The Corinthian saints ought to have really known that “the saints will judge the world.” This fact had been stated in the Old Testament: “The Ancient of Days came, and judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom” (Dan. 7:22). Had they really known it they would not have dragged one another into heathen law courts. If we really know it, we perhaps should avoid certain things that we do.

Be that as it may, these verses open up before us a vista of extraordinary authority and responsibility, in the light of which things pertaining to this life can only be spoken of as “the smallest matters.” In keeping with this estimate is the instruction that, if such questions are brought before the saints for judgment, those least esteemed in the church are to hear the case. Such is the estimate which Scripture gives of the relative importance of the things of the coming age as compared with the things of this age.

It is quite evident, then, that if one Christian has an accusation of unrighteousness to lay against another, he must lay his case before the saints and not before the world (1 Cor. 6:1). There is however something better than that, as indicated in verse 7. Better than all is it to meekly suffer the wrong, leaving the Lord to deal with it and work repentance in the wrongdoer. Worst of all is it to do the wrong and defraud even the brethren.