DAY 1 — The Lord Rebuke You | DAY 1 — Did Jesus Really Rebuke People? Or Just the Spirits? | Clearing Up the Confusion

When we hear the words “The Lord rebuke you,” many of us think immediately about spiritual warfare or moments when Jesus corrected people sharply. 

But before we take that phrase and use it loosely, we have to slow down and actually look at how Jesus handled correction — because the way He rebuked, and who He rebuked, matters more than we often realise.

Where exactly in scripture do we see these words: The Lord rebuke you?

Let’s go to Jude 1:9 (KJV) - the clearest and most direct example. Even an archangel left the rebuking to the Lord. It says: “Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.”

Zechariah 3:2 (KJV), “And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee…” This is the Old Testament foundation. God Himself rebukes Satan — not Joshua, not another priest.

In Scripture, a rebuke is more than just telling someone off — it is a firm correction meant to stop something harmful. Psalm 119:21 (KJV) says, “Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.” 

In Scripture, a rebuke exposes what is wrong. Proverbs 27:5 (KJV) says, “Open rebuke is better than secret love.” 

In scripture, a rebuke also intended to bring someone back into alignment with God. 2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God… and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction.” 

And as Revelation 3:19 (KJV) reminds us, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”  Jesus Himself was here speaking to the lukewarm church of Laodicea, urging them to repent because His rebuke flowed from love.

So we see here Family, that, in Scripture, a rebuke isn’t emotional venting. It isn’t frustration. And it certainly isn’t spiritual aggression. 

A rebuke is purposeful, intentional, and always connected to restoration. 

As we study this today, the hope is that we will grow into maturity, and we will begin to see how correction fits into the life of a believer who wants to walk like Christ.

When we look at Jesus’ life, we see moments where He rebuked people — but it is important to notice why. 

One of the most striking examples is Peter. 

Peter loved Jesus deeply, yet in a single moment, his words were pulling in the opposite direction of God’s plan for salvation. And Jesus turned and said to him in Matthew 16:23 (KJV),“Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”

Here, Jesus wasn’t insulting Peter. He wasn’t calling him demon-possessed. He was correcting the influence behind Peter’s thinking — stopping something that could derail the mission.

There were other moments when Jesus corrected His own disciples, like when they tried to push the children away. Mark 10:14 (KJV) says, “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not…” He rebuked them because their actions were misrepresenting His heart.

Jesus also corrected the Pharisees sharply because their hypocrisy harmed the people. In Matthew 23:27 (KJV), He said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” 

Jesus was not trying to shame them for entertainment; He was exposing the contrast between outward religion and inward rebellion.

But catch this: Jesus didn’t only rebuke people. He also rebuked spirits directly. In Mark 1:25 (KJV) we read, “And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.”

There was no conversation, no negotiating — He recognised the spiritual source and commanded it to go.

Jesus even rebuked sickness. Luke 4:39 (KJV) says, “And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her…” This shows us that Jesus understood the difference between a person who needed compassion and a spiritual force that needed to be confronted.

Now here is where we need wisdom. 

Jesus rebuked perfectly because He could see the heart behind the action. We cannot. And that means our approach to correction must be rooted in Scripture, humility, and spiritual discipline, not emotion.

The Bible warns us about our tone. Proverbs 15:1 (KJV) teaches, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

So, it’s possible to say the right thing the wrong way — and lose the person in the process.

Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:1 (KJV):“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness…”

So, plainly and simply, if meekness isn’t in it, it isn’t God’s kind of correction.

We go to Colossians 4:6 (KJV) which  instructs us, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt…”

So, saints of God, there is a difference between “salty speech” and speech that is “seasoned with salt.” One wounds. One heals.

I believe that through this series, God is drawing our attention to the fact that: rebuke is biblical, but it must be handled with the heart of Christ. 

If we speak from pride, frustration, assumptions, or offense, we can crush someone who is already struggling. But when we allow the Holy Spirit to discipline our tone, our motives, and our approach, correction becomes a tool of healing, not harm.

Jesus corrected people to restore them. He confronted spirits to free people. He addressed attitudes to protect purpose. And He did all of it with clarity, conviction, and compassion.

I encourage us today to be like Jesus. Let’s us grow into that same balance. We learn to walk in authority without arrogance, in boldness without harshness, and in truth without losing love.

That’s where spiritual maturity begins.