Discipline of God

The discipline of God is his loving correction of his children. The Lord chastens those he loves as a father corrects a son, so that they may share his holiness and yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Whom the Lord loves he chastens

• Hebrews 12:5-8
  ⁵And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. ⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” ⁷If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ⁸But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 12 →
• Proverbs 3:11-12
  ¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; ¹²For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 3 →
• Revelation 3:19
  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
  Show context · Read Revelation 3 →
• Deuteronomy 8:5
  Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee.So know in your heart that just as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
  Show context · Read Deuteronomy 8 →

The purpose of chastening

• Hebrews 12:10-11
  ¹⁰For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. ¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 12 →
• Psalm 119:67
  Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.
  Show context · Read Psalm 119 →
• Psalm 119:71
  It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.
  Show context · Read Psalm 119 →
• 1 Corinthians 11:32
  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 11 →
• John 15:2
  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.
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Blessed is the one corrected

• Psalm 94:12
  Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,
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• Job 5:17-18
  ¹⁷Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. ¹⁸For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.For He wounds, but He also binds; He strikes, but His hands also heal.
  Show context · Read Job 5 →

Corrected in measure

• Jeremiah 30:11
  For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have scattered you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.”
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• Psalm 103:9-10
  ⁹He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.He will not always accuse us, nor harbor His anger forever. ¹⁰He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.
  Show context · Read Psalm 103 →
• Lamentations 3:31-33
  ³¹For the Lord will not cast off for ever:For the Lord will not cast us off forever. ³²But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion according to His abundant loving devotion. ³³For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.For He does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men.
  Show context · Read Lamentations 3 →
• Psalm 118:18
  The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.The LORD disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death.
  Show context · Read Psalm 118 →

See also

• Love of God
• Suffering
• Repentance
• Sanctification
• Fathers

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.