Godly Correction (5 of 5)

Mankind’s morals, standards, and practice of correction have varied across the span of many ages and throughout a widespread diversity of cultures. Understanding correction as God has revealed in scripture will help today’s followers gain the right perception to exercise correction acceptably and effectually.

Discretion for Correction

With the privilege and responsibility to correct are boundaries. Discretion is needed to stay within those boundaries. Scriptures detail the extra precautionary measures that are needed to stay within the bounds of righteous correction.

Discretion For: Doctrinal Knowledge

Discretion is given to have doctrinal knowledge in order to be able to correct another.

Romans 15:14 KJV - "And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another."

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

Titus 1:9 KJV - "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."

Discretion For: Spiritual/Longsuffering/Meekness

Discretion is given to be spiritual, longsuffering, and to demonstrate meekness when correcting another. Meekness, or reactive humility, along with longsuffering is needed when another responds in opposition to receiving correction.

Proverbs 29:9 KJV - "If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest."

Galatians 6:1 KJV - "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."

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

Discretion For: Acknowledging & Honoring Authority

Discretion is given to acknowledge and honor the position of authority. A man who held the position of authority was to acknowledge and honor the authority given to him by not covering his head when praying or prophesying; and a woman was to cover her head to acknowledge and honor to her authority. 

1 Corinthians 11:4-5 KJV - "4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven."

Discretion For: Exhorting More

Discretion is given to exhort even more as the day of redemption nears.

Hebrews 10:25 KJV - "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Hebrews 3:13 KJV - "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

Discretion For: Sins Needing Rebuke

Discretion for sins which need rebuking is both plainly shown and exhibited in scripture. For example, all things contrary to God, things which cause or entice others to sin, trespasses against you, and those who teach or practice false doctrines are to be rebuked. 

Matthew 16:23 KJV - "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Luke 17:3 KJV - "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."

Titus 1:10-14 KJV - "10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth."

Discretion For: Public & Private Correction

Discretion for handling correction privately and publicly is plainly shown and exhibited in scripture. For example, personal trespasses between two people are to be handled discreetly; involving others as needed for correction. Public offenses are to be rebuked publicly to thwart others from being enticed to sin.

Matthew 18:15-17 KJV - "15 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. 16 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. 17 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."

Mark 8:32-33 KJV - "32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."

1 Timothy 5:20 KJV - "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear."

Discretion For: Forgiveness

Discretion is given to forgive when repentance is seen after correcting another.

Luke 17:3 KJV - "Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him."

Discretion For: Separation/Perspective

Discretion is given to separate when a lack of repentance is seen from correction. Discretion is also given to not count the unrepentant as an enemy.

Proverbs 14:7 KJV - "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge."

Romans 16:17 KJV - "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."

1 Corinthians 5:11-13 KJV - "11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

Ephesians 5:11 KJV - "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 KJV - "14 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. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

2 Timothy 3:5 KJV - "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Titus 3:10-11 KJV - "10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV - "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (see also Psalm 66:18; 94:20; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, 10:21)

Discretion For/Against: Despising

Discretion is given for and against different forms of despising in response to sin. A vile person is to be contemned; which is a form of despising meaning to disesteem or not show honor to; yet someone who steals for hunger is not to be despised.

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Definition

Strong’s Hebrew 959 - בָּזָה bâzâh; a primitive root; to disesteem

Psalm 15:1, 4 KJV - "1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? ... 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not."

Proverbs 6:30 KJV - "Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;"

Discretion Against: Respect of Persons

Discretion is given to not have respect of persons; whether through fear of someone’s response or out of favor towards someone.

Deuteronomy 1:17 KJV - "Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it." (see Deuteronomy 16:19; Romans 2:11; Ephesians 6:9; 1 Peter 1:17)

Proverbs 24:23 KJV - "These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment." (also proverbs 28:21)

Jeremiah 1:6-8 KJV - "6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD."

Colossians 3:25 KJV - "But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons." (see 2 Chronicles 19:17)

James 2:9 KJV - "But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors." (see James 2:1)

Discretion Against: Components of Anger

Discretion is given to not be angry without cause, to not sin while angry, to not remain angry, and to not be soon angry.

Matthew 5:22 KJV - "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

Colossians 3:8 KJV - "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."

Ephesians 4:26-27 KJV - "26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil."

