It may not always be intuitive, but it makes perfect sense if you think about it. Whether we are talking about Yahweh or brothers and sisters in Christ, we only discipline and rebuke the ones we love. Think about your own situation. How often do you reprove or discipline a stranger? It is much more often we will reprove friends or family… brothers and sisters in Christ, or our own spouse or children. It is the same with Yahweh.
6FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”
19‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
There is little point reproving a mocker or a fool. They will not learn.
8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
With this in mind we can certainly appreciate the spirit in which Paul wrote 2 Corinthians. His desire was to help those he loved, brothers and sisters in Christ, who were struggling to hold tightly to correct teaching and application of that teaching in their lives. Paul wished to help them now, by the letter, so he could rejoice with them when he visited… rather than spending his visit rebuking them firmly.
Examine Yourselves
1This is the third time I am coming to you. EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES. 2I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone, 3since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. 4For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.
5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? 6But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test. 7Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. 9For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete. 10For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
11Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13All the saints greet you.
14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
I appreciate that even when Paul was being firm and direct, he did so in a way that demonstrated love. He never changed God’s instructions, but he could identify with the people he was leading and teaching. Even as he reproved them, he encouraged them and reminded them lovingly of the truth of the gospel. I suppose I also appreciate that Paul points to all three members of the trinity in his closing, each playing a crucial role in the life of a believer.
We would do well to pray for the Spirit’s help to reprove others as effectively as Paul did… both firm and loving and never compromising.
Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ
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