1 Corinthians 6
1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?
2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! 4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church? 5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Disputes in the Corinthian church
Dealing with disputes sensibly (v1-4)
6 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?
2 Or do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, do you ask for a ruling from those whose way of life is scorned in the church?
(please preserve the indentation and highlight)
Dealing with disputes sensibly (v1-4)
- Outrageous to appeal to the unjust – How dare you?
- Ungodly (NIV) – unrighteous (ESV) – Unjust (legal context)
- Trust the judgment within the church
- Lord’s people will judge the world (Dan 7:22; Matt 19:28; Luke 22:30, Rev. 20:4)
- You will judge the angels (alluded in Heb 2:5, Jude 1:6)
- Argument from the greater to the lesser
Romans. 5:10
10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Romans 8:32
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Matthew 6:26
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
- Consider eschatological reality
- Where do we seek wisdom?
“I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church.” – Charles Spurgeon
Living and witnessing for the gospel gloriously (v5-8)
5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? 6 But instead, one brother takes another to court—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters.
- Not warning here but shaming
- I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. (1 Cor. 4:14).
- No sign of God’s wisdom
- Completely defeated – no one wins
- Completely missed the Gospel – why not rather be wronged?
Matthew 6:39-42
39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Luke 17:3-4
“If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
1 Peter 2:23
23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?
- Can we give up our “rights”?
- Giving priority to our relationships
Matthew 5:23
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 18:15
15 “If your brother or sister sins (“sins against you” in ESV), go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
- Willing to suffer loss and forgive
- Shameful to be cheating and doing wrong to our brothers and sisters
Embracing the grace of salvation wholeheartedly
(v9-11)
9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
- Know the truth, do not be deceived
- Reject the old way of life
- Look out for the “ignored” sins
- But you were washed, (but) you were sanctified, (but) you were justified.
- God is the ultimate judge
- Christ has taken away our shame
- The bleeding woman is healed and Jesus calls her “daughter” (Mark 5:25–29)
- Zaccheus is presented back to the community as a “son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9)
- The prodigal son is welcomed back into the family (Luke 15:21–32).
So, should Christians sue one another?
Final Reflection:
- Are there conflicts in my life where I need to pursue reconciliation?
- Do I seek worldly honour more than godly wisdom?
- Have I cheated or taken advantage of my brothers or sisters?
- Is my life characterised by sins like greed and deceit?
- Am I not willing to suffer loss for the sake of unity in Christ?
