Proverbs 27:5 Commentary and Bible Study

The idea of hidden love is strange. Perhaps we think of secret love which a man or woman have for each other, which they do not yet feel ready to declare, for fear perhaps that it will not be requited. But that is not what is in mind here, for secret love is contrasted not with an open declaration of love but with an open or uncovered rebuke. The real distinction is between the lack of integrity in the one case compared with courageous honesty in the other. One is useful while the other is without profit. What is wrong with secret love is that it never has the courage to do the right thing, the hard thing; it is willing instead to let the object of love do themselves moral harm without giving any warning of danger. Secret love has therefore failed to play the part of a true friend and to risk being hated for delivering honest, but needful, correction. It is not that the open rebuke lacks love, for Solomon is clear that an effective rebuke is best delivered by those that love us, and the next proverb reinforces this idea. The love of open rebuke is love that is strong enough to bear with short term discomfort in the relationship, in the interests of long term advance and growth. This is how the Lord works in our lives, for he is never afraid to correct his children with discipline since his eye is always on our eternal good. He does not fear our momentary discomposure, knowing that our light affliction works for our eternal good. At the same time he urges us to patiently bear with the discomfort of being corrected and disciplined.