What is the meaning of Proverbs 9:8-9, Rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase learning?
Why will a wise man love you, when you rebuke him?
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning (Proverbs 9:8-9)
We are not allowed to reprove or rebuke wicked man; unbelievers, who haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. But we may correct and rebuke those, who are part of the body of Christ; the church.
When you rebuke a wise man, a believer, who walks in obedience to God, and confront the wise man with his sin, you will rebuke the wise man out of love. Because you want to prevent the believer from departing from the Word and the path of life and walking on the path of unrighteousness, which leads to death.
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you
Many times, Christian’s sins are allowed and approved in the body of Christ. Many churches approve of sin and iniquity and call their action (to justify sin) love and grace.
But when you accept sin and iniquity in the church, and don’t correct and rebuke the wise man, then you don’t walk in love and grace. Because you let that person live in the bondage of the devil and the power of darkness, and send that person directly to hell. How cruel is that?
When someone lives in sin, or when someone returns to his old lifestyle and start walking in sin again, then that person is not saved from death Because everyone who commits sins is a sinner; a slave of sin (a slave of the devil). The wages of sin is not life but death (a.o. John 8:34, Romans 6:23).
Many church leaders are open graves
Jesus said to the Pharisees, that they were open graves. And in our time, nothing has changed. Many church leaders allow sin in the church and use words like love and the grace of God to justify their actions. But they are open graves and lead many people to hell with their findings and opinions.
They approve sin, while God is very clear in His Word. God reveals His will in His Word. He is also clear about the final destination of a sinner (someone, who lives in disobedience to God in sin).
When you warn a person of danger, that person will be grateful. It’s the same with Christians.
When you correct and rebuke a wise man; a brother or a sister in Christ, and tell the wise man to let go of that sin, then the wise man shall eventually love you and be grateful. Because you showed that brother, or sister that you love him/her and don’t want anything bad for him/her to happen.
You don’t want your brother or sister being misled by all these lies that are being preached from the pulpit, which will lead many to hell. No!
You want to save your brother or sister from any harm. Therefore, you rebuke the person (in love). Now that is true love!
Give instruction to a wise man and he will love you
It is not only important to rebuke a wise man. In Proverbs 9:8-9 the Word says, to give instruction and teach the wise man in God’s Word. So that the wise man becomes wiser, and increases in learning.
The purpose of Christians is to grow up in the Word of God and become doers of God’s Word. So that, they become like the Word and walk in holiness and righteousness, just like Jesus walked upon this earth.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
