Matthew 18:15-18 Moreover if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he shall hear you… I. WHOM are we to reprove? Our brother. This term, in general, comprehends all mankind. II. FOR WHAT are we to reprove our brother? It is for trespassing against us. III. How we are to reprove. 1. Be sure that the person whom you are about to reprove is really guilty of the sin. 2. See that the sin, which you are about to reprove, be that heinous sin which you have taken it to be. We are not for every trifle to fly in the face of our brother, and to hale him before our tribunal. 3. When you are about to reprove a brother, you should consider whether there is any probability of your doing him any good by your reproofs. If the goldsmith were persuaded that his toil and sweat at the refining pot would answer no good but to injure his health, and perhaps to shorten his days, he would sooner break his utensils in pieces, and burst his bellows apart than engage in such unprofitable and unhealthy employment. Equally fruitless ii is to reprove some men. To reprove successfully requires no small degree of dexterity and penetration. It must be the combined work of a cool head, and a gracious compassionate heart. 4. When you are about to reprove a brother, go to him yourselves. Do not wait until he comes of his own accord to you. 5. He who would reprove with success, should be as unblemished as possible in his own conduct. IV. FOR WHAT END we are to reprove him. Not to please ourselves, or to gratify our private resentments — not to triumph over his infirmities or to display our superiority to him; not to insult him, or to make ourselves merry with his faults; but that we may win him over from the camp of the aliens, and restore him to his rightful owner. (Daniel Rowland.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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