Giving and Taking a Rebuke
Rebuke – to admonish, charge, convict; a stern correction
Rebuking is a vital part of the Christian’s life
- This is true of giving and receiving rebukes
- Jesus often rebuked His disciples:
- Mark 8:33; Luke 9:55
- Paul commanded Timothy and Titus to rebuke:
- I Timothy 5:20; II Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:13; 2:15
- Wisdom from Proverbs:
- Proverbs 25:11-12 – A word fitly spoken is like…
- Proverbs 27:5,6 – Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed
A Wise Rebuker
- Takes time to think
- Proverbs 29:11, 20; Colossians 4:6; Matthew 10:16; Jude 22, 23
- Acts in love
- Proverbs 27:6 – Am I a friend?
- Ephesians 4:15 – “…speaking the truth in love”
- Humbly Examines Himself/Herself
- Matthew 7:1-5
- A wise rebuker, though not perfect, is sincere and humble
- Does Not Condemn the Innocent
- The Pharisees did this to Jesus and his disciples – Matthew 12:5-8
- We have to make sure we have the facts straight – Proverbs 18:13
- Chooses the Right Moment
- Proverbs 25:11
An Obedient Ear
- Understands the Value of Correction – Proverbs 12:1
- II Samuel 12 – Nathan to David re: his sin with Bathsheba
- II Samuel 19 – Joab to David re: his mourning over Absalom
- Knows That Friends Correct Friends – Pro. 27:6
- Proverbs 28:23 – is this true of me? Consider Peter’s words of Paul: II Peter 3:15 – “beloved”
- Does Not Focus On the Corrector
- We can’t go looking for the beam in the corrector’s eye
- Truth is truth, whether I appreciate the source of it or not: Philippians 1:15-18
- Fixes the Problem
- Proverbs 25:12 – an OBEDIENT ear
- I’ve heard a true rebuke, now what am I going to do about it?
- I John 1:5-9
- Confession should lead to real repentance
- Hear the words spoken by James – James 1:21-25
- Proverbs 25:12 – an OBEDIENT ear