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About Brenton Hepburn
Expertise
I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I can answer questions on the reliability of the NWT, the so called mind control problems, so called prophecies, and general practices and history of Jehovah’s Witnesses.....
>>>>WARNING<<<<<<
....Please be aware that there are at least ... 3 .... people here who ARE NOT practicing JWs and, (at other times there have been as many as 5.) These ones will, at times, appear to have an agenda against JWs., and will often give answers that are not correct in regard to JW teachings and practices. If you are after a answer from one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, please read some of the answers that the various experts have published before choosing someone. If you want to ask them a question that is fine, but if you want a balancing view after asking one of the NON JWs, ask a JW the same question

Experience
I have been a publisher since 1964. When I first went on the internet I found a lot of negative information dealing with Jehovah’s Witnesses covering prophecy, mind control and what many said was a very bad translation of the Bible known as the NWT. It shook my faith. After may hours researching these topics I could see why some felt that way, but, I was also able to explain why there were these misleading views. I can now set matters straight for anyone that has negative information about Jehovah’s Witness to show them that such information is at best misleading and at worst dangerous lies.

Education/Credentials
I have been a student of the Bible for many years, am trying to teach myself Biblical Greek. Was a public tax accountant for many yrars untill SEP 2009 when I gave it up.

You are here: Experts > Religion/Spirituality > Christianity - Restorationism > Jehovah`s Witness > Matthew 5:38-47 and shunning

Jehovah`s Witness - Matthew 5:38-47 and shunning

Expert: Brenton Hepburn - 10/30/2009

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

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