Resource Detail

A SHEPHERD’S HEART

2 Corinthians 7:1-16

Key Verse 7:3b

I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.

Read verse 1. What do “these promises” refer to? (6:14-18) In view of the promises what does the Apostle Paul exhort us to do? (1b)

Skim through 7:2-16 and think about the Apostle Paul’s labor in serving the Corinthians, particularly the following: 

Make room for us in your hearts (2)

I have spoken to you with great frankness (4 - NIV 2011)

Paul working together with Titus (6,13)

Godly sorrow brings repentance (9)

He remembers that you were all obedient (15)

Receiving him with fear and trembling (15)

I [am glad I can] have complete confidence in you (15)

How did the Lord bless his efforts?

Verse 3b reads, “You have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.” What does this statement indicate about the kind of heart Paul had for the members of the church in Corinth? 

A  SHEPHERD’S HEART

2 Corinthians 7:2-16 (read: 6:14-7:16)

Key Verse 7:3b

"...you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you."

In one of the places of the Bible the Apostle Paul said, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.”(1Co 11:1) It has been said, “When Jesus came to this world he fulfilled two categories of work: first, he opened the way of salvation, and second, he set the example of life. But the works Jesus accomplished are not two but one, for in Numbers 27:16-17, it is written: “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community ¹⁷ to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” So all the works Jesus fulfilled are reducible to: 1) go out; 2) come in before them; 3) lead them out; and 4) bring them in. These four branches of actions are from God’s perspective, that is, Jesus went out from God’s house. Then Jesus came back into God’s house and when he came in he did not come in all by himself; he came in before them (you and me), and he did so by leading them out (of this world) and bringing them in (to God’s house.) These four branches of work can be summed up with one word: shepherding. While Jesus was still in this world, Jesus expressed this concept when he said to the religious leaders of Israel, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:16

In regard to shepherding then, we know that Jesus is indeed the good shepherd; he set the perfect example. But practically we are not a God; we are merely God’s creation. Then what is it for a mere man like you and me to follow Jesus’ example in shepherding? I think in this passage the Apostle Paul gives us an idea.  

So we would like to think about Paul’s example in three ways: 1) Where did Paul lead the flock to?; 2) To what extent did Paul serve the flock?; 3) How was Paul enabled to serve?

I. Where did Paul lead his flock? (1; read also 2Co 6:14-18 for a background)

In leading the flock it is important to know where he is leading the flock. He needs to know the destination.  

Did Paul understand the destination? Verse 1 indicates that he did, so let us read it but let us do it from 6:14.  “¹⁴ Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? ¹⁵ What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” ¹⁷ “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”¹⁸ “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Now, verse 1: “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” So the destination (or the purpose of leadership) is “Life with God, the Lord Almighty.” In other places of the Bible this destination is called “kingdom of God.” But characteristically, we can call it, “perfect holiness.”

Verse 1 is kind of intimating. How can I (as wicked as I) purify from ‘everything’ that contaminates both body and spirit? [There are 5 items that contaminate man: 1 unbelief; 2 wickedness; 3. darkness; 4 Belial; 5 idols.] More intimidating is the expression, “perfecting holiness”. How can an unholy sinner like me secure perfect holiness? The Corinthians were (or Californians, if you will, are) a bunch of unholy sinners. How can unholy sinners reach the level of the perfect holiness of God whose name is Triple Holy? But still the Apostle Paul insists that we must get there. As of the passage, he is sitting in a driver’s seat and the Christians in the church of Corinth filled passengers’ seats. So Paul says, “We are going to the city of perfect holiness”, just like a man saying, “We are going to the Sea World in San Diego. Folks, wear set belt, every one of you – no exception.” And after wring two long epistles, Paul says at the end of the 2 Corinthians, “Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection.” A while ago, a friend of mine was wondering about the same issue: “Oh, Lord. How can I be perfectly holy?” Then one night the Lord showed him two visions: the first vision was, he went in and out of a dark cave like a mine. As he went in and come out of the cave he saw three pantheons twisted together chopped off in seven equal chunks. The second one was as he was wondering about how to control all the evil desires that arise all the time, he saw a bull with two powerful horns darting at him. He wanted to run away from it. But he could not. As he looked at it, he saw a reign (rope) was tied to the neck of the bull. So hesitatingly he reached his hand out and caught the rope. Lo and behold. The minute he caught it, the bull knelt down before him. The beast behaved just like a lamb. The two visions gave him deep conviction that as he puts trust in the Lord, the Lord empowers him to attain to perfect holiness. 

