Bible Strands
Luke 17:3
Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples amid a series of warnings about stumbling and faith (Luke 17:1–10).
The words — The Greek reads εἰς σὲ (eis se, "against you"), specifying the sin is directed at the listener; the BSB's "if your brother sins" drops that directional marker.
The thread — Matthew 18:15 lays out the same private-rebuke step, Matthew 18:21–22 answers Peter's "how many times" with seventy times seven, and Leviticus 19:17 commands direct rebuke to prevent harbored hatred.
Why it lands — Rebuke and forgiveness are presented as a sequence, not alternatives: you must do both, and the opening "watch yourselves" warns that the one who rebukes is equally exposed to failure.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Cross-references
- Leviticus 19:17 You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him.
- Matthew 18:15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
- Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
- Proverbs 9:8 Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
- 2 Chronicles 19:6 Then he said to the judges, “Consider carefully what you do, for you are not judging for man, but for the LORD, who is with you when you render judgment.
- Proverbs 27:5 Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed.
- James 5:19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back,
- Exodus 34:12 Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land you are entering, lest they become a snare in your midst.
- Deuteronomy 4:9 Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.
- Deuteronomy 4:23 Be careful that you do not forget the covenant of the LORD your God that He made with you; do not make an idol for yourselves in the form of anything He has forbidden you.