Love Covers A Multitude of Sins By Mark Mayberry 8/3/2008 1 Peter 4:8... 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (KJV) 1 Peter 4:8... 8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. (NASB95) 8) Above all things have fervent charity, KJV. Keep fervent in your love, NASB95. In this context, Peter speaks of agape the highest form and expression of love. Agape love seeks the highest good of another person (Rom. 13:8-10; 1 John 4:9-10). Romans 13:8-10... 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (NASB95) 1 John 4:9-10... 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (NASB95) Such love much be fervent. The Greek word translated fervent means stretched, figuratively, zealous, earnest [Thomas 1618]. BDAG say it pertains to being persevering, with implication that one does not waver in one s display of interest or devotion, eager, earnest. It comes from a root which means to stretch or to extend (Matt. 12:13; Acts 26:1). Love of the brethren should increase and abound more and more (1 Thess. 3:12-13; 4:9-10; 2 Thess. 1:3-4). Matthew 12:13... 13 Then He *said to the man, Stretch out your hand! He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. (NASB95) Acts 26:1... 1 Agrippa said to Paul, You are permitted to speak for yourself. Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense: (NASB95) 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13... 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. (NASB95)
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10... 9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, (NASB95) 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4... 3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. (NASB95) For charity shall cover the multitude of sins, KJV. Because love covers a multitude of sins, NASB95. Solomon expressed a similar idea in saying, Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all transgressions (Prov. 10:12). Again the wise man said, He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends (Prov. 17:9). Proverbs 10:12... 12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. (NASB95) Proverbs 17:9... 9 He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends. (NASB95) How so? First of all, love helps us maintain the right attitude ourselves, cultivating patience, kindness and understanding (Eph. 4:31-32; Col. 3:12-13). Secondly, it puts the best possible interpretation on the actions of another; causing us to expect the best rather than the worst (1 Cor. 13:4-7). Ephesians 4:31-32... 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (NASB95) Colossians 3:12-13... 12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. (NASB95) 1 Corinthians 13:4-7... 4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (NASB95) However, while love suffers long, it is not spineless, feeble or blind. Sin is serious business severing our relationship with God (Josh. 7:11-12; Isa. 59:1-2). Therefore, it must be confronted and corrected (Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:5-9). Joshua 7:11-12... 11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own 2
things. 12 Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst. (NASB95) Isaiah 59:1-2... Behold, the Lord s hand is not so short 1 That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. (NASB95) Proverbs 28:13... 13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. (NASB95) 1 John 1:5-9... 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NASB95) Love requires repentance. A change of heart/life is essential; fruit-bearing is the key (Matt. 3:5-10; Acts 26:19-20). There is no limit to forgiveness, provided that genuine repentance is forthcoming (Matt. 18:21-22; Luke 17:3-4). Matthew 3:5-10... 5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan; 6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father ; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (NASB95) Acts 26:19-20... 19 So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance. (NASB95) Matthew 18:21-22... 21 Then Peter came and said to Him, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times? 22 Jesus *said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. (NASB95) Luke 17:3-4... 3 Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, I repent, forgive him. (NASB95) 3
Consider the severity of Biblical love. Biblical love is both considerate and corrective (2 Tim. 2:24-26). Faithful are the wounds of a friend, especially a friend who is committed to truth (Prov. 27:5-6). Therefore, let us not refuse such expressions of concern (Ps. 141:4-5). Sadly, many would regard loving rebukes as evidence of hatred and hostility. See F. LaGard Smith s foreword of Homer Hailey s book on the Edomites. 2 Timothy 2:24-26... 24 The Lord s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (NASB95) Proverbs 27:5-6... 5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. (NASB95) Psalm 141:4-5... 4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies. 5 Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds. (NASB95) Nathan and David. In saying Thou art the man! Nathan demonstrated much more love for David than did Joab, who by acquiescing to David s plot became a co-conspirator in crime (2 Sam. 12:7-12). David needed, not a servile, self-serving sycophant, but a companion who would speak the truth with clarity and conviction (Ps. 32:3-5; 51:1-4, 10-13). 2 Samuel 12:7-12... 7 Nathan then said to David, You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 I also gave you your master s house and your master s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife. 11 Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun. (NASB95) Psalm 32:3-5... 3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord ; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. (NASB95) Psalms 51:1-4, 10-13... 1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me 4
thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. (NASB95) Nehemiah and the Israelites. By demanding various spiritual reforms, Nehemiah sought the highest good of Israel (cf. Neh. 13). On the surface, he seemed hard, harsh and heartless. However, Nehemiah had a high regard for what was right. Repeatedly he cried, Remember me, O my God, for good (Neh. 5:19; 13:14, 22, 31). As a result, he saved the remnant from apostasy. Israel owed him an eternal debt of gratitude. Nehemiah 13... 1 On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and there was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2 because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 So when they heard the law, they excluded all foreigners from Israel. 4 Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, 5 had prepared a large room for him, where formerly they put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils and the tithes of grain, wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. 6 But during all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. 8 It was very displeasing to me, so I threw all of Tobiah s household goods out of the room. 9 Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense. 10 I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. 11 So I reprimanded the officials and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts. 12 All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses. 13 In charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen. 14 Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services. 15 In those days I saw in Judah some who were treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain and loading them on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads, and they brought them into Jerusalem on the sabbath day. So I admonished them on the day they sold food. 16 Also men of Tyre were living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, and sold them to the sons of Judah on the sabbath, even in Jerusalem. 17 Then I reprimanded the nobles of Judah and said to them, What is this evil thing you are doing, by profaning the 5
sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers do the same, so that our God brought on us and on this city all this trouble? Yet you are adding to the wrath on Israel by profaning the sabbath. 19 It came about that just as it grew dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and that they should not open them until after the sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 Then I warned them and said to them, Why do you spend the night in front of the wall? If you do so again, I will use force against you. From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness. 23 In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. 24 As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people. 25 So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin. 27 Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women? 28 Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, so I drove him away from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. 30 Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each in his task, 31 and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. (NASB95) Nehemiah 5:19... 19 Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people. (NASB95) Nehemiah 13:14... 14 Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services. (NASB95) Nehemiah 13:22... 22 And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness. (NASB95) Nehemiah 13:31... 31 and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good. (NASB95) Paul and Peter. In a similar manner, Paul proved a true supporter when he rebuked Peter for hypocrisy and prejudice (Gal. 2:11-14). Peter recognized the sincerity of Paul s actions later referring to him as our beloved brother Paul (2 Pet. 3:14-18). What if certain supporters of Peter had responded to Paul s rebuke as an unheroic attack on an aged soldier of the cross? 6
Galatians 2:11-14... 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? (NASB95) 2 Peter 3:14-18... 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (NASB95) Divine discipline is for our good that we might share in God s holiness (Heb. 12:5-11). The strongest rebuke, when justly deserved, is an expression of love (Rev. 3:15-19). Therefore, let us recognize that church discipline is restorative in nature (Matt. 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:1-5; 1 Tim. 1:18-20). When properly administered, it demonstrates fraternal love (2 Thess. 3:14-15). The one who turns a sinner back from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20). Hebrews 12:5-11... 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; 6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives. 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (NASB95) Revelation 3:15-19... 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your 7
eyes so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. (NASB95) Matthew 18:15-17... 15 If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. (NASB95) 1 Corinthians 5:1-5... 1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father s wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. 3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (NASB95) 1 Timothy 1:18-20... 18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. (NASB95) 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15... 14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (NASB95) James 5:19-20... 19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (NASB95) 8