Sins Against Your Brother

Luke 17:1-4
Jesus warns here that temptations to sin are inevitable, however, that is not excuse for the one through whom they come (vs. 1-2).  Our tendency would be to skim over these four verses, thinking that we surely do not introduce sins or encourage sin in people's lives.  But this is clearly not what he is referring to, since he goes on to tell us to rebuke those who are in sin and to forgive without limit (vs. 3-4).  Now that we have received these commands from Jesus, we sin by neglecting them or justifying them away (James 4:17).  So many times we overlook sins in the lives of others thinking that is love, to overlook their wrongs, and not to judge them.  However, true love holds accountable and overlooks wrongs committed against oneself (forgiveness), not overlooks sin that is consuming and killing another (I John 5:16).  We rationalize confrontation by wanting to avoid those awkward moments or not appear judgmental or unmerciful thereby showing patience and love.  But it is in love of self, not others that these desires are born.  We fear others and their responses to us rather than fear God and his commands.  To see a brother immersed in sin and ignore it is to choose self over brother, to condone his sin by our silence, and to usher in temptations to sin by our letting our brother continue in it with conscience seared, ultimately to sin against God and disobey his commands (II Thessalonians 3:15; Titus 3:10; Matthew 18:15-17).  Godly confrontation of sin is born, not out of judgement, but out of love for God, by obeying his commands, and out of love for our brother.  We also forgive without regard.  We forgive because of the forgiveness that we have received from Jesus, it is a reflection (Ephesians 4:32; Luke 7:47).  Our lack of forgiveness demonstrates a lack of forgiveness experienced.  We are quick to hold on to petty "hurts" when Christ has forgiven our innumerable and gross sins, even while we remained dead and unrepentant (Romans 5:8).  How can we hold grudges against one another in light of Jesus' mercy towards us?  Our sins against one another are nothing in light of our sins against a holy God, so also our forgiveness pales in comparison (Matthew 18:21-35).  There is no excuse to ever withhold forgiveness from another, not matter how major they may seem.  With the same measure of forgiveness we offer, the same will be reciprocated to us by God (Matthew 6:14-15; 18:35), because one stems from the other.  If one is absent then the other is absent as well.  Do not deceive yourselves into thinking otherwise.  Are we lacking in forgiveness?  Then do not try and muster up more.  Rather, go to Jesus and seek to what degree you have experienced and embraced his forgiveness, because he is the source of forgiveness, and it is in our receiving from him that we in turn forgive others (Luke 7:41-47).  To ignore either of these commands (to confront others in their sin and to forgive always) is to violate Jesus' commands and to usher in sin to those around us, and Jesus says it would be better to have a millstone tied around your neck and cast into the sea (vs. 2).  Do not take this lightly, both of these are absolutely essential to our christian testimonies and walks, thus the reason he gives such a drastic alternative (millstone) and the phrase "Pay attention to yourselves!".  Do we have the heart of Jesus in these matters?  If not, we are risking ultimate deception (Matthew 5:25).