Can anyone say you or I have rejected reproof?
- Proverbs 5:12—And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof
- Proverbs 12:1—Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
- Proverbs 13:18—Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
- Proverbs 15:10—Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
- Proverbs 15:31—The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
- Proverbs 15:32—He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
How does one deal with those who think they are reproving and are really only making FALSE ACCUSATIONS?
A FEW EXAMPLES OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS IN SCRIPTURE
- Satan and Job’s friends falsely accuse Job (Job 1:9; Job 2:4; )
- A man falsely accused his wife of unfaithfulness (Numbers 5:11-31)
- Joseph’s brethren accused him (Gen. 37:8)
- Joseph accuses his brethren to test them (Gen. 42:12, 30, 34)
- Korah falsely accused Moses (Numbers 16:1-50)
- Saul accused the prophet Ahimelech (1 Samuel 22:11-15)
- Joab accused Abner (2 Samuel 3:24-32)
- The Princes of Ammon accuse David (2 Samuel 10:3)
- Ahab accused Elijah (1 Kings 18:17-19)
- Jezebel accused Naboth (1 Kings 21:10)
- Jews, who returned under Ezra, were falsely accused (Eze. 4:1-16)
- Jeremiah was accused (Jer. 26:8-14)
- There were false accusations against Amos (Amos 7:10-13)
- There were false accusations against Mary (Matthew 1:18-20)
- There were false accusations against Jesus (Matthew 9:32-34)
- There were false accusations against Stephen (Acts 6:8-15)
- There were false accusations Jason, who befriended Paul (Acts 17:1-7)
- There were false accusations against Paul and Silas (Acts 16:19-24)
OTHER EXAMPLES OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS
- Luke 3:14—And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
- 2 Timothy 3:3—Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
- 1 Peter 2:12-24—Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
All of us need to be willing to accept rebukes; however, does the false accuser understand the difference between what he is doing and a genuine rebuke?
- Leviticus 19:17—Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
- Psalms 6:1—O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
- Psalms 38:1—O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.
- Proverbs 9:8—Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
- Proverbs 13:1—A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
- Proverbs 27:5—Open rebuke is better than secret love.
- Ecclesiastes 7:5—It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.
Notice WHO IS THE FALSE ACCUSER?
SATAN (adversary) of God and man.
The Hebrew word from which Satan comes sometimes refers to human enemies (1 Sam. 29:4; Psa. 109:6). Once it refers to the angel of the Lord who opposed Balaam (Num. 22:22). But whenever this word is used as a proper name in the Old Testament, it refers to the enemy of God, man, and good (1 Chr. 21:1; Job 1:1-2:13). This use of the word also occurs frequently in the New Testament.
Another common name for Satan in the New Testament is “the devil,” meaning “slanderer” or “false accuser.” Other titles by which Satan is identified in the New Testament include “the tempter” (1 Thess. 3:5); “Beelzebub” (Matt. 12:24); “the wicked one” (Matt. 13:19,38); “the god of this age” (2 Cor. 4:4); “Belial” (2 Cor. 6:15), “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2); and “the accuser of our brethren” (Rev. 12:10).
- “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour isa maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow” (Pro. 25:18).
- “He that hathno rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls” (Pro. 25:28).
1 Peter 3:7—Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
-Beth Johnson