How to Give Correction
General correction:
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Before correcting, make sure you have taken the time to fix what makes you a hypocrite before you try to correct someone else for the same. Correct yourself before you try to correct others. Then you will see clearly to correct others (Matthew 7:3-5).
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Correction should start with rebuke (exposing what is wrong), then move to correcting (making right/straight what is wrong), and end with exhortation (to encourage and console if there is pain). Correction means “to straighten up again; to rectify.” Correction is about making a person accurate and effective, not about criticizing them. It is meant to include both conviction of error and exhortation (Titus 1:9, 2 Timothy 4:2).
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Proverbs 9:7-8—Do not try to correct the person who scoffs at or makes mockery of God or His Word. This is casting pearls before swine. They need to have some level of respect for the Word first.
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Galatians 6:1—Correction is to be brought with a gentle spirit…controlled and in love, though one’s speech may be stern. The sternness in one’s tone, according to the example of Christ, is always intentional and controlled, never out of raw emotion, for correction is to come with a spirit of gentleness.
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2 Timothy 3:16-27, 4:2, Titus 1:9—Correction is to be brought with scriptural teaching and with a patient mind. Must be based solely on the Word of God and not emotion or anything subjective. Correction is meant to be based only on what one can point to in the Word. Do not correct based on opinion or if you don't have scripture to back you up.
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Hebrews 12:11—All godly correction produces sorrow or pain. If the correction isn’t painful for the hearer at first, it’s not correction. True correction will hurt, and it's meant to.
Gentle Correction:
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The gentlest correction came to those who were ignorant sinners looking for mercy. Jesus would often say as little as, “Go and sin no more.” Repentant hearts evoked Jesus’ mercy. Jesus called them “those who are sick...in need of a physician.” The sick need care, not sharp rebuke (in most cases). Harshness is sometimes used, though, to instill fear of God; for some are saved with fear, being pulled out of the fire (Jude 1:23).
Harsh/Sharp Correction:
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The harshness goes up as person’s knowledge (and thus accountability) goes up. To whom much is given much is required. Harshness also increases if a person is deceiving many people. The danger is greater there. The harshest correction came to the Pharisees—those who knew the Word and did not obey it (hypocrites get it harshest).
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Also, Proverbs 15:10 says that harsh discipline is needed for people who have forsaken the right way. In other words, a person dabbling in sin could use general correction, but a person who has entirely forsaken what is right will likely need harsh correction.
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*Note that Jesus had to spend enough time around the Pharisees and observing them so that He could formulate a well-educated and informed reproof. Jesus knew the Pharisees very well. He ate with them. This is a tool for correction. Spend enough time around people to understand them well enough that your corrections are accurate, and so that they know you value relationship with them.
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*Similar harshness is used for believers when they are involved in false doctrine, for such is so dangerous that it requires intentional severity. Sharp or abrupt rebuke is efficacious for matters of dangerous false doctrines. As it is written, “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain…This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth.”—Titus 1:10-11,13-14. The rebuke of these is sharp for reasons of the danger (subverting whole households), while the motive is for their welfare (to make them sound in faith).
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*Sharp correction came to those who believed in Jesus but did not follow Him. They were hypocrites in this sense, giving credence to Jesus but never devoting themselves to Him. He spoke harshly to expose their wrongs, and just like at Nazareth, they sought to kill Him (John 8:31,37-59).
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Overall, the people that were rebuked the most or more directly/sharply were those who were:
1. Hypocrites or halfhearted (having knowledge and willfully disobeying or ignoring it) (Matthew 15:7-9, John 8).
2. Leaders (influencers of many others, for their influence makes their actions more harmful (Galatians 2:11-13, 1 Timothy 5:20).
3. Spreaders or receivers of dangerous, false doctrines (Titus 1:10-14, whole of Galatians).