For Lent - Top 10 Bible Verses on Penance

Canterbury Tales ^ | 3/7/11 | Tatlor Marshall

[marshmallow]

Here are the Top Ten Bible verses on Penance. In Greek, we often find in Scripture the Greek term "metanoia" which is a deep "transformation of mind" of conformity to God. In Latin, we find "agite paenitentiam" or "do penance." Protestant commentators begining with Martin Luther criticized this translation because they felt that it emphasized outward acts and not an inward transformation. The Church responded by arguing that "agite paenitentiam" or "do penance" is a perfectly sound interpretation because inward repentance always leads to an outward expression. Moreover, in secular texts "agere paenitentiam" often refers to simple inward remorse. Nevertheless, just as faith without works is dead, so also repentance without penance is dead.

So here are the "top ten" penance passages in Sacred Scripture. I'm leading off with Luke 13:3 because, for me, that is the most powerful passage regarding penance.

Luke 13:3
No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.
{This is a solemn promise of Christ to all of us. Unless we do penance, we will "perish."}

Job 42:6
Therefore I reprehend myself, and do penance in dust and ashes.

Ecclesiasticus 2:22
If we do not penance, we shall fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men.
{If we don't experience discipline in this life, we shall experience it in the next.}

Jeremiah 31:19
For after thou didst convert me, I did penance: and after thou didst shew unto me, I struck my thigh: I am confounded and ashamed, because I have borne the reproach of my youth.
{Notice here, that penance comes after conversion.}

Lamentations 2:14
Thy prophets have seen false and foolish things for thee: and they have not laid open thy iniquity, to excite thee to penance: but they have seen for thee false revelations and banishments.
{Here the spiritual leaders of Israel have wrongly induced the people to follow after false revelations or apparitions. Instead, they should have led the people to penance. Incidentally, Saint Francis is the perfect example of the right leader. He doesn't appeal to apparitions or even to his stigmata. He appeals to the power of prayer, fasting, and penance.}

Ezekiel 18:21
But if the wicked do penance for all his sins which he hath committed, and keep all my commandments, and do judgment, and justice, living he shall live, and shall not die.
{This is the great promise for Lent. If we humble ourselves and live sacrificially, we will have life. God is merciful and loving and He desires our transformation into the image of Christ His Son.}

Matthew 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance.
{Here we find that true repentance requires fruit - it requires outward acts that conform to the inward reality.}

Matthew 11:20
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance.
{This is a sobering verse. Christ doesn't work miracles where the people don't repent. Divine power is restricted by human pride.}

Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and patience, and longsuffering? Knowest thou not, that the benignity of God leadeth thee to penance?
{The love, mercy, and benignity of God brings us to a true repentance. Notice that being mean and hateful does not bring others to penance.}

Apocalypse 2:5
Be mindful therefore from whence thou art fallen: and do penance, and do the first works. Or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place, except thou do penance.
{Here "do penance" and "do the first works" are paired together. Penance has an outward dimension, because sin also has an outward dimension. The horrifying truth is that Christ will snuff out the Church of any region if they don't live a life of penitence.}

[marshmallow]

There are others....."and when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad.......

"And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."..........etc. etc.

[servantboy777]

Thanx

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

So, what is meant by “penance”. I mean, after confession I would gladly say some Our Fathers and Hail Marys as instructed, but I understand from reading above we are talking about way more than that. Besides living right in a Christian way that Jesus instructed - a way that I am falling FAR short of right now — what is meant by penance and doing penance?

Can somebody define this and give day to day examples. Helping the homeless? Denying yourself dessert? Not losing your temper? Thinking about Christ? Just feeling guilty in general for being scum? What?

[marshmallow]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church The many forms of penance in Christian life

[svcw]

Agreed. Fasting is a valuable Spiritual tool.
These versus you are quoting seem to be equating “repentance” with “penance”.
“Repent” means change ones heart/mind, walking away for the sin, a 180 if you will.
“Penance” means punishment. Did not Christ pay the ultimate on the Cross?
I am not Catholic so the Catholic understanding of the word “penance” may not be a common understanding. Enlighten me.

[fishtank]

I am thankful that God saved me by:

(1) the CROSS alone;

(2) the BLOOD of Jesus ALONE.

There is NO NEED to “do penance”. It is an insult to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

...fishtank a.k.a. forgiven sinner

[Jedidah]

A contrite and penitent heart is the mark of a servant of Christ.

All year long, not just for a few weeks.

[Campion]

It is an insult to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Obeying Jesus' commands is an insult to his sacrifice? Do your children insult you or your work when they obey you?

[svcw]

Jesus suffered the ultimate on the Cross so we did not have to.
In the context presented the idea of continued “penance” is a mockery.
It appears that “repentance” and “penance” are being interchanged incorrectly.

[marshmallow]

I think it's our respective understandings of "justification", rather than the word "penance" which differ.

Catholics believe that Jesus redeemed fallen man by His death on the cross and in so doing became the Mediator between God and man. The grace of redemption was therefore merited by Christ. However, Catholics believe that if these graces are to be applied to man, certain conditions must apply.

Firstly, faith must be present. Secondly, there must exist a genuine sorrow for our sins. Not just the sin of Adam and Eve but our ongoing, daily sins. That sorrow is expressed in works of penance.

In Colossians, Paul says "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church".

Nothing is actually lacking in Christ's afflictions in one sense. However, Jesus has made suffering redemptive and our sufferings likewise have a redemptive quality when offered to God. This is what Paul is referring to. This is why Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, take up our own crosses and follow Him.

[phil1750]

Ping

[Servant of the Cross]

Since you are so thankful for the blood of Jesus saving you on the Cross, what do you want to do for Him?

The Spirit of Lent

If you love Me, you will keep My commandments ... John 14:15

[svcw]

Thanks

[Salvation]

Mt 6:1-6, 16-18

Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

“When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

[circlecity]

Making a spectacle of Jerome’s mistranslation? In every verse cited the proper translation of the Greek is “repentence.”

[fishtank]

“However, Jesus has made suffering redemptive and our sufferings likewise have a redemptive quality when offered to God. This is what Paul is referring to. This is why Jesus tells us to deny ourselves, take up our own crosses and follow Him. “

... reading God’s Word through a few times made me realize that your formula here is flawed.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Thank you for this good question. Penance comes through Old French from Latin paenitentia (repentance); both derive from Latin poena, penalty, also pain.

Two facts: Christ suffered the whole pain, paid the whole price, endured the whole penalty for sin; and we live of sufferings and of the Cross, not "despite" Him but "with" Him.

That's why He says, "take up the Cross and follow me," (He never says "Don't take up th cross, that would insult Me: I did it all) --- because we are WITH Him, in His sufferings, death, and resurrection.

---

Romans 6:4
We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:8
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Romans 8:17
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Romans 13:14
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 6:15
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself?

1 Corinthians 12:12
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 5:24
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

---

Hence, penance: not substituing for Christ, but being intimately united with Him.

Please pray for me during this Holy Lent, as I will pray for you!

[svcw]

Thanks

[Mrs. Don-o]

You are very welcome.

I just saw a huge typo in the second paragraph, in which I evidently deleted a whole line by accident. It should read like this:

Two facts: Christ suffered the whole pain, paid the whole price, endured the whole penalty for sin; and we live in Christ, and accept our share of sufferings and of the Cross, not "despite" Him but "with" Him.

I pray God's blessings for you and yours. Thank you, "in Christ," for your good will.

[svcw]

:)