Scripture Used for Reproof, Correction, and Instruction
Note: Scripture is to be used for reproof, correction, and instruction.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped
for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Note: God instructed the nation of Israel in writing.
"If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are
written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name,
THE LORD YOUR GOD, then the Lord will bring upon you and your
descendants extraordinary plagues--great and prolonged plagues--and
serious and prolonged sicknesses.” Deuteronomy 28:58-59
"For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious
for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say,
'Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may
hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who
will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and
do it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart,
that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good,
death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God,
to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and
His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God
will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart
turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship
other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall
surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you
cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as
witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your
descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may
obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and
the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the
Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give
them." Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Note: King Josiah discovered the written word of God.
Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has
given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his
robes. He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of
Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the
king’s attendant: “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people
and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been
found. Great is the LORD’s anger that burns against us because those
who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they
have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning
us.” 2 Kings 22:10-13
Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, “Hilkiah the priest has
given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes. He gave
these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah,
Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king’s attendant: “Go and inquire
of the LORD for me and for the remnant in Israel and Judah about what
is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD’s anger
that is poured out on us because those who have gone before us have not
kept the word of the LORD; they have not acted in accordance with all
that is written in this book.” 2 Chronicles 34:18-21
Note: Jeremiah condemned in writing everyone after King Josiah.
Now it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah,
king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying:
"Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have
spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the
nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to
this day. It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the
adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn
from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin."
Jeremiah 36:1-3
Note: Jesus Christ used Scripture against Satan.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted
by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights,
afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If
You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He
answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil
took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For
it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and 'In
their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a
stone.'" Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt
the Lord your God.'" Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly
high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their
glory. And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You
will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you,
Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him
only you shall serve.'" Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels
came and ministered to Him. Matthew 4:1-11
Note: Jesus Christ used Scripture against religious people.
At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His
disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat
them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your
disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” He answered,
“Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were
hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the
consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the
priests. Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath
duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell
you that something greater than the temple is here. If you had known
what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not
have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the
Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1-8
The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it
lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" And He
answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at
the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a
man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and
the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but
one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man
separate." They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a
certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" He said to them, "Moses,
because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your
wives, but from the beginning it was not so. Matthew 19:3-8
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone
which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was
the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore, I say to
you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation
bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be
broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." Now
when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived
that He was speaking of them. Matthew 21:42-45
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying,
"What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to
Him, "The Son of David." He said to them, "How then does David in the
Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My
right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"'? "If David then
calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" And no one was able to answer Him
a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
Matthew 22:41-46
Note: Jesus Christ used Scripture against faith money makers.
Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who
bought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables of the money
changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them,
"It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you
have made it a 'den of thieves.'" Matthew 21:12-13
Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought
and sold in it, saying to them, "It is written, 'My house is a house of
prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'" Luke 19:45-46
Note: Jesus Christ used Scripture against secular people.
The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to
Him and asked Him, saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies,
having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up
offspring for his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers. The
first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife
to his brother. Likewise, the second also, and the third, even to the
seventh. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the
resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had
her." Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing
the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection, they
neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in
heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read
what was spoken to you by God, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the
God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead,
but of the living." Matthew 22:23-32
Note: Jesus Christ used Scripture for his disciples.
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I
will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And
they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore, everyone who has heard and
learned from the Father comes to Me. Not that anyone has seen the
Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. Most
assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I
am the bread of life.” John 6:44-48
Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of
Me this night, for it is written: 'I will strike the Shepherd, And the
sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I have been raised, I
will go before you to Galilee." Peter answered and said to Him, "Even
if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to
stumble." Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night,
before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter said to
Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said
all the disciples. Matthew 26:31-35
Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in
all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have
suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" And beginning at
Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures
the things concerning Himself. Luke 24:25-27
Note: Paul used Scripture to explain faithless people.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of
God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also
for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from
faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith." For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown
it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible
attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without
excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as
God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their
foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,
and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like
corruptible man--and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their
hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the
truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather
than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God
gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the
natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, also the men, leaving
the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men
with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the
penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to
retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to
do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all
unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness;
they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud,
boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who,
knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such
things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of
those who practice them. Romans 1:16-32
Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony
of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you
suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God
underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified
a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who
said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The
Lord will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:28-31
Note: Paul used Scripture to explain the unbelief of Jews.
I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing
me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual
grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from
Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are
Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the
giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are
the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is
over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. But it is not that the word
of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of
Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham;
but "In Isaac your seed shall be called." That is, those who are the
children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the
children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word
of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son." And
not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by
our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done
any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, "The
older shall serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I have loved,
but Esau I have hated." What shall we say then? Is there
unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, "I will
have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on
whomever I will have compassion." So, then it is not of him who wills,
nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. For the Scripture says
to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may
show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the
earth." Therefore, He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He
hardens. You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For
who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply
against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have
you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay,
from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for
dishonor? What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power
known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared
for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory
on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,
even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My
people, and her beloved, who was not beloved." "And it shall come to
pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,'
There they shall be called sons of the living God." Isaiah also cries
out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be
as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved. For He will finish
the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make
a short work upon the earth." And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the
Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we would have become like Sodom,
and we would have been made like Gomorrah." What shall we say then?
That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to
righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing
the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness.
Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the
works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is
written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,
and whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." Romans 9:1-33
Note: Paul used Scripture for Christians.
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your
heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you
confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that
God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart
one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will
not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and
Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For
"whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:8-13
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for
it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give
him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."
Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21
Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not
lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters
as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and
drink, and rose up to play." Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as
some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us
tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by
serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were
destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as
examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the ages have come. 1 Corinthians 10:6-11
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put
on immortality. So, when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and
this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the
saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O Death,
where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of
death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God,
who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians
15:53-57
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it
is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things
which are written in the book of the law, to do them." But that no one
is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just
shall live by faith." Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who
does them shall live by them." Christ has redeemed us from the curse of
the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is
everyone who hangs on a tree"), that the blessing of Abraham might come
upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of
the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:10-14
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty
as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love
your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:13-14
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture
says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and
"The laborer is worthy of his wages." 1 Timothy 5:17-18