Mitzvah 36
A teaching by Edri (Gregory)
36. To rebuke the sinner (Lev. 19:17)
This mitzvoth is one that rarely is done in the Christian system of worship or
practice. Yet it is a duty of anyone who proclaims faith in the Messiah.
Let's look at the command in question, found in Lev.
19:17 - Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou shalt earnestly
rebuke thy brother, lest thou bear sin on account of him.
In this mitzvoth, we are commanded to rebuke our brother if we see him doing open sin/torah-less-ness and we are to rebuke him frankly. In fact, it also implies that if we do "not" rebuke him/her, we then share in the guilt of his/her sin! This very serious commandment, and the implications of not doing it will be discussed as we go throughout this teaching. However, first we need to lay a foundation and get an idea of what we mean when we say "rebuke."
Let's see how Webster's defines the word "rebuke" -
Main Entry: 1re·buke
Pronunciation: ri-'byük
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): re·buked; re·buk·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old North French rebuker
1 a : to criticize sharply: Reprimand b :
to serve as a rebuke to
2 : to turn back or keep down : to Check
To rebuke someone is to sharply tell them that what they are doing is "wrong." It is the act of trying to get someone to change their behavior. It is not pretty, and it is not nice. In fact, it may seem like the most unsavory command in our walk with Messiah. I mean, in our country, it is all about "individualism" and letting others live just the way they want to, and having an attitude of "live and let live." Our country is so much against rebuking and judging,. that we have a literal mess today, with abortion on demand, sexual sins piling up to Heaven, oppression of the poor and homeless, and religious egotism running rampant. However, for those who proclaim faith in Messiah, this is NOT what our Master wants for "us." Contrary to how this world operates, our Elohim wants us to show enough concern for our brother or sister's welfare to reprove them when they are walking contrary to the teaching of Elohim. In fact, Elohim Himself, who tells us to be "like him" (Mt:5:48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.) rebukes those in covenant with Him. And so, to be like Elohim, we need to find out about what it means to rebuke, and also how to do it! So, here in Heb:12:5-14, we see that Elohim "rebukes" those he loves.
Heb:12:5-14 : And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Master, nor faint when you art rebuked by him: For whom the Master loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If ye endure chastening, YHWH deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Master:
1Cor:11:32: But when we are judged, we are chastened of YHWH, that we should not be condemned with the world.
To rebuke the sinner is meant to be used as a chastening of those who are "in" the covenant relationship with YHWH. Probably the most difficult thing for anyone to receive is "chastening." In fact, most people gnash their teeth against it. However, this mitzvoth is design to help us all be our brothers and sisters "keepers," and keep each of us accountable to each other.
In fact, the attitude that we are not to be "concerned" about our brother or sister's conduct comes from Satan, and was first spoken about through Cain, the very first murderer in the scriptures -
Gen:4:9: And YHWH said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
This was Cain's insolent answer he gave to Almighty YHWH after Cain had murderer his own brother. It demonstrates a complete lack of responsibility, and refusal to accept blame for his own actions, as well as the welfare of his brother Abel.
The answer to Cain's rhetorical question - "Am I my brother's keeper?" is in fact - YES! We are indeed our brother and sister's "keeper." We ARE expected to hold each other accountable before each other and the Almighty.
Prophets were especially aware of this fact of holding others accountable -Ezek:3:18: When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Prophets were under a stern command to warn offenders about their sin. And, if they failed to warn others about their sin, the prophet himself could end up facing judgment for causing someone to continue sinning, and eventually face the second death!
With this established, we need to find out "how" rebuking our brother or sister is to be conducted in our fellowship.
---Proper procedure in Nazarene Israel---
There are certain guidelines in "how" we go about fulfilling this commandment. First, it is NOT our business to "rebuke" anyone who is NOT of the covenant, and within our scope of fellowship. We can tell them the truth of YHWH, we can try to get them to listen, we can even argue to some extent with those outside the covenant of Israel, but we CANNOT rebuke them for the sinful i.e. Torah-less behaviors.
Paul sums this concept up in -
1Cor:5:12: For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
But them that are without YHWH judges. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Second, in order to rebuke a brother or sister, we are NOT to go shout it in the open before all the brothers right away. We are supposed to go to them "privately" and try to convince them of their wrongness. - Mt:18:15-17: 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. Sometimes, this is all that is needed. However, if your brother or sister will not listen to you, in a private conversation, you then need to apply the Third step - 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. In this case, you need to find a couple of elders, to go with you and confront this person. (remember, these are ONLY guidelines for those who are truly brothers or sisters in "covenant" WITH the fellowship you are covenanted with and the offender is "attending" the fellowship and under the covenant as well) If this person will listen, and repent, this is good. However, if this person will not even listen to the elders, and still stubbornly refuse to hear a rebuke, and correct him or herself, then, it goes to step number Four - And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the assembly of Israel: but if he neglect to hear the assembly of Israel, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. If this stubborn person will not hear a rebuke of all the assembly, then , they are to be considered a "pagan" and are NOT to be fellowshipped with anymore. In fact, Paul goes so far as to say that we should then not even "eat" with such a backslidden pagan!
We find in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 where Paul shows us how , in one instance, a man is rebuked and even disfellowshipped, over a very great sin. The sin was that a son took his father's wife and began to sleep with her, and therefore committed fornication against his father and against YHWH.
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Master Yahushua Messiah, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Master Yahushua Messiah, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of Master Yahushua. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without Elohim judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
In this instance, Paul has already rendered a judgment as the NASI (presidential judge) of the Beit din (ruling council of judges) of that particular assembly. Paul says that they are to severely REBUKE this young man, and put him out of their fellowship. There is a special prayer that is given, that rescinds the protections of the assembly from this young man, and opens the offender up to the destruction of his flesh by the devil, in the form of illness and disease. And, in reality, like Job, who lost his protective hedge (although in Job's case, he was innocent and it was just a test for him) this young man will lose his protective hedge, and the scriptures say - Eccl:10:8b ".... and whoso breaks an hedge, a serpent shall bite him."
Paul then says that this young man is to be "Shunned" and not even allowed to eat with the members of Israel until he repents and put away his sin/ Torah-less behavior from him. Some may think that this is a bit harsh. However, the goal in all of this, is not to cause this man to be diseased or have something bad happen to him, the goal is to work a REBUKE such that this young man's "spirit may be saved in the day of Master Yahushua." - 1st Corinthians 5:5b
In another place, Paul agrees with the last step of the procedure to "rebuke" someone, when he says 1Tm:5:20: Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Yes, rebuking our brother or sister is an integral command to benefit each other, keep each other accountable and to save each other from the snares and traps of the Evil One. It also works a double blessing, because when our brother or sister listens to our rebuke, and repents, there is great peace, as restoration is worked out among us. The Hebrew word for repenting is teshuva. It means to "turn around completely and go the other way." When those who are rebuked perform "teshuva", they show their humility and love for our Creator, and His Spirit continues to dwell with them. Let us not forssake this important command. As the scriptures say - "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet,.."