A Pastor's Heart

2 Corinthians 11

2 Corinthians 11 (NLT)

1 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.

2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

5 But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things.

6 I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.

7 Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?

8 I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.

9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be.

10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this.

11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.

12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours.

13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.

14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.

17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.

18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.

19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!

20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.

21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too.

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.

24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.

26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.

27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.

31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.

32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me.

33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

INTRODUCTION:

This chapter presents what Paul calls his “boasting.” Keep in mind that there is “holy irony” in this chapter as Paul turns his enemies’ accusations on themselves. “Since your new teachers love to boast,” Paul says, “then I will use their approved method and do some boasting, too!” He admits that he is not following Christ’s example in this action (11:17), but he knows his “boasting” will glorify Christ because all that he has endured has been for Christ’s glory. Paul boasts over three matters.

I. A HOLY JEALOUSY OVER THE CHURCH (2 Corinthians 11:1–6)

2 Corinthians 11:1–6 (NLT)

1 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.

2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.

3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.

5 But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things.

6 I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.

A- Holy Jealousy vs. unholy Envy

1- There is a difference between jealousy and envy.

a- Envy is of the flesh and is selfish;

b- jealousy is based on love and seeks the welfare of others.

It is right for a husband to be jealous over his wife or for a pastor to be jealous over his church.

Paul compares the local church to a bride, just as in Eph. 5:22–33 he compared the church universal to Christ’s bride. Both examples are valid. Just as Israel in the OT is compared to the wife of Jehovah (“wife” because already married to Him at Sinai), so the church is called the bride of Christ (“bride” because not yet wedded to Him).

Paul’s desire was to keep the church pure, free from false doctrine and worldly living. In the OT, going after false gods is compared to adultery; in the NT, worldliness is called adultery (James 4:1–4).

Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy

James 4:1–4 (NLT)

1 What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.

3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.

4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.

B- How can a local church be seduced from Christ?

1- By following Satan’s false teachers (2 Corinthians 11:3, 13–15).

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)

3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 (NLT)

13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.

14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

a. Just as Satan deceived Eve’s mind in Gen. 3, so false teachers deceive the minds of believers and lead them away from the truth.

Single-hearted devotion (2 Corinthians 11:3) .

2 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)

3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

We cannot serve God and mammon.

How important it is for the church to stay true to the Word of God! Religious leaders today try to give us another Jesus, and not the Christ Paul preached; or another Spirit, and not the Holy Spirit of God; or another Gospel, and not the Gospel of God’s grace (see Gal. 1:6-9).

Galatians 1:6–9 (NLT)

6 I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News

7 but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

8 Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.

9 I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.

The only defense against spiritual adultery is faithfulness to the Word of God. How jealous we should be over the church for which Christ died!

II. A SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY TOWARD THE CHURCH (2 Corinthians 11:7–21)

2 Corinthians 11:7–21 (NLT)

7 Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?

8 I “robbed” other churches by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.

9 And when I was with you and didn’t have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the brothers who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be.

10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this.

11 Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.

12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours.

13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.

14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.

17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.

18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.

19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!

20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.

21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too.

A- A giving heart vs. profiteering.

1- “Paul cannot be a true apostle,” said his enemies, “otherwise he would accept money for his services.

a- The fact that he refused to accept support from the church in Corinth is proof he knows he is not an honest man.” How tragic when a good man’s generosity is judged and his motives questioned!

b- Paul uses a bit of irony here when he suggests that he committed a sin by refusing the Corinthians’ material support (2 Corinthians 11:7)!

2 Corinthians 11:7 (NLT)

7 Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?

c- He had supported himself that the ministry might not be accused (1 Cor. 9 deals with this), and still his enemies found fault!

2- He assures them that it was because he loved them that he refused their support.

a- He allowed the church at Philippi to send him support, but he did not take support from the people at Corinth, though his apostolic calling would have permitted it.

He wanted to “cut off” any opportunity his enemies would have for accusing him (2 Corinthians 11:12).

2 Corinthians 11:12 (NLT)

12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours.

B- True servants of God vs. servants of Satan.

1- For the first time, Paul openly accuses these teachers of being servants of the devil.

a- Satan’s most effective weapon is imitation (see Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43).

Matthew 13:24–30 (NLT)

24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field.

