Pilgrim’s Light Devotional –  Leviticus 19:16–17

“You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people… You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.” – Leviticus 19:16–17

Tale-bearing releases a threefold poison: it harms the one who tells it, the one who listens to it, and the one about whom the tale is told. Whether the report is true or false, God’s Word plainly forbids us from spreading it. The reputation of the Lord’s people should be precious to us, and we should consider it shameful to assist the devil in bringing dishonor upon the Church and upon the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle more than a spur. Many seem to delight in tearing down their brothers and sisters, as though doing so somehow elevates them. But remember Noah’s wise sons, who covered their father; the one who exposed him inherited a dreadful curse. One day we ourselves may need the patience and silence of our brethren—so let us gladly extend it now to those who need it. Let this be our household rule and our personal obligation: Speak evil of no one.

Yet the Holy Spirit does allow us to confront sin—and even commands us to do so. But He also instructs us how to do it. We must rebuke our brother to his face, not attack him behind his back. This is the way of courage, brotherly love, and Christlikeness—and by God’s grace it will be fruitful. Does your flesh shrink from such a duty? Then all the more must you press it upon your conscience and do what is right, lest by ignoring your friend’s sin you become a participant in it. Hundreds have been rescued from scandalous sins through the timely, wise, and loving warnings of faithful ministers and fellow believers.

Our Lord Jesus has given us a gracious example of how to deal with those who are straying—in His warning to Peter, the prayer that preceded it, and the gentle patience with which He endured Peter’s bold insistence that such counsel was unnecessary.