Rebuke and help your brother spiritually mature. Rebuking is usually not pleasant. if received properly will result in a giant step taken toward growing in the Lord. You also will have developed a more mature and intimate relationship with God. Rebuking does not negate that we are to forgive even if they don’t repent. However, restoration is not for the unrepentant.
We live in a tolerance saturated world, but Christ called us out of the world. We are called to produce good fruit and created for good works. When a Christian is caught in a sin that harms himself, others inside or outside the church we are to chasten that offender. Clear instructions have been given. We are supposed to love everyone but separate from those that choose to walk in their sins. Do not let the abominations in the world into your life or relations. Rebuking is a bible principle and warning that is not being heeded to today. You only have to open your eyes to see the results “Many are called but few are chosen” “Not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter heaven”. “The road to heaven is a narrow one and few find it”. Not everyone who calls themselves a Christian is a Christian.
To rebuke errant behavior is Love. Rebuking is a command from God to chasten His children toward spiritual maturity. It’s a tried and true practice from Genesis to Revelations. It’s done by God the Father, His Son Jesus and faithful men of God. Below are some Bible verses about rebuking:
God Rebukes His Children to Maturity
Proverbs 1:23-26 AMP “If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke, Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. “Because I called and you refused [to answer], I stretched out my hand and no one has paid attention [to my offer]; And you treated all my counsel as nothing And would not accept my reprimand, I also will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when your dread and panic come.
Fear When God Rebukes You
Jeremiah 2:19 Your own wickedness shall correct you. Your backslidings shall reprove you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken the LORD your God. My fear is not in you, says the Lord GOD of hosts.
Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom you chasten, O LORD, and teach him out of your law;
Job 26:11 The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his rebuke.
Psalm 104:7 At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
Psalm 119:21 You have rebuked the proud that are cursed, who do err from your commandments.
God Chastises Those He Loves
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.
Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.
Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects: therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty:
If Necessary Rebuke Your Brother
Psalm 39:11 When you rebuke, you correct a man for iniquity, you make his beauty melt away like a moth: surely every man is vanity. Selah
God Rebukes Nathan Through a Donkey
Numbers 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said unto Balaam; What have I done unto you, that you have smitten me these three times?
2 Peter 2:16 He was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb donkey speaking with man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
Jesus Rebuked Demons
Matthew 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the demon; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mark 9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, You dumb and deaf spirit, I charge you, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
Luke 9:42 And as he was yet coming, the demon threw him down, and tore him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
Luke 4:41 And demons also came out of many, crying out, and saying, You are Christ the Son of God. And He rebuking them permitted them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
Jesus Sharply Rebuked Peter
Mark 8:33 But when he had turned about and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get you behind me, Satan: for you consider not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.
Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get you behind me, Satan: you are an offense unto me: for you consider not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Peter Rebuked Jesus
Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke hHm, saying, Be it far from you, Lord: this shall not be unto You.
Mark 8:32 And He spoke that saying openly. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him.
Disciples Rebuked Disciples
Matthew 19:13 Some disciples were there brought unto Him little children, that He should put His hands on them, and pray: and other disciples rebuked them.
Mark 10:13 Disciples brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them.
Luke 18:15 They brought unto hHm also infants, that He would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
John the Baptist Rebuked King Herod
Luke 3:19 But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
One thief rebuked the Other on The Cross
Luke 23:40-41 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing wrong.
King Solomon on the Wisdom of Rebuking
Jesus Instructs Us to Rebuke
Matthew 18:15 Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you, you have gained your brother.
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If your brother trespasses against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Paul tells Believers to Rebuke One Another
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.
Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brothers;
1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be diligent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.
Apostle James Reaffirms the Necessity of Rebuking
James 5:19-20 Brother, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Hebrews 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all your things be done with love.
Avoid Rebukes through Self-Examination
Throughout the scriptures Old to New Testaments commands us to practice self-examination Psalms 17:3, 26:2, 1 Corinthians 11:28, 11:31 Believers can avoid much rebuking by following the many commands of God for us to examine ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith 2 Corinthians 13:5.
Psalms 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”