaltation and pride and the bad way and the perverse mouth I have hate. . .


Isaiah 61:8…” 8 For I, Jehovah, am loving justice, hating robbery along with unrighteousness. And I will give their wages in trueness, and an indefinitely lasting covenant I shall conclude toward them.”..


(Hebrews 12:5-6) . . .“My son, do not belittle [the] discipline from Jehovah, neither give out when you are corrected by him; 6 for whom Jehovah loves he disciplines; in fact, he scourges every one whom he receives as a son.”

Our way of life SHOULD be one that shows we are trying to develop Christ like qualities,

I could not find what you might have been referring to in The Watchtower October 1, 1993 p.19


BEARDS in them selves are not bad.  JWs can sport a beard.  I know of a few and they have not been disfellowshiped for it. There is an active JW in my Congregation with a beard.  If a JW does grow a beard they are very likely not have any responsibilities or privileges in most congregations.  Beards, like other forms of grooming are a conscience matter and are dictated by the Bibles council at 1 Timothy 2:9-10 . . .”Likewise I desire the women to adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive garb, 10 but in the way that befits women professing to reverence God, namely, through good works”....  The council is directed to women but the principle applies to all that profess to follow Jesus.  Now in most places a beard is recognised as belonging to different religious groups or unkempt and sometimes lawbreakers.  We do not want to accidentally put ourselves in a situation were we become mistaken for one of these groups. The same goes for all our forms of grooming.  We do not want to be Associated with minority groups that might have a bad reputation. This applies to all our grooming.  We will not be stopped if our grooming reflects an unfavourable type of appearance, we just have no responsibilities or privilages