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” Here is the deal: As I mentioned a number of times, God never asks his children to do anything without first providing them with the means by which to fulfill what was being asked. 

And the promise is that as we purify ourselves the Lord not only lives but walks among us. And it is such a wonderful promise that has blessed consequences not just in the day to come but in every day life. Yesterday John and Kate visited my house. After a brief Bible study on the food to eat, I asked Johnny Pringle, “How is it going?” He said, “Life in the Lord is so good. I began to study the Bible at Cal State Long Beach when I was a sophomore. Before I met a shepherd at UBF, I did not know what to do with my life. So I changed my major 5 times. But after the Bible study I found the meaning and purpose. So to serve the Lord I majored in Aerospace Engineering. I now work at the Aero Space Engineering Department of Boeing Company. My work schedule is flexible. I can meet students any time and teach the Bible any time. I still get paid and support the family.” Kate, the newly wed bride was happy to hear that. 

II. To what extent did Paul serve the flock? (2-16)

When you know where you go, then you know the steps you need to take to get to go where you want to go. Likewise, as Paul knew where to lead the flock, he knew and took all the steps to lead the flock to the desired haven. What steps (or measures) did he take? In verses 2-16 we can find the answer. While the passage speaks for itself, I would like to highlight seven key points describing the steps he took to lead the flock out of this world. 

Make room for us in your hearts (2) 

Great is my boldness of speech toward you (4 - KJV)[I have great confidence in you – NIV]

God comforted by the coming of Titus (6)

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter I do not regret it (8)

Titus remembers that you were all obedient (15a)

Receiving him with fear and trembling (15b)

I am glad I can have complete confidence in you (16)

When you think about it, it is not difficult to see that Paul took these steps for they are designed to fit the purpose, that is, to lead them to attaining personal holiness. It is just like a life-guard working at a public swimming pool leading a child out of the pool. When he sees a child drowning to death, he jumps in, reaches out to the boy, grabs him and swims out of the pool. He takes all the steps necessary until the boy is safe. The same was true with Paul. 

Most likely while he was writing an epistle Paul was in Macedonia (7:5). While he was ministering in that area, he heard the news that the Corinthians went through all sorts of problems: quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance, disorder, impurity, sexual sin, and debauchery, just to name a few. Some folks made disparaging remarks on Apostle Paul such as saying, “Oh, he wants out money”, [When Paul encouraged them to make offerings for the saints in Jerusalem, some said “Oh, he is pulling out legs; he is a crafty fellow, treating us by trickery”. So they closed their hearts towards Paul. So Paul pleaded with them saying, “Make a room for us in your hearts for we’ve wronged no one.” 

Like all of us, he wanted to be nice to them. But when he saw their sin problems he could not quiet. After much prayer, he garnered courage, and spoke to them with great frankness. 

As the relationship grew difficult, he sent Titus as a middle man. 

He could not go there in person, so instead he wrote a letter. In his letter he helped them repent of sins, and he did so until godly sorrow arose within them. Let us read vs. 11-13. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. ¹² So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. ¹³ By all this we are encouraged.

A lot of pastors are satisfied with the members of church just attending his church once a week. But Paul went one step further: he helped his flock until they are all ‘obedient’ to the Lord. He knew that what matters is not mere church attendance but ‘obedience’ to the Lord. 

The Apostle Paul knew that he was “nothing” and yet he did not want his flock to treat him lightly, not because he is somebody but because he represents the Christ, so he says, “I am in no way inferior to the so called super apostles, although I am nothing.” So he was glad to hear that the Corinthians repent of human attitude towards God’s servant, and accepted Titus with fear and trembling. 

And he served the flock until he could have complete confidence with them. [Here ‘confidence’ refers to the confidence that they will obey the Lord despite pressures, and thus the confidence that they will eventually ‘make’ it to the presence of Lord, the confidence to finish the race, just as Mr. Christian in the Pilgrim’s Progress made it to the City of God.]

