Proverbs 9:7-9 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Three examples of rebuking and being hated: Joseph (Gen. 37:2, 18-28). The prophet (2Chr. 25:16). John the Baptist (Matt. 14:1-10).
‘Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.’ We can rebuke or warn a fellow Christian, depending on how far and for how long such an individual has backslidden. Christ warns that He will spew such a person from His mouth because they are lukewarm (Rev. 3:15-17) and most people do not want to ‘hear the truth’ about their sinful state, that’s why they choose it and keep on living in that state – they reject the knowledge of the Truth and will thus be rejected (Hos. 4:6; Heb. 10:26).
Three examples of rebuking and being loved: Nathan (2Sam. 12:1-31). Two disciples (Luke 24:25-29). Peter (John 21:17; Gal. 2:11-14).
‘Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.’ To instruct – reading (or quoting), not preaching – from God’s Word will remind us of how we must live and act and keep us on the straight and narrow (Matt. 7:13-14) therefore Scripture commands us to be renewed in the spirit of our minds by His Word (Eph. 4:23-24; Rom. 12:1-2).
Living the Word 