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NASB | Matthew 18:15 ¶ "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 18:15 ¶ "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother. |
Subject: biblical ex. of how to rebuke a brother |
Bible Note: Dear Jeff, To the best of my knowledge there are two usages of the word rebuke in the New Testament. (Perhaps Brother Tim, who knows the Greek can confirm this.) They are fundamentally different. The first usage might be better translated as censure or even vituperation, since it means to charge someone (or something) to prompt silence. It is found in verses like: Matthew 8:26 (our Lord rebuking the wind and sea); Matthew 16:22 and Mark 8:32 (Peter's rebuke of Jesus); Luke 4:39 (our Lord rebuking a fever); Luke 19:39 (Pharisees asking Jesus to rebuke His disciples); 1 Timothy 5:1 (Paul commanding Timothy to not rebuke an elder); Jude 9 (Michael imprecating Satan); etc. The second usage has to do with bringing conviction or admonishing with the intent of correction. It is found in verses like: 1 Timothy 5:20 (Paul commanding Timothy to admonish a sinning believer); Titus 1:13; 2:15 (Paul commanding Titus to admonish the Cretians and others to sound doctrine); Hebrews 12:5 and Revelation 3:19 (our Lord admonishing the elect); etc. Although it is true that the first meaning of the word is more common, it is never associated with a believer. Furthermore, its use in association with the Lord Jesus Christ when dealing with men is always in the face of great error, sin, or the reprobate. Alternatively, the Lord is said to rebuke in the second sense when it comes to chastening and correcting His own. Since the person asking this question used the phrase "rebuke a BROTHER" (emphasis mine), I could only assume that this person was speaking of a relationship between Christians. God's goal for believers is to conform them into the image of Christ. When we are saved, we are drawn into the relationship of the church. We can easily demonstrate from the Word that we are to "build one another up in the body." Indeed, our objective must be the same as the Lord's. (Anything short of that is, after all, sin!) Consequently, every aspect of our relationship with fellow believers must be to help them to conform to the image of God. I hope I haven't answered too hastily and that you will see my post as entirely anodyne. I'm afraid, though, I have to conclude. When work isn't demanding my attention, my studies prevent me from spending as much time in the forum as I'd like. Tonight it's studies. In Him, Doc PS My interpretation of the passage in Galatians 6 would be in keeping with the spirit of this latter sense of the word rebuke. |