If we would wisely reprove the flesh in our brethren, we must
first, after the Lord's example, remember and commend the grace
in them.
Those who are much acquainted with the cross of Christ, and with
their own hearts, will be slow to take the reprover's office:
if they do reprove, they will make it a solemn matter, knowing
how much evil comes of the unwise handling of a fault.
Let us begin by searching ourselves, if we would be profitable
reprovers of others.
Much self-judgment makes a man slow to judge others; and the
very gentleness of such an one gives a keen edge to his rebukes.
In reproving sin in others, we should remember the ways of the
Holy Spirit of God towards us. He comes as the Spirit of Love;
and whatever His rebukes, He wins the heart by mercy and forgiveness
through Christ.
To forgive without upbraiding, even by manner or look, is a high
exercise of grace—it is imitation of Christ.
If I have been injured by another, let me bethink myself—How
much better to be the sufferer than the wrongdoer!
The flesh would punish to prevent a repetition of wrongs; but
Grace teaches us to defend ourselves without weapons. The man
who "seventy times seven" forgives injuries, is he who best knows
how to protect himself.
If one do me a wrong, let me with the bowels of Christ seek after
him, and entreat God to move him to repentance.
We partake in the guilt of an offending member of Christ, until
we have confessed his sin as our own (Dan. 9), mourned over it,
prayed for its forgiveness, and sought in the spirit of love
the restoration of the erring one.
If our tongue have been betrayed into speaking contemptuously
or even slightingly of an absent brother, let us quickly say,
Alas! we have wounded Christ.
If in love I speak to a brother of his fault, it is because I
hate the sin. If I speak of it with backbiting tongue, it is
self-pleasing that moves me.
If under the law, when the bond was only in the flesh, the Israelite
must not suffer sin upon his brother (Lev. 19:17), how much less
should it be suffered under the Gospel, which binds the saints
together spiritually and eternally!
The figure of the mote in the eye shows what skill and tenderness
he has need of who would be a reprover to his brother. Who would
trust so precious a member as the eye to a rough, unskilful hand?
The Lord loves to manifest peculiar tenderness towards those
who have been brought low, even though it may have been through
their own folly. "Go tell His disciples, and Peter." (Mark 16:7.)