25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away.

26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew.

27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’

28 “ ‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “ ‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked.

29 “ ‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’ ”

Matthew 13:36–43 (NLT)

36 Then, leaving the crowds outside, Jesus went into the house. His disciples said, “Please explain to us the story of the weeds in the field.”

37 Jesus replied, “The Son of Man is the farmer who plants the good seed.

38 The field is the world, and the good seed represents the people of the Kingdom. The weeds are the people who belong to the evil one.

39 The enemy who planted the weeds among the wheat is the devil. The harvest is the end of the world, and the harvesters are the angels.

40 “Just as the weeds are sorted out and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the world.

41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will remove from his Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil.

42 And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

2- The Corinthians should have known that these teachers were from Satan, since their lives and ministries manifested nothing of the spirit of Christ.

a- Paul gives them a description of a carnal ministry: it is one that brings people into bondage, not liberty; it devours them selfishly; its leaders exalt themselves and not Christ; it smites the saints instead of helping to heal their wounds. (2 Corinthians 11:20)

2 Corinthians 11:20 (NLT)

20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.

How unlike Paul’s ministry! What is there about the flesh that enjoys bondage, honors, and human schemes, instead of the simple love and grace of Christ?

III. A WILLINGNESS TO SUFFER FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST (2 Corinthians 11:22–33)

2 Corinthians 11:22–33 (NLT)

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.

24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.

26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.

27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.

31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.

32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me.

33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

A- THE CREDENTIALS OF GENUINE MINISTRY:

(2 Corinthians 11:22-27)

2 Corinthians 11:22–27 (NLT)

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.

23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.

24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.

25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.

26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.

27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

1- Paul’s chief credentials of apostolic ministry were the wounds on his body that he received in serving Christ (see Gal. 6:17).

Galatians 6:17 (NLT)

17 From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.

a- Keep in mind that Paul wrote these things before the events in Acts 20 transpired, and that most of the items on this list are not even mentioned in Acts!

And the great apostle would never have mentioned them at all were it not for the fact that he was defending the Gospel.

It is an interesting fact that Paul claims that his suffering, not the praise of men, was the best proof he had for asserting his apostleship.

b- When selecting a spiritual leader, look for the scars.

These sufferings need little comment; they speak for themselves.

Suffice to say that Paul went anywhere, endured anything, that he might take the Gospel to lost souls.

Why is it that we do so much less today, when we have tools at our disposal that make the task much easier and faster?

B- The burdens of genuine ministry:

(2 Corinthians 11:28-33)

2 Corinthians 11:28–33 (NLT)

28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.

29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?

30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.

31 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying.

32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me.

33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.

1- The spiritual condition of the churches and Christ-followers.

a- It seems that Paul’s heaviest burden was “the care of all the churches.”

Spiritual battles are always more costly than physical ones.

Praying for the new Christians, feeding the lambs and the sheep, and warding off Satan’s attacks are demanding tasks.

2- Pointing to the power of God rather than self.

a- Notice that Paul did not boast of things that attested to his strengths, but rather his weaknesses!

b- While the Judaizers were boasting of their converts, Paul was counting up the number of times he had been put in jail, beaten, or left in the sea!

“I will glory in my infirmities while they boast about their powers!” he says, leading up, of course, to his account of the thorn in his flesh in chapter 12.

He closes with an especially interesting item: his escape from Damascus (Acts 9:23–25). How humiliating it must have been for this great rabbi to be lowered over a wall in a basket!

Would the Judaizers have stooped this low? No! They would have compromised their message and walked out of the city gate!

Paul faced suffering from the very first days of his ministry until the very last days. (2 Tim. 3:12)

2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)

12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Conclusion:

These attitudes Paul had toward the church ought to be in the heart of every pastor and church member today. We must be jealous over our churches and beware lest some satanic lie begin to lure the church away from true devotion to Christ. How easy it is for churches (and Christians) to rob Christ of the love He deserves. “You have left your first love!” Christ warned the church at Ephesus (Rev. 2:4). Unless Christians exercise a holy jealousy over the church, it will drift away into sin.

Likewise, we must have an unselfish and generous attitude toward the church. We should not have the attitude “How much can I get?” but rather “How much can I give?” We should be willing to sacrifice so that the church might grow for the glory of God.