Luke 17:3
New International Version
So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.

New Living Translation
So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive.

English Standard Version
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,

Berean Standard Bible
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Berean Literal Bible
Take heed to yourselves: If your brother should sin, rebuke him; and if he should repent, forgive him.

King James Bible
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

New King James Version
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

New American Standard Bible
Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

NASB 1995
“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

NASB 1977
“Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Amplified Bible
Pay attention and always be on guard [looking out for one another]! If your brother sins and disregards God’s precepts, solemnly warn him; and if he repents and changes, forgive him.

Christian Standard Bible
Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

American Standard Version
Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Contemporary English Version
So be careful what you do. Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry.

English Revised Version
Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So watch yourselves! "If a believer sins, correct him. If he changes the way he thinks and acts, forgive him.

Good News Translation
So watch what you do! "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

International Standard Version
"Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

Majority Standard Bible
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

NET Bible
Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.

New Heart English Bible
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.

Webster's Bible Translation
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother shall trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he shall repent forgive him.

Weymouth New Testament
Be on your guard. "If your brother acts wrongly, reprove him; and if he is sorry, forgive him;

World English Bible
Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Take heed to yourselves, and if your brother may sin in regard to you, rebuke him, and if he may change his mind, forgive him,

Berean Literal Bible
Take heed to yourselves: If your brother should sin, rebuke him; and if he should repent, forgive him.

Young's Literal Translation
'Take heed to yourselves, and, if thy brother may sin in regard to thee, rebuke him, and if he may reform, forgive him,

Smith's Literal Translation
Attend to yourselves: and if thy brother sin against thee, censure him; and if he should repent, let him go.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Be attentive to yourselves. If your brother has sinned against you, correct him. And if he has repented, forgive him.

New American Bible
Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

New Revised Standard Version
Be on your guard! If another disciple sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Beware among yourselves. If your brother should sin, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Guard your souls. If your brother should sin, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sin against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Godbey New Testament
Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother may sin, rebuke him; if he may repent, forgive him.

Haweis New Testament
Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother sin against thee, reprove him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Mace New Testament
take care of your conduct, if your brother offend you, rebuke him, and if he repent, forgive him.

Weymouth New Testament
Be on your guard. "If your brother acts wrongly, reprove him; and if he is sorry, forgive him;

Worrell New Testament
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and, if he repents, forgive him.

Worsley New Testament
Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Temptations and Trespasses
2It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”…

Cross References
Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

Galatians 6:1
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, / consider this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2 Timothy 2:25
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. / But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13
What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? / God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”

2 Thessalonians 3:15
Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Proverbs 27:5-6
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. / The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Leviticus 19:17
You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him.

Ezekiel 33:8-9
If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. / But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

Proverbs 9:8
Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs 28:23
He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.


Treasury of Scripture

Take heed to yourselves: If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

heed.

Luke 21:34
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Exodus 34:12
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:

Deuteronomy 4:9,15,23
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; …

If.

Matthew 18:15-17,21
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…

rebuke.

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

Psalm 141:5
Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

Proverbs 9:8
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Jump to Previous
Acts Attention Careful Forgive Guard Heed Rebuke Reform Regard Repent Repents Reprove Sharp Sin Sins Sorrow Sorry Trespass Watch Word Wrong Wrongly Yourselves
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Acts Attention Careful Forgive Guard Heed Rebuke Reform Regard Repent Repents Reprove Sharp Sin Sins Sorrow Sorry Trespass Watch Word Wrong Wrongly Yourselves
Luke 17
1. Jesus teaches to avoid occasions of offense;
3. and to forgive one another.
5. The power of faith.
6. How we are bound to God.
11. Jesus heals ten lepers.
22. Of the kingdom of God, and the coming of the Son of Man.














Watch yourselves
The phrase "Watch yourselves" is a call to vigilance and self-awareness. The Greek word used here is "prosechō," which means to pay attention or be cautious. In the context of Christian living, this is a reminder to be mindful of one's own spiritual state and actions. It emphasizes the importance of self-examination and the need to guard against sin in one's own life before addressing the sins of others. Historically, this reflects the Jewish tradition of self-scrutiny, where individuals are encouraged to reflect on their own behavior in light of God's commandments.