III. How was Paul empowered to serve the flock? (3b)

We live in the world where the norm is, “You eat your bread; I eat my own bread” or “I am not going to bother you; so please do not bother me.” Or “You mind your business; I mind my own.” Most often we hear people saying, “I don’t know” or “I don’t care.” Jesus also predicted this phenomenon saying, “[In the last days] because of the increase in wickedness the love of most will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12) 

When we put ourselves in the position of the Apostle Paul and the Corinthians of the first century, we can easily imagine how difficult it might have been for Paul to show such a loving concern for his flock. Think abut Paul’s circumstances in the first century. Two days ago Prince William married Kate. She was a commoner. But now she became a princess. Apparently they dated for seven years. I don’t know what exactly happened between the two during this period of time. But one thing happened for sure: Kate had such a place in William’s heart, that he proposed and the two got married. And they are more or less from the same background: same British, same color, same age, same college, same this same that. And she was pretty. No wonder that she occupied such a place in William’s heart. 

But think about Paul vs. Corinthians. Paul was a Jew, the Corinthians Gentiles. In those days, most if not all Jews treated the Gentiles as worse then dogs. Simply Jews did not associate with the Gentiles. Paul was old in physical age; perhaps he was older than I. I think most of the members of the church in Corinth must have been young, and many young college students must have been among them. So Paul could have developed apathy on them. People running News Media such as Larry King or Anderson Cooper constantly says of Kate, “Oh, she is so lovely.” No wonder that Prince William fell in love with her. But, what about the Corinthians? Were they lovely altogether? Yet, Paul kept loving them saying, “You have such a place in our hearts.” Paul was also super busy. To him, time was more valuable than any thing else, so with so many sheep scattered all around the Mediterranean Sea, he was super-busy. So easily he could have forgotten them. Think about the distance as well. Macedonia was far away from Corinth. It has been said, “Out of sight, out of mind.” Yet, he constantly remembered the flock in Corinth and kept communicating with them. In those days they did not have proper means of communication nor transportation. They did not have Internet, cell phone, Iphone, email, or anything like that. They did not have Honda or Toyota or airplane. Yet, despite the scarcity of the means to reach out Bible students, he found the ways to talk to them. 

The question then becomes “How could he do that?” “How could he love so many sheep despite so many barriers, hardships, or difficulties?” Again, the Apostle Paul says, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ.” Yet, we find it difficult to feed even one sheep. How can we do what the Scripture commands? 

I think verse 3b especially the little word “heart” has an answer to the question: “You have such a place in our hearts.” The secret lies in one’s heart. It is the matter of a heart, not circumstances. The circumstances or human conditions such as driving distance, time, differences in race, color, or gender, physical age, , language barrier, do not really matter. One can overcome them if there is a willing heart. We are farthest away from the flock of God, when our heart is far away from them. We are all with them, when we keep them close in our hearts, just as it is written (Exodus 28:29), “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the LORD.” In the same way, it is written (Isaiah 29:13a) - The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth    and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” 

Right after the Spring Conference I attended a KIMNET conference in Dallas. There one pastor pointed out that it is not enough for a church to send out missionaries. We must make it sure that all missionaries operating overseas must feel at home when they come back. Suppose you are a parent. You have a daughter. The daughter grew up under your care. She then got married and left home. Then every once in a while as she gets stressed out, she visits your house, and when she comes back, you greet her, making it sure that she feels at home. Then I was reminded of Ataiena and Nathan. I realized that they did not have “such a place” in my heart, that I would “live or die” with them. So I came out of the conference hall. I searched for a “hot spot”. I sent an email to Missionary Nathan along with the Spring Conference Report, a link to my personal ‘web-album’, and a group picture. That evening, Missionary Nathan sent me a warm, heart-moving mission report from Brazil.  

In conclusion, let us read v. 3b again, “You have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you.” This passage reminds us of what our Lord Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Our Lord Jesus set the perfect example of shepherding. In his heart, both you and I who live in this 21^st Century had such a place that he gave his life on a tree even two thousand years ago. Thank and praise be to God the Father who sent Jesus the good shepherd. Just as Paul followed the example of the Lord, may the Lord bless us to follow the example of the Apostle Paul. 

One word: you have such a place in our hearts