Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 Samuel 2:22-25

"Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting. And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people. Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make Jehovah`s people to transgress. If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Jehovah was minded to slay them." — 1 Samuel 2:22-25 (ASV)

Now Eli was very old, and heard what his sons did to all Israel and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And he said to them, Why do you do such things? for I hear of your evil doings from all this people. No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make the LORD'S people transgress. If one man sins against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sins against the LORD, who shall plