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In verse one, Paul starts the chapter admonishing the Corinthians for their “degree” of sexual immorality. The church must discipline flagrant sin among its members. The correction should never be vengeful. Instead, it should be given to help bring about a cure. There was a specific sin going on in the church, and the Corinthian believers refused to do anything about it. To put it into perspective, men were having affairs with their mothers or stepmothers, and the church members were trying to ignore the situation. Paul was telling the church that it had the responsibility to maintain the standards found in God’s commandments. God tells us not to judge others but commands us to have no tolerance for flagrant sin that could possibly hurt the present saints.

1 Corinthians 5:1
5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife.