3-7-06 2 Corinthians 2:7

2 Corinthians 2:7 (KJ21)
so that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

2 Corinthians 2:7 (NAS)
so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

2 Corinthians 2:7 (NIVUS)
Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

2 Corinthians 2:7 (NLT)
Now it is time to forgive him and comfort him. Otherwise he may become so discouraged that he won’t be able to recover.

You probably have a well defined sense of what is right and wrong. When you see someone who does not live up to your standard, you may feel justified in condemning that one. You may not speak the judgmental words, but your thoughts are full of the punishment that should be meted out. This attitude is contrary to God's word and His heart.

A better attitude is to forgive. You should extend pardon and kindness. You should graciously grant the offender your favor. This is a gift that you should bestow liberally and with pleasure. Instead of thinking ill of another's actions and behavior, you should think well of him and desire that he have a calm and happy life.

If you sin but are repentant, you would want others to extend comfort and consolation to you, even so you should do the same for others. You want to know that you can draw near to your fellow believers without fear; you want them to continue to be good to you. You, therefore, should be good to others. Otherwise these precious ones could feel like they are being swallowed by grief or sorrow; an abundance of heaviness and sadness may devour them.

So always be quick to forgive any offense; in this way, you will promote the well being of your brothers and sisters.