This is a harsh chapter, but not only for the reason that first appears:
“It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you” (1 Cor 5:1-2).
In principle, not in direct comparison, this reminds me of the man years ago who came to church fresh out of a Dale Carnegie course only for the purpose of selling life insurance. This was the 1970's version of flashing pop-up ads on your phone. I say this because I have never met nor heard of a man having his father’s wife. Why is Paul jarring the Corinthians with this bizarre case?
Read these two verses again. Why does he accuse them of arrogance here? Because that was his subject in Chapter 4. So here he is accusing them of losing their moral compass in light of their commercial and financial success. This chapter is more broadly about how immorality in the church should be dealt with and purged.
“For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of the Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1 Cor 5:3-5).
As an elder in a church myself, facing disciplinary issues is hard, and the necessary approach is deep, unhurried prayer in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. But Paul adds his own spirit to the process. Since we have many epistles to go through yet, I think the message here is, “What would the Apostles say about this situation?” This brings judgment down to the human level, but guided by the spirits of those who first faced such questions on behalf of guiding the church on course through stormy waters.
And from here, Paul returns to the major subject of his address – the boasting of the Corinthians:
“Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity in truth” (1 Cor 5:6-8).
Boasting is full of malice and evil, as perceived by the one listening to it. This is like old yeast in making bread – there is no rise. Quiet, prayerful sincerity and truth are like a spot of new yeast in fresh dough.
“I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people – not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler – not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Purge the evil person among you” (1 Cor 5:9-13).
The world is full of evil, and until we found Christ, we were part of it. But in our hearts and in our churches, we must beware of those who exhibit immorality, greed, idolatry, addiction to alcohol and drugs, or dishonest schemes.
As a last resort, Paul tells us to purge these people out of the church.
But first, we must make every attempt to bring repentance and restoration through the never-ending love of God.