7/15/26

2 Corinthians 2:4 NASB95 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

"This hurts me more than it hurts you." The old saying that was said before the spanking comes. I imagine we have all heard it and within moments disagreed with it. However, there is much truth to the statement when we understand that hurt can be both physical and emotional.

To understand this, we must first understand love.

Love is not acceptance of sin but correction of sin. When you love someone, correction is a part of that love. However, correction is often more emotionally painful for the one who gives it.

In our text, Paul explains to the church at Corinth that he did not enjoy writing his previous letter correcting the church because he knew it brought them sorrow. In His love for them, he hurt to know that they hurt. He said, "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears."

He was broken and suffering at the thought of their sorrow. It brought him anguish and tears to correct them. He explains that he didn't do it to bring them sorrow. He says, instead, he did it "that you might know the love which I have especially for you."

His correction was done out of love. He knew that without correction, the sinful or wrong behavior would continue, and they would never mature to the point of being able to, in love, correct the next generation. Yet this is only the smallest part of the reason for his correction in love. He knew the final punishment for this lifestyle was far greater than his correction in love.

The final punishment will happen in wrath, and correction in love is always preferable to punishment in wrath.

True love is painful not just for the one who is being corrected but also for the one doing the correction. Therefore, if you love, understand that it is emotionally difficult, but it is the love of correction that prevents the punishment of wrath.

Then for us who are corrected, we need to understand that the correction comes out of love. When we realize this, then we can see that our repentance and righteous living brings joy to the one who suffers in love for our sake.

Jesus suffered in love for our sake; will we accept His loving correction and attempt to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit? If so, then His joy can be found in us.

Love Brother Scott