The Bible has a lot to say about rebuke and correction. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages that discuss rebuking others:
Proverbs
The book of Proverbs contains many verses about rebuke and correction:
- “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” (Proverbs 12:1)
- “Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.” (Proverbs 28:23)
- “Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.” (Proverbs 9:8)
- “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:5-6)
These verses emphasize the value of rebuke and correction for imparting wisdom and knowledge. They also highlight the importance of discernment in how rebuke is given and to whom.
Matthew 18:15-17
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
This passage outlines Jesus’ instructions for addressing sin and wrongdoing within the church. It emphasizes first speaking directly to the person in private. If they refuse to listen, others are brought in as witnesses. And if the person still refuses to repent, the matter is brought before the whole church.
Galatians 6:1
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
This verse teaches that rebuke should be done in a spirit of gentleness, with humility and awareness of one’s own weaknesses.
2 Timothy 4:2
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
This verse instructs Timothy as a leader in the church to be ready to reprove and rebuke when necessary, but to do so patiently and with good teaching.
Titus 1:13
“This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith…”
Here Paul instructs Titus to rebuke false teachers “sharply” in order to defend sound doctrine.
Revelation 3:19
“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.”
Jesus emphasizes that His rebuke of the churches in Revelation comes from a heart of love, intended to lead to repentance.
2 Timothy 3:16
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…”
This key verse underscores that an important purpose of Scripture is to reprove and correct God’s people in order to train them in righteousness.
Primary Purposes of Rebuke
Based on these and other biblical passages, we see a few key purposes that godly rebuke and correction aim to accomplish:
- Exposing sin or error
- Calling people to repentance and obedience to God
- Restoring people to right relationship with God and others
- Protecting the truth and preserving sound doctrine
- Imparting wisdom, knowledge, and righteousness
- Being an expression of love and care for the person
Rebuke is intended to be restorative, not punitive. The goal should always be reconciling people to God and winning back brothers and sisters, not pushing them away.
Biblical Guidelines for Rebuking
In addition to understanding the purposes behind rebuke, Scripture gives some helpful guidelines for how to rebuke in a godly way:
- Do it in love and gentleness (Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:15)
- Aim to restore, not condemn (2 Corinthians 2:5-8)
- Rebuke in private first, not publicly (Matthew 18:15)
- Be patient, not hasty in rebuking (Proverbs 19:11)
- Don’t rebuke hypocritically (Romans 2:1)
- Watch your own life and sin too (Matthew 7:1-5)
- Seek their repentance and restoration (Luke 17:3)
- Use God’s Word as your standard (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- Trust God to work in their heart (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
Following these biblical principles allows rebuke to be used by God as a redemptive tool for transforming hearts and lives.
How Jesus Rebuked
Jesus set the perfect example of how to balance grace and truth when correcting others. Here are some observations of how He did it:
- He rebuked out of love, not self-righteousness.
- He tailored rebukes to the needs of the person.
- He focused more on teaching truth than condemning sin.
- He offered hope along with rebuke.
- He was patient in calling people to repentance.
- He confronted sin while still seeing value in the person.
- He shared God’s heart of mercy behind the rebuke.
Jesus was able to call out people’s sins and need to repent, but in a way that ultimately drew them closer to the Father. He is the model for speaking truth in love.
Cautions Regarding Rebuking
Because rebuke is easy to carry out in an ungodly manner, Scripture also contains cautions:
- Don’t rebuke in anger or to vent (Proverbs 29:11)
- Don’t condemn or judge self-righteously (Matthew 7:1-5)
- Watch that pride doesn’t creep in (Galatians 6:1)
- Don’t cause people to lose heart (Colossians 3:21)
- Don’t fail to remove the log in your own eye first (Luke 6:41-42)
- Don’t spread matters without evidence (1 Timothy 5:19-20)
Rebuke done wrongly can push people away, spread slander, and fail to reflect God’s heart. We must be on guard against unloving attitudes.
Receiving Rebuke
Just as important as giving rebuke properly is receiving it humbly:
- Receive it with humility not defensiveness (Proverbs 15:32)
- Listen carefully before responding (Proverbs 18:13)
- Test what is said against Scripture (Acts 17:11)
- Be willing to repent and change (Revelation 3:19)
- Don’t reject correction from God (Proverbs 10:17)
- Surround yourself with those who can correct you (Proverbs 27:6)
- Don’t forget it quickly; retain correction (Proverbs 3:11-12)
A wise and godly person recognizes the value of rebuke for their soul. Pride can make this very difficult, so we must maintain humble and receptive hearts.
When Rebuke Is Inappropriate
While rebuke serves an important purpose, Scripture also recognizes it is not always appropriate or helpful:
- When the person has already repented (Luke 17:3-4)
- When it is not your place or responsibility (Romans 14:4)
- When done merely to hurt or condemn (Proverbs 10:18)
- When you are acting hypocritically (Matthew 7:1-5)
- When the person is caught in deception or folly they won’t acknowledge (Proverbs 26:4)
- When it is not combined with gentleness and patience (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
- When you don’t have all the facts or understanding (Proverbs 18:13)
There are wise times to hold back words of rebuke, correction, and instruction for the good of the individual and community.
Conclusion
Rebuke is a gift God has given us to help each other walk in truth, grow in Christlike maturity, turn from harm, and fulfill the purposes we were made for. When exercised with wisdom, grace, humility, and sound judgment, it expresses genuine love and care for others in the Body of Christ.
Our perfect model is Jesus, who perfectly balanced grace and truth. As we seek to emulate Him, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us in when and how to rebuke. Our words should flow out of hearts filled with the love of God.