13. (a) A judicial committee’s efforts should be directed toward what objective, and how does Matthew 18:17 indicate that the wrongdoer’s response has a bearing on the outcome in his case? (b) Why is disfellowshiping action necessary at times?

¹³ Even though the wrongdoer is guilty of a serious offense, elders realize that their aim is to help one who has fallen into a wrong course wherever possible. If he ‘listens to them,’ showing true repentance, it may result in his being ‘gained’ as a brother and thus spared from being disfellowshiped. (Matt. 18:15-17) Otherwise, they cannot continue to deal with him in mercy, for this would show a disregard for God’s standard of righteousness and holiness.

15. Why are onetime disfellowshiped persons now back in good standing with Jehovah’s people, in harmony with the cited scriptures in this paragraph?

¹⁵ Many of those who have at one time been disfellowshiped are now back in good standing with Jehovah’s people. As repentant erring ones they were shown mercy, straightened out their lives and returned to Jehovah. (Isa. 55:7)