If your brother sins
The term "brother" here is significant, as it denotes a fellow believer or member of the Christian community. The Greek word "adelphos" implies a close relationship, akin to family. This highlights the communal aspect of the faith, where believers are responsible for one another's spiritual well-being. The word "sins" refers to missing the mark or falling short of God's standards, derived from the Greek "hamartanō." This phrase acknowledges the reality of sin within the community and the need for accountability among believers.

rebuke him
The instruction to "rebuke him" involves confronting the individual about their sin. The Greek word "epitimaō" means to admonish or charge sharply. This is not a call to harsh judgment but rather a loving correction aimed at restoration. In the historical context of the early church, such rebukes were intended to maintain the purity and unity of the community. It reflects the biblical principle of speaking the truth in love, as seen in Ephesians 4:15, where correction is done with the intent of guiding the sinner back to righteousness.

and if he repents
Repentance is a central theme in Christian doctrine, and the Greek word "metanoeō" means to change one's mind or turn away from sin. This phrase underscores the importance of genuine contrition and a commitment to change. In the scriptural context, repentance is not merely feeling sorry but involves a transformative process that leads to a renewed relationship with God. The conditional "if" indicates that forgiveness is contingent upon the sinner's willingness to acknowledge their wrongdoing and seek reconciliation.

forgive him
Forgiveness is a fundamental Christian virtue, and the Greek word "aphiēmi" means to let go or release. This phrase calls believers to extend grace and mercy, reflecting the forgiveness they have received from God. In the historical context, forgiveness was a radical concept, especially in a culture that often sought retribution. This command aligns with Jesus' teachings in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:12) and His parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:21-35), emphasizing that forgiveness is an essential aspect of the Christian life and community.

(3) Take heed to yourselves.--The position of the words is remarkable, and they have nothing corresponding to them in the parallel passage in Matthew 18:21, where see Note. It is as though our Lord saw in the disciples the tendency to sit in judgment on the sins of others, on such sins especially as He had just condemned, and checked it by the words "take heed to yourselves." They were in danger of faults hardly less fatal to the spiritual life than selfish luxury, and one of those faults was the temper of hard and unforgiving judgment. When they saw a conspicuous instance of worldliness or other evil, they did as we so often do--they condemned, but did not "rebuke." In practice, as He taught them by example as by precept, open friendly reproof, aiming at restoration, is the truest path to the forgiveness with which, in the careless estimate of most men, it seems to be incompatible.

Verse 3. - Take heed to yourselves: If thy Brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. "But do you take heed," the Lord went on to say, "my disciples; you too are in danger of committing deadly sin yourselves, and of doing my cause irreparable injury. Soft living m selfish luxury, about which I have been speaking lately, is not the only wrong you can commit; there is sore danger that men placed as you are will judge others harshly, even cruelly, and so offend in another way 'the little ones ' pressing into the kingdom: this is your especial snare." Things Jesus had noticed, perhaps congratulatory, self-sufficient comments he had heard them make on the occasion of the lately spoken parable of Dives, very likely had suggested this grave warning. So here he tells them, the future teachers of his Church, how they must act: while ever the bold, untiring, fearless rebukers of all vice, of every phase of selfishness, they must be never tired of exercising forgiveness the moment the offender is sorry. The repentant sinner must never be repelled by them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Watch
Προσέχετε (Prosechete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4337: From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.

yourselves.
ἑαυτοῖς (heautois)
Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

If
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

your
σου (sou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

brother
ἀδελφός (adelphos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

sins,
ἁμάρτῃ (hamartē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 264: Perhaps from a and the base of meros; properly, to miss the mark, i.e. to err, especially to sin.

rebuke
ἐπιτίμησον (epitimēson)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2008: From epi and timao; to tax upon, i.e. Censure or admonish; by implication, forbid.

him;
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

if
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

he repents,
μετανοήσῃ (metanoēsē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3340: From meta and noieo; to think differently or afterwards, i.e. Reconsider.

forgive
ἄφες (aphes)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

him.
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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