Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church, but He has not committed to us the work of judging character and motive. He knows our nature too well to entrust this work to us. Should we try to uproot from the church those whom we suppose to be spurious Christians, we should be sure to make mistakes. Often we regard as hopeless subjects the very ones whom Christ is drawing to Himself. Were we 72 to deal with these souls according to our imperfect judgment, it would perhaps extinguish their last hope. Many who think themselves Christians will at last be found wanting. Many will be in heaven who their neighbors supposed would never enter there. Man judges from appearance, but God judges the heart. The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary time.

Af Frelserens ord kan vi også lære noget andet, der viser os hans store overbærenhed og ømme kærlighed. Ligesom rajgræssets rødder kan være snoet om hvedens, kan falske brødre i menigheden være nært knyttet til sande disciple. Disse såkaldte troendes sande karakter er ikke blevet helt åbenbaret. Hvis de blev udelukket af menigheden, ville andre måske derved blive ledet til fald, hvad der ellers ikke ville være sket.