DAILY TEXT, From today Friday February 10, Jehovah is good to all, and his mercy is seen in all his works (Ps. 145:9).

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Friday February 10

Jehovah is good to all, and his mercy is seen in all his works (Ps. 145:9).

Jesus told the poignant parable of the prodigal son to teach that Jehovah loves to show mercy. The son in the parable ran away from home and “wasted his inheritance leading a riotous life” (Luke 15:13). In time, he repented of the immoral life he had led, humbled himself, and returned home. How did your father react? Jesus said: “While he was still a long way away, his father caught sight of him and was deeply moved. He ran to meet him, hugged him and kissed him tenderly. Instead of humiliating him, the father showed him mercy, forgave him, and accepted him back into his family. The son had committed many sins, but his father forgave him because he had repented. The merciful father in the parable represents Jehovah. With this moving example, Jesus taught that his Father desires to forgive sinners who are heartily repentant (Luke 15:17-24). w21.10 8 par. 4; 9 para. 6.

CAN EXPULSION BE A SHOW OF MERCY?

According to Hebrews 12:5, 6, why can we say that the expulsion is a show of mercy? What example helps us understand it?

When it is announced in a meeting that someone we love is “no longer Jehovah's Witness,” we feel a deep sadness. We may wonder if it was necessary to expel him. Is expulsion really a show of mercy? Yes it is. If someone needs discipline, the wisest, most merciful and loving thing to do is to give it to them (Prov. 13:24). Can disfellowshipping help an unrepentant sinner change his attitude? Yes. Many who have committed serious sin have found that the firm steps the elders took were the jolt they needed to come to their senses, change their behavior, and return to the arms of Jehovah.​—Read Hebrews 12:5, 6 ).

Let's think about this example. The shepherd of a flock notices that one of his sheep is sick. He knows that to treat this particular disease he has to isolate the sheep from the rest of the flock. But sheep are social beings. They want to be with the others and tend to get upset when taken out of the herd. So if the shepherd isolates a sheep to treat it, does that mean that he is being cruel to it? Of course not. He knows that if he allows the sheep to stay with the flock, the disease will spread. So isolating the sick one protects the whole flock (compare Leviticus 13:3, 4).

Why can the person expelled be compared to a sick sheep? And what help do the expelled have?

We could say that an expelled person is like that sheep, because he is sick in a spiritual sense (James 5:14). Like some physical illnesses, spiritual illness can be highly contagious. Therefore, in some cases it is necessary to isolate the person from the congregation. This disciplinary measure is an expression of Jehovah's love for faithful members of the flock and can touch the sinner's heart and cause him to repent. While he is expelled, he has the possibility to attend meetings, where he can receive spiritual nourishment and strengthen his faith again. You can also get publications for your personal use and watch JW Broadcasting®. And, when the elders observe that you are making changes, they can occasionally give you advice and guidance to help you recover so that you can be readmitted as a Jehovah's Witness.

What loving and merciful action can elders take when a sinner does not repent?

It is important to remember that only unrepentant sinners are disfellowshipped. The elders know that this is a serious matter that cannot be taken lightly. And they also know that Jehovah disciplines “to a due degree” (Jer. 30:11). They love their brothers and do not want to do anything that will damage their relationship with Jehovah. But sometimes the loving and merciful thing is to remove the sinner from the congregation.

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