Secret love—Better, love that is hidden; that is, love which never shows itself in this one way of rebuking faults. Rebuke, whether fr…

Secret love— i.e., that never discloses itself in acts of kindness, not even in “open rebuke” when such is needed.

That I should love my fellow-man is a good thing; but to have enough love to openly rebuke his faults is a very strong proof of affection, and far …

Open rebuke [is] better than secret love.

This is to be understood, not of rebuke publicly given; though Aben Ezra thinks pu…

Plain and faithful rebukes are better, not only than secret hatred, but than love which flatters in sin, to the hurt of the soul.