CORRECTING OUR NEIGHBOR

Introduction

We live in a day and age when people will not take correction. They do not like to be told that they are doing something wrong. They would rather continue to make the same mistake over and over again than to endure any type of advice to rectify the deficiency. The wise man realizes that he needs instruction and correction at times. Ecclesiastes 7:5 reads, "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools." The man of God is going to be wise in all of his dealings. He realizes that to be wise, he will need to be corrected. This is the message of Proverbs 9:9, "Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning." These are not stubborn people but have a teachable spirit. Proverbs 17:10 is instructive of the wise man contrasted with the fool, "A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool." In other words, even after a severe beating a fool learns absolutely zero. The wise man is corrected and avoids danger.

Application

To properly understand the Bible, we need to use what is known as applied theology.

Leviticus 19:17 says, "Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him." The Amplified renders this verse as, "You shall not hate your brother in your heart: but you shall rebuke your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him." Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines "rebuke" as, "To chide; to reprove; to reprehend for a fault; to check by reproof." He renders "reproof" as, "Blame expressed to the face; censure for a fault; reprehension." "Correction" as, "The act of correcting; the act of bringing back, from error or deviation to a just standard, as to truth, rectitude, justice or propriety; the correction of opinions or manners." One of the ways to see God’s kingdom advance is to correct our neighbor when they are clearly in the wrong.

Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." The word of God is designed to correct us when we are in error or deviating in any way. It is restorative and enables us to get back on the right track and helps to go on a straight path. The Bible is therefore, a book of wisdom and the wise will heed its corrective qualities. This will empower the man of God to live the Christian life. The Christian should desire to amend his ways when he is in error. It is better to revise early than to wait until a bad habit has been established and great effort required to overcome it.

Paul also wrote in 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. 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." This is a direct restatement of Leviticus 19:17. Someone is going to discover that the New Testament writers were not writing arbitrarily. They had the Old Testament as a guide. Here a Christian has been caught in the act and it is the responsibility of the spiritual to seek to right this wayward one. It is to be done without an overbearing spirit, knowing that all of us are susceptible to temptation. We are to ensure that we keep spiritual.

James 5:19-20 speaks about correcting error in others, "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." Many sins will be averted if one is able to turn his neighbor from error to the truth and save his soul from eternal death. Without rebuke of one’s neighbor, they will not turn from their deviating ways. They may hate you at the beginning, but they can also get glad when they are converted to the truth.

Jeremiah wrote in Jeremiah 5:1-3, "Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. 2And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely. 3O 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." Here are those who will not receive the correction of their evil ways. They have become as hard as rock in continuing on in their ways. The Lord has sent judgment but even this does not get their attention. They are first class fools. They love error more than the truth.

Conclusion

We as Christians need to rebuke those who error from the truth. We are not to be partakers of their sins in the process. The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the procedure of Leviticus 19:17 in 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. 16But 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. 17And 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." Face to face rebuke is what is plainly taught here. If the reproved neighbor accepts the correction, one has a brother in the Lord. Do not hesitate to correct others when necessary.