Forbearance in Scripture

The Bible passages below can be used in sermons, prayers, pastoral care, or worship planning focused on forbearance. 

In the Bible, God's forbearance is central to God's character. It is a point of praise for the psalmist and the hope of the prophets (Jonah being the noteworthy exception). While the Bible makes clear that God's willingness to restrain wrath against human sin is vast, it makes equally clear that it is not infinite (see 2 Peter 3:8-10 and Revelation 16). When writing sermons on forbearance, preachers will need to carefully consider their context to determine which point demands greater emphasis. 

• Genesis 6, God's forbearance in establishing a covenant (Noah and the flood) 
• Exodus 34:6-7, God's forbearance at Sinai (the Lord has mercy and forgives iniquity) 
• Psalm 103:8, abundant forbearance (the Lord is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love) 
• Psalm 145:8, abundant forbearance (the Lord is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in love) 
• Joel 2:13, forbearance from punishment (God is gracious and merciful, and relents from punishing) 
• Jonah 4:2, Jonah's plea for forbearance (God sticks with Jonah despite his disobedience) 
• Mark 12:1-12, limits to God's forbearance (the parable of the tenants) 
• Romans 2:4, the aim of forbearance (don't you realize that God's patience is meant to lead you to repentance?) 
• 2 Peter 3:9, forbearance for the sake of repentance (God is patient, not wanting any to perish but all to repent) 
• Revelation 16, limits to God's forbearance (the seven bowls of God's wrath) 

Sermon ideas about forbearance

A sermon on forbearance can use an illustration from parenthood. Every parent has been there: A child disobeys. A warning is issued. The child disobeys again. Another warning is issued. The child disobeys a third time. A third warning is issued. Finally, after the fourth offense, the parents' patience reaches its limit. They explain to their protesting child that that even though it was not their desire to punish, they have not been left with any other choice. Love and justice demand it.  

This simple scenario gives us one picture into the way God chooses to relate to human children. The key difference, however, is that instead of punishing us, the Triune God chooses to absorb the consequences of our disobedience. This is the Lord's gift to us in Jesus Christ — if only we will receive it. 

The Bible and Christian tradition describe a God who is patient, long-suffering, and slow to anger (or, more literally, long of anger). Thanks be to God for our God's long, slow, abundant patience. 

Excerpts about forbearance 

Following are sample excerpts from Zeteosearch.org sermon resources about forbearance: 

• "Why does Paul mention patience and putting up with each other? Because he knows what happens in genuine Christian community. We can rhapsodize idealistically about the glories of Christian fellowship, but if we really get in and share life with our brothers and sisters, we start to bug each other." Sermon Illustration, Sermon Preparation by Mark D. Roberts from Theology of Work  

• "You call us to account for our self- and other-destruction, yet you hold yourself to such a standard of life that you restrain yourself from holy devastation, even though it is our due." Prayer by Rachel G. Hackenberg from Rachel Hackenberg's site  

Worship ideas about forbearance 

Following are sample excerpts from Zeteosearch.org worship resources about forbearance: 

• "Oh God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." Prayer by Barbara Clementine Harris from Gathered Prayers