Rebuke the Verbal Offender But Wisely (Leviticus 19:17)

Our modern-day understanding of rebuke is “to criticize or reprimand somebody, usually harshly.” Do that only to Lucifer and his wolves. Scriptural analysis shows that to rebuke is to correct with love.

¹ Keep on loving each other as brothers. HEBREWS 13

⁵ Better is open rebuke [open love] than hidden love. PROVERBS 27

¹ Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual (who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit) should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness. GALATIANS 6 amp

¹ [Remember] that next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong. GALATIANS 6 tlb

Why Rebuke

¹⁹ My brethren, if one of you wanders away from the truth and someone brings him back, ²⁰ remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from [the wrong path] the error of his way will save him from death and cover a multitude of sins. JAMES 5

Whom to Rebuke. Only those who have the humility to accept it. 

⁹ Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words. PROVERBS 23

⁷ The sinful mind is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s Law, nor can it do so. ROMANS 8

⁷ Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. ⁸ Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. PROVERBS 9

⁶ Don’t give what is holy to the dogs—they will only turn and attack you. Don’t throw your pearls in front of pigs—they will only trample them underfoot. MATTHEW 7 tev

When to Rebuke.  Timing is critical. Wait until receptivity and rationality are present, moreso the zeal to change, on the part of the person to be rebuked. “It is wiser to keep quiet than to rebuke a person the wrong way” (Sirach 20:1).

¹¹ A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. ¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear. PROVERBS 25

⁴ Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. SONG OF SONGS 8

³¹ Never rebuke a person when you have both been drinking. Don’t hurt his feelings while he is having a good time. It’s not the time to criticize anyone. SIRACH 31

⁵ Don’t criticize someone if he is already turning away from sin. SIRACH 8

How to Rebuke

¹⁵ Do not let anyone despise you. TITUS 2

Do preparatory work. Get your facts straight and think the matter through (Sirach 11:7).

Rebuke no one in public. “Go to him and show him his fault. But do it privately, just between yourselves. If he listens to you, you have won your brother back.” (Matthew 18:15 tev)

1 Timothy 5:1 says, “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that others may take warning.” Do that only as a last resort to recidivist offenders.

Shame no one in public. Doing so will stir a rebellious heart. The shamed one will likely ignore correction and repeat the offence, rendering correction ineffective.

²⁹ Do not use harmful words, but rather use only helpful words—the kind which edify and are necessary—so that what you say may do good to those who hear you. EPHESIANS 4 tev

¹⁶ Let the Word of the Messiah dwell in you richly, so you can teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. COLOSSIANS 3 

¹⁵ Encourage and rebuke with all authority. TITUS 2

⁷ You ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ I [Paul] urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him… ¹⁰ If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of the Messiah for your sake, ¹¹ in order that Lucifer might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 CORINTHIANS 2

²³ He who rebukes a man [in a godly fashion] will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue. PROVERBS 28  

Welcome Rebuke Yourself. He who rebukes others must be open to rebuke.

¹⁵ Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice. PROVERBS 12 tev

⁶ If you refuse to accept correction, you are committing a sin. SIRACH 21

¹ A man who remains stiff-necked [stubborn] after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. PROVERBS 29

³⁰ Since they would not accept My advice and spurned My rebuke, ³¹ they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. PROVERBS 1

¹⁸ He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. PROVERBS 13

¹³ Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to take warning. ECCLESIASTES 4

⁵ It is better to heed a wise man’s rebuke than to listen to the song [flattery] of fools. ECCLESIASTES 7

¹¹ My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent His rebuke, ¹² because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in. PROVERBS 3

³¹ He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. PROVERBS 15