A rebuke goes deeper into one
who has understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.

Proverbs 17:10

In physiological terms it is very important that we have a thick skull. That brain sitting inside one’s skull is essential to life itself and needs thick and strong protection. But, when it comes to moral terms and emotional terms and spiritual terms being thick skulled is not helpful…at all!

Here’s the thing, the only way to improve ourselves in any aspect of our lives is to be willing to be a learner…to be teachable. And that means we must be willing to receive rebuke with grace, patience and humility which are all mixed together with a good dose of discernment. And that is SO much easier said than done. I believe this is the essence of our key verse today.

No one enjoys being on the receiving end of a rebuke. We want to push back. We want to defend ourselves. We want to lash out and twist the rebuke back to the person trying to help us. We want to do anything except let that rebuke or, often translated, reproof go down deep within us, deep with our heart and soul. Because if we let that happen, then the essence of the rebuke and the truth of the rebuke will have to be dealt with and the quicker the better. That is why a fool does not listen to or heed a reproof: they don’t want to deal with the core of the reprimand and make corrections. Whereas a person of understanding and wisdom knows that, though painful, dealing with the deep issue will, in the end, benefit themselves and others. 

Let’s look at this word rebuke and its biblical definition and connotations. 

Rebuke is a “strong expression of disapproval, reproof or correction. It is a correction of someone’s behavior, attitude or actions” [Christianity Today] The word carries the idea that the person directing the rebuke has the authority to do so. A parent may reprove a child to not touch the stove and when the child continues to do so, the parent may escort said child to their room. The parent has biblical authority to this for the protection of the child. However, if the child, in turn, tells the parent to go to their room because the parent refuses to give them a candy; there is no authority behind the child’s rebuke and therefore carries no substance.

A police officer has authority to rebuke a speeding driver, usually with a hefty fine. A judge has authority to rebuke those in a courtroom with words of admonishment and with contempt of court charges. Military leaders have the authority to rebuke unruly and uncooperative soldiers under their command. If this were not the case no branch of the military could operate with any success.

God has the ultimate authority to rebuke anyone, anytime and in any fashion He chooses. It is His mercy and grace and love that coexist with this authority that stays God’s hand more than we know.

God rebuked Israel often! Sometimes directly, but most often through the prophets and we know just how well the prophets were treated when they shared God rebukes. One appropriate response to God’s personal rebuke was King David when Nathan the Prophet strongly rebuked David about his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband. We can learn a lot from that response.

Jesus rebuked evil spirits and the religious leaders of that day. These often tried to rebuke Jesus, but they had no authority to do so; not even in their crucifixion of our Lord! Jesus willing laid down His. Life. No one had or now has the authority to take the Savior’s life! 

 Remember Peter! He also tried to rebuke Jesus, several times. Peter, Peter…He did not have the authority to do that and Jesus did correct him in a strong rebuke and a hard lesson. But, again, the mercy and grace and love of Jesus restored Peter fully laying the foundation for a life of following Jesus even in a martyr’s death. But, Peter had to be a man of understanding to allow Jesus’ rebukes to work into the depths of his soul. The Pharisees were prideful fools and though often rebuked by Jesus, the King of Glory, they would not yield their foolishness.

It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man
than for one to listen to the song of fools.

Ecclesiastes 7:5