Ephesians 4:31 KJV - "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"

Titus 1:7 KJV - "For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;"

Discretion Against: Known Scorners/Strivers

Discretion is given to not reprove someone who is known to scorn or strive against those who give correction. 

Proverbs 9:7-8 KJV - "7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee."

Hosea 4:4 KJV - "Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest."

Discretion Against: Rebuking Elders

Discretion is given to not rebuke and elder; as rebuke is always conveyed with authority and with a command to cease and change behavior. Elders are to be intreated: appealing unto them through admonition and exhortation.

1 Timothy 5:1 KJV - "Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;"

Discretion Against: Unrighteous Shaming

Discretion is given to keep from shaming unrighteously: including the poor.

1 Corinthians 11:22 KJV - "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not."

Discretion Against: Overmuch Sorrow

Discretion is given to keep from inducing overmuch sorrow in another.

2 Corinthians 2:7 KJV – “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow."

Discretion Against: Physical Chastisement

Discretion is given to keep from unlawful, uncompassionate, and retaliatory chastisement.

Matthew 5:38-39, 43-44 KJV - "38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ... 43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

Matthew 18:28-30, 32-33 KJV - "28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. ... 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?"

Acts 23:2-3 KJV - "2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?"

Discretion Against: Hypocrisy

Discretion is given to keep from hypocrisy when correcting another.

Matthew 7:5 KJV - "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye."

Discretion Against: Contending/Disputing

Discretion is given to keep from doubtful and perverse disputings.

Romans 14:1 KJV - "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations."

1 Timothy 6:5 KJV - "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself."

Discretion Against: Vengeance

Discretion is given to abstain from vengeance.

Deuteronomy 32:35 KJV - "To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste."

Romans 12:19 KJV - "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Hebrews 10:30 KJV - "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people."

Discretion Against: Cursing

Discretion is given to bless and not curse.

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Definition

Strong’s Greek 2672 - καταράομαι kataráǒmai; middle (voice) from 2671; to execrate; by analogy, to doom

Romans 12:14 KJV - "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."

Discretion Against: Reproach/Slander

Discretion is given to keep from backbiting's and whisperings, and not to take up a reproach against ones neighbor; which is to keep from slander, scorn, and insult.

Psalm 15:1, 3 KJV - "1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? .... 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour."

2 Corinthians 12:20 KJV - "For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:" (also Romans 1:29-30)

James 4:11 KJV - "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge."

Discretion Against: Hatred/Bitterness/Condemnation

Discretion is given to keep from hating, condemning, and becoming bitter towards others over their sins.

Leviticus 19:17 KJV - "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him."

Matthew 5:22 KJV - "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

Luke 6:37 KJV - "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:"

Ephesians 4:31 KJV - "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"

Hebrews 12:15 KJV - "Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;"

*Recall that judgment and condemnation of sin is a part of correction and that judgment and condemnation of a person is sin. (see previous study on First Century Judgment)

Receptiveness of Correction

Scripture gives warning and exhortation in receiving and forsaking correction. God also promises benefits for receivers and consequences for those who forsake correction.

Receiving  Correction

God's people must receive correction and not despise it.

1 Thessalonians 5:20 KJV - "Despise not prophesyings."

Hebrews 13:22 KJV - "And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words."

Hebrews 12:5 KJV - "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:"

Someone who receives correction well is called prudent and wise.

Proverbs 15:5 KJV - "A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent."

Proverbs 15:31 KJV - "The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise."

Forsaking Correction

Scripture forewarns of those who will not receive correction.

Proverbs 15:10 KJV - "Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die."

Proverbs 17:10 KJV - "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool."

Proverbs 29:19 KJV - "A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer."

Ecclesiastes 4:13 KJV - "Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished."

Jeremiah 5:3 KJV - "O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return."

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

Those who do not receive correction will hate those who give correction. They will purposefully or unwittingly think evil is good and praise the wicked.

Psalm 38:20 KJV - "They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is."

Proverbs 15:12 KJV - "A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise."

Proverbs 28:4 KJV - "They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them."

Jeremiah 2:19 KJV - "Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts."

Jeremiah 6:15 KJV - "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD." (also Jeremiah 8:12)

Amos 5:10 KJV - "They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly."

Malachi 2:17 KJV - "Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?"

Jude 1:17-19 KJV - "17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."

Destruction is the end result for those who do not receive correction.

Proverbs 15:10 KJV - "Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die."

Proverbs 29:1 KJV - "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."