The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:7 that “love bears all things.” To bear all things according to the Bible means: To roof over, to cover with silence, to preserve or to conceal the errors and faults of others.
A love that bears all things is a love that protects the other, that doesn’t expose this person’s mistakes, that doesn’t gossip about it. It is to be a shield for that person’s life.
The passage that represents this verse best is when Noah gets drunk and is exposed by one of his sons. That’s a love that exposes. Then we have the two other sons who came walking backwards and covered their father. This is what it means to bear.
Another passage we can use to express the meaning of this page is 1 Peter 4:8 NASBS that says: “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” To bear all things is to show love, and to show love is to cover a multitude of sins.
By covering a multitude of sins, I mean a love that is full of grace and ready to forgive, not a love that does not confront mistakes or accepts physical abuse. The love who bears all things is the same love that confronts and in the case of physical abuse, denounces and leaves the abuser.
The Bible speaks about it in Matthew 18:15-17 AMPC
” If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault, between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. [16] But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed and upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses. [17] If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector.”
Love does not tolerate violence against others, especially physical and verbal abuse. Love covers those who make mistakes by confronting them in prayer, hoping that they will repent and alter their ways fully.
In case the person confronted does not change, as seen in the verses above, they should be considered as someone who does not belong with you. When the mistake affects only the person involved, that mistake should be dealt with only that person. When it involves others, reconciliation should consider all parts involved. When it involves a crime, it should be reported to the authorities and dealt with accordingly.
Women, do not allow your husbands to be abusive towards you. Speak to your pastor if that is the case. Pastors, do not allow the men in your congregation to abuse their wives and children. When you see that happening, denounce it to the police and shelter the family in need. Then deal with the abuser after the police dealt with him. Don’t let abuse happen. If he genuinely repents and changes, and if the family wants to forgive him, watch very closely over that family. If he becomes abusive again, make him legally pay for it by calling the police and sheltering the family. DON’T ALLOW ABUSE IN THE FAMILIES. WOMEN, LEAVE THE ABUSER. PASTOR, PROTECT THE FAMILIES.
Again, Luke 17:3 – Strong’s Concordance w/ NASB says that: (My notes)
Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke (Call the police) him; and if he repents, forgive him (but don’t allow the abuser back to abuse again).
Love covers sin by confronting it in the hopes that there will be repentance and change. Again, love does not condone abusive husbands. Love does not condone crime. Love does not condone disrespect or disregard.
Remember: 1 Corinthians 13:6 AMPC (Love) It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Blessings,
Yury Gaudard
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