We all need the encouragement of our fellow believers, lest we become slack. It is written: let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together . . . but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. (Heb 10:24,25) King Jehoshaphat charged the judges to: warn them that they trespass not against the Lord. (2 Chron 19:10)
Individual exhortation is valuable. Paul writes: ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God. (1 Thess 2:11,12)
Exhortation is useful to keep up from faults. But where we have committed faults, rebuke may be necessary. No one should consider themselves above rebuke. Abraham under the Old Covenant, and Peter and the other apostles under the New, were all rebuked.
Abraham was rebuked when he pretended that Sarah was not his wife, and Abimelech, king of Gerar took her into fellowship, although he did not touch her. When God revealed to Abimelech that Sarah was married, Abimelech rebuked Abraham, saying: What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. (Gen 20:9)
Peter was also rebuked, when he had withdrawn from eating with the Gentiles, thus building a wall of separation between Jew and Gentile. Paul: withstood him to the face because he was to be blamed. And Paul: said unto Peter before them all . . . if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. (Gal 2:11-18)
Jesus rebuked other apostles, saying to them: O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. (Luke 24:25) And the other twelve apostles, he: upbraided . . . with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. (Mark 16:14)
Reproof is normal. David said: Let the righteous smite me; (with words) it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil. (Psalm 141:5) Reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman. (Prov 6:23,24) We should not feel condemned if we are reproved as: he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. (Prov 13:18)
Paul told Timothy: reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Tim 4:2) And he told Titus: rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. (Tit 1:13) The purpose of rebuke is to build up souls. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, warning them from a distance. He said: lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. (2 Cor 13:10)
Not every fault must be always reproved. Solomon says: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven . . . a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. (Eccl 3:1,7) We should not rebuke an old man, but should: intreat him as a father . . . the elder women as mothers. (1 Tim 5:1,2)
In the light of all these Scriptures warranting reproof, Jesus’ words: Judge not (Matt 7:1) should not be construed as forbidding all criticism. These words must be aimed at destructive rather than constructive criticism. Constructive criticism aims at the sin rather than the person. Jesus’ words also forbid hypocritical judging, where those with a beam in their own eye, attempt to remove a speck from another’s eye.
Reproof reveals the presence of sin in the works of darkness: all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light. (Eph 5:13) To show how unacceptable sin is, Paul said to Timothy: Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. (1 Tim 5:20)
Although the righteous need rebuke to perfect them, the wicked need rebuke to deter them from their sin. Those who ignore rebuke risk the judgement of God: He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (Prov 29:1) Eventually: he that hateth reproof shall die. (Prov 15:10)
When pastors in the church are aware of sin, they should not be afraid to be bold witnesses for our Lord Jesus Christ, as were the prophets of old as: He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. (Prov 24:24,25)
We should not, however, go out of our way to meddle with the affairs of those who have little to do with us, the heathen. Solomon says: He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner lest he hate thee. (Prov 9:7,8)