Leviticus 19:17 - Exposition

On the one side we are not to hate our brother in our heart, whatever wrongs he may commit; but on the other side, we are in any wise to rebuke our neighbour for his wrong doing. So our Lord teaches, "if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him" ( Luke 17:3 ); and he appoints a solemn mode of procedure, by which this fraternal rebuke is to be conveyed in his Church: "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. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church; but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican" ( Matthew 18:15-17 ). Therefore St. Paul warns his delegates, Timothy and Titus, "Them that sin rebuke before all" ( 1 Timothy 5:20 ). "Reprove, rebuke" ( 2 Timothy 4:2 ). "Rebuke them sharply" ( Titus 1:13 ). "Rebuke with all authority" ( Titus 2:15 ). By withholding reproof in a bitter spirit, or from a feeling of cowardice, we may become partakers of other men's sins. Whoever fails to rebuke his neighbour when he ought to do so, bears sin on his account (the more correct and less ambiguous rendering of the words translated in the Authorized Version, suffer sin upon him , cf. Numbers 18:22 , Numbers 18:32 ). God's people are their brothers' keepers ( Genesis 4:9 ).