Footnote

b Congregation elders must at times judge matters involving serious sin and repentance. (1 Cor. 5:11; 6:5; Jas. 5:14, 15) However, they humbly keep in mind that they cannot read hearts and that they are judging for Jehovah. (Compare 2 Chronicles 19:6.) They carefully apply God’s balanced, merciful standards of justice.