1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. The apostle refers here, not to offending elders, but to members of the Church generally, as we justly infer from the change of number. It is the elder in the one case; it is "those who sin" in the other. I. THE PUBLICITY OF REBUKE. "Those that sin rebuke before all." 1. The class referred to consists not of those merely overtaken in a fault (Galatians 6:1), but, as the tense of the word signifies, persons given to sinning. Thus great consideration and caution are to be exercised. The casual transgressor might be dealt with privately, and would not need further dealing on his exhibiting evidence of repentance. 2. It was to be merely rebuke, not exclusion from the Church. If the rebuke was unheeded, the extreme sentence would follow. 3. The rebuke was to be public. (1) The transgression may have been very public, to the scandal of religion; (2) the publicity would involve the full disclosure of the sin, and involve shame. II. THE DESIGN OF PUBLIC REBUKE. "In order that the rest also may fear." Such a discipline would have a deterrent influence upon others. The strictness of the law would not be without effects upon conscience. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.WEB: Those who sin, reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. |
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