Reproving Other Believers

Jesus Christ set a clear pattern for reproving other believers during his earthly ministry.

 

Matthew 18:15-17:
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

First, we talk directly to the individual. If he will not hear, we establish what we are saying with other witnesses. If that does not work, we inform the entire church of this behavior. If he will not hear the church, he should not be considered an active part of the group.

One on One

Jesus Christ taught to rebuke a brother, and if he repented to forgive him.

Luke 17:3,4:
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

This pattern is seen in the Grace Administration as well. First, we restore the individual directly and help bear his burden. We do this in meekness toward God and patience toward the person we are reproving.

Galatians 6:1:
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

II Timothy 2:24-26:
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

I Thessalonians 5:14:
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn [put the Word in mind] them that are unruly [out of step], comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

With Other Witnesses

If that person will not hear, we get other witnesses of the behavior and establish our reproof for that person. This is especially true of church leaders.

I Timothy 5:19,20:
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Before the Church

At times the whole church needs to be aware of a brother who refuses to repent of error. This serves a two-fold purpose: to let the believers know about a brother who is being challenged, and to let that brother know that if he will not hear the church, he is not welcome to fellowship with them.

II Thessalonians 3:11-15:
For we hear that there are some which walk among you [plural, the group of believers] disorderly [out of step], working not at all, but are busybodies.
Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish [put the Word in mind] him as a brother.

Here the Thessalonians were witnesses to those who were out of step with the Word that was being taught and even written in an epistle. After the whole church had seen this, they were to not have any company with these who were out of step. The purpose is that those off the Word would be ashamed and repent. This is not an adversarial situation between believers, but a loving way to put the Word in the mind of a brother who needs it.

This not keeping company is similar to what Paul exhorted the Roman church to do.

Romans 16:17,18:
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Why Reprove?

The point of all reproof is to present the light of God’s Word so that others can change their wrong attitude or behavior and get back to doing the Word.

John 3:20:
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Ephesians 5:11-13:
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Leaders are especially charged to reprove in love.

II Timothy 4:2:
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Titus 1:9-13:
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.
One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies.
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.

Titus 2:15:
These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Like God and Jesus Christ, we reprove in love. Receiving reproof doesn’t seem to be joyous, but the result is worth the effort: the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:5,6,11:
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth….
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Revelation 3:19 and 20:
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.