“My spirit shall not act toward man indefinitely in that he is also flesh. Accordingly his days shall amount to a hundred and twenty years.” (Gen. 6:3) Later, regarding Israel’s misuse of Jehovah’s long-suffering, Isaiah said: “But they themselves rebelled and made his holy spirit feel hurt. He now was changed into an enemy of theirs; he himself warred against them.”—Isa. 63:10; compare Acts 7:51.

For these reasons Christians are entreated not to “accept the undeserved kindness of God and miss its purpose.” (2 Cor. 6:1) They are counseled: “Do not be grieving [saddening] God’s holy spirit.” (Eph. 4:30, Kingdom Interlinear Translation) Also, “Do not put out the fire of the spirit.” (1 Thess. 5:19) Otherwise they may continue to the point of sin and blasphemy against God’s spirit, in effect outraging it, in which case there is no repentance or forgiveness, only destruction awaiting such ones.—Matt. 12:31, 32; Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-31.

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ exemplified long-suffering among humans. Of him, the prophet Isaiah wrote: “He was hard pressed, and he was letting himself be afflicted; yet he would not open his mouth. He was being brought just like a sheep to the slaughtering; and like a ewe that before her shearers has become mute, he also would not open his mouth.” (Isa. 53:7) He put up with the weaknesses of his apostles and the insults and discourtesies heaped upon him by bitter, vicious enemies. Yet he did not retaliate in kind, by word or action. (Rom. 15:3) When the apostle Peter acted injudiciously in cutting off the ear of Malchus, Jesus reproved him with the words: “Return your sword to its place, . . . do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than twelve legions of angels? In that case, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must take place this way?”—Matt. 26:51-54; John 18:10, 11.

CHRISTIANS

From the foregoing it is evident that long-suffering originates with Jehovah God. It is a fruit of his spirit. (Gal. 5:22) Man, made in the image and likeness of God, has a measure of this quality and can develop it by following God’s Word and the direction of his holy spirit. (Gen. 1:26, 27) Christians are therefore commanded to cultivate and display this quality. (Col. 3:12) It is an identifying mark of a minister of God. (2 Cor. 6:4-6) The apostle Paul says: “Be long-suffering toward all.” (1 Thess. 5:14) He indicates that it is essential to exercise this quality in order to be pleasing to God. But one’s long-suffering is not genuine if it is accompanied with grumbling and complaining. Paul shows that the commendable thing is to “be long-suffering with joy.”—Col. 1:9-12,

REWARDS

Aside from the joy that one gets through the practice of long-suffering, the rewards are great. Jehovah is rewarded by having his name glorified. The challenge against the righteousness and rightfulness of his sovereignty is proved wrong and he is vindicated. (Gen. 3:1-5; Job 1:7-11; 2:3-5) What if he had put Adam, Eve and Satan to death at the time of the rebellion? Some might have concluded that Satan had a point in his challenge. But by long-suffering Jehovah gave opportunity to men to prove under test that they prefer his sovereignty over them, that they want to serve him because of his fine qualities; yes, to demonstrate that they prefer Jehovah’s sovereignty to complete independence, knowing that it is far better.—Ps. 84:10.

Jesus Christ, because of long-suffering in obedience to God, received a most marvelous reward, being exalted to the superior position of kingship and given “the name that is above every other name,” by his Father. (Phil. 2:5-11) Besides this, he receives a “bride” made up of his spiritual brothers, the New Jerusalem, which is represented as a city the foundation stones of which have on them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.—2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 21:2, 9, 10, 14; 1 Pet. 2:4, 5.

Likewise, the reward is rich for all persons cultivating long-suffering and maintaining it in harmony with God’s purpose. (Heb. 6:11-15) They have the satisfaction of copying God’s quality, of doing God’s will, and of having God’s approval. Additionally, their long-suffering will bring accomplishment in helping others to know God and to gain everlasting life.—1 Tim. 4:16.

LOOSE CONDUCT

The Hebrew word for this expression is used particularly with regard to sexual affairs. The Greek word has the sense of wantonness, shocking public decency; shameless conduct, especially with regard to sex.

The Bible applies the expression “loose conduct” to fornication, adultery and sodomy and other forms of physical immorality. It is also used in a symbolic way to describe spiritual unfaithfulness.

“OUT OF THE HEART”

Jesus points out that loose conduct is more than merely a physical or mental property. He says: “From inside, out of the heart of men, injurious reasonings issue forth: fornications, . . . adulteries, . . . loose conduct, . . . All these wicked things issue forth from within and defile a man.” (Mark 7:20-23) Corrupting the heart, out of which are “the sources of life” (Prov. 4:23), loose conduct will keep its practicer from gaining everlasting life. It is one of the “works of the flesh,” one of the fleshly desires that “carry on a conflict against the soul.” “Those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom,” says God’s Word.—Gal. 5:19, 21; 1 Pet. 2:11.

CHRISTIANS FORSAKE FORMER COURSE

Most acts of loose conduct are carried on in the night by lovers of darkness, and Christians loving the light of truth are told: “As in the daytime let us walk decently, not in revelries and drunken bouts, not in illicit intercourse and loose conduct.” (Rom. 13:13; John 3:19-21) The apostle Peter argues: “For the time that has passed by [before becoming servants of God] is sufficient for you to have worked out the will of the nations when you proceeded in deeds of loose conduct.” (1 Pet. 4:3) The apostle Paul likewise admonishes Christians, describing the course of worldly nations with whom they formerly associated as “in darkness mentally, and alienated from the life that belongs to God, . . . Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort with greediness.”—Eph. 4:17-19.

SOME TURN TO BAD COURSE

Nevertheless, some claiming to be servants of God and Christ turn from the way of light. Paul was grieved by those in the Corinthian congregation who had not repented of the “uncleanness and fornication and loose conduct that they have practiced,” in spite of admonition to the contrary. (2 Cor. 12:21) Peter warned the early Christians that false teachers would come from among their own ranks, and that many would follow their acts of loose conduct, bringing reproach upon the way of truth. (2 Pet. 2:1, 2) Jesus’ words to the congregations in Pergamum and Thyatira, written down by the apostle John about 96 C.E., indicate that Peter’s prophecy was to some extent having fulfillment at that time. (Rev. 2:12, 14, 18, 20) Both Peter and Jude express the judgment coming on practicers of loose conduct.—2 Pet. 2:17-22; Jude 7.

Their argument as an excuse

The argument of some practicers of loose conduct in their attempt to entice and deceive others in the Christian congregation is that God’s undeserved kindness is great and that he will overlook their sins, since he recognizes their imperfections and fleshly weakness. But Jesus’ half-brother Jude spoke of such as being “ungodly men, turning the undeserved kindness of our God into an excuse for loose conduct and proving false to our only Owner and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 4) Such ones’ profession of Christianity is meaningless. Their service is unacceptable to God, just as the wise writer of Israel said: “The sacrifice of the wicked ones is something detestable. How much more so when one brings it along with loose conduct.”—Prov. 21:27.

Under the Law, the same viewpoint was expressed against loose conduct. God has not changed on this matter. Loose conduct was legislated against, and the penalty for most of such practices was death. (Lev. 18:6-29; 19:29; 20:14) David appealed to God not to take his life away with “bloodguilty men, in whose hands there is loose conduct.”—Ps. 26:9, 10.

Through his prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Jehovah warned Israel of his judgments against them for loose conduct practiced both in a physical and a spiritual way.—Jer. 13:26, 27; Ezek. 16:27, 43, 58; 22:9; 23:21-49; 24:13.

LORD

The Greek and Hebrew words rendered “lord” (or such related terms as “sir,” “owner,” “master”) are used with reference to Jehovah God (1 Ki. 22:17; Ezek. 3:11), Jesus Christ (Matt. 7:21), one of the older persons seen by John in vision (Rev. 7:13, 14), angels (Gen. 19:1, 2; Dan. 12:8), men (1 Sam. 25:24; Acts 16:16, 19, 30) and false deities. (1 Cor. 8:5) Often the designation “lord” denotes one who has ownership or authority and power over persons and/or things. (Gen. 24:9; 42:30; 45:8, 9; 1 Ki. 16:24; Luke 19:33; Acts 25:26; Eph. 6:5) It appears as a title of respect addressed to prominent persons, public officials, prophets and kings. (Gen. 23:6; 42:10; Num. 11:28; 2 Sam. 1:10; 2 Ki. 8:10-12; Matt. 27:63) Sarah applied the title to her husband (Gen. 18:12), children to their fathers (Gen. 31:35; Matt. 21:28, 29), and a younger brother to his older brother. (Gen. 32:5, 6) When used in addressing strangers, “lord” or “sir” served as a title of courtesy.—John 12:21; 20:15; Acts 16:30.

JEHOVAH GOD

Jehovah God is the “Lord of heaven and earth,” being the Universal Sovereign by reason of his Creatorship. (Matt. 11:25; Rev. 4:11) It is at his direction that people are gathered or harvested for life. So petitions for more workers to assist in the harvest must be made to him as the “Master [Lord] of the harvest.”—Matt. 9:37, 38.

JESUS CHRIST

Christ Jesus referred to himself as “Lord of the sabbath,” indicating that the Sabbath was at his disposal for doing the work commanded by his heavenly Father. (Matt. 12:8; compare John 5:19; 10:37, 38.) That work included healing the sick. (Compare Matthew 8:16, 17.) Therefore, just as the priests remained guiltless by doing divinely authorized work on the Sabbath, Jesus’ performance of healings on that day was no violation of the Sabbath law. On the same basis, when Jesus’ disciples plucked heads of grain on the Sabbath to satisfy their hunger, they were not breaking the sabbath law.—Matt. 12:1-8; Luke 6:1-11.

While Christ Jesus was on earth, persons besides his disciples called him “Lord” or “Sir.” (Matt. 8:2; John 4:11) In these cases the designation was primarily a title of respect or courtesy. However, to his apostles Jesus showed that calling him “Lord” involved more than this. Said he: “You address me, ‘Teacher,’ and, ‘Lord,’ and you speak rightly, for I am such.” (John 13:13) As his disciples, these apostles were his learners or pupils. Thus he was their Lord or Master.

Especially after Jesus’ death and resurrection did his title “Lord” take on great significance. By means of his sacrificial death he purchased his followers, this making him their Owner. (John 15:13, 14; 1 Cor. 7:23; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4; Rev. 5:9, 10) He was also their King and Bridegroom to whom they were subject as their Lord. (Acts 17:7; Eph. 5:22-27; compare John 3:28, 29; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 21:9-14.) In rewarding his Son’s faithfulness to the point of dying a shameful death on a stake, “God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11) Acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as Lord means more than simply calling him “Lord.” It requires that an individual recognize Jesus’ position and follow a course of obedience. (Compare John 14:21.) As Jesus himself said: “Not everyone saying to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens will.”—Matt. 7:21.

Jehovah God also granted immortality to his faithful Son. Therefore, although many men have ruled as kings or lords, only Jesus Christ, the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” has immortality.—1 Tim. 6:14-16; Rev. 19:16.

Since Jesus has the keys of death and Hades (Rev. 1:17, 18), he is in position to release mankind from the common grave (John 5:28, 29) and from the death inherited from Adam. (Rom. 5:12, 18) He is therefore also the ‘Lord over the dead,’ including King David, one of his earthly ancestors.—Acts 2:34-36; Rom. 14:9.

A TITLE OF RESPECT

The fact that Christians have only the “one Lord” Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:5) does not rule out their applying “lord” (or, “sir”) to others as a title of respect or courtesy. The apostle Peter even cited Sarah as a good example for Christian wives because of her obedience to Abraham, “calling him ‘lord.’” (1 Pet. 3:1-6) This was no mere formality on Sarah’s part. It was a sincere reflection of her submissiveness, for she spoke of him as such “inside herself.” (Gen. 18:12) On the other hand, since all Christians are brothers, it would be wrong for them to call one of their number “Leader” or “Lord,” viewing that one as a spiritual leader.—Matt. 23:8-10; see ADON; ADONAY; AXIS LORDS; JEHOVAH; JESUS CHRIST; KYRIOS.

LORD’S DAY

In Biblical usage the word “day” may denote a period of time far longer than twenty-four hours. (Gen. 2:4; John 8:56; 2 Pet. 3:8) Contextual evidence indicates that the “Lord’s day” of Revelation 1:10 is not a particular twenty-four-hour day. Since it was “by inspiration” that John came to be “in the Lord’s day,” the reference could not be to some particular day of the week. It would not have been necessary for John to have been inspired to come to a specific day of the week. Therefore, the “Lord’s day” must be that future time, during which events that John was privileged to see in vision would occur. This included such happenings as the war in heaven and the ouster of Satan, the destruction of Babylon the Great and the kings of the earth and their armies, the binding and abyssing of Satan, the resurrection of the dead and Christ’s thousand-year reign.

The context points to Jesus Christ as the Lord whose “day” it is. Immediately after coming to be “in the Lord’s day,” John heard, not the voice of Almighty God, but that of the resurrected Son of God. (Rev. 1:10-18) Also, the ‘day of the Lord’ mentioned at 1 Corinthians 1:8; 5:5 and 2 Corinthians 1:14 is that of Jesus Christ.

LORD’S EVENING MEAL

A literal meal, commemorative of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ; hence, a memorial of his death. Since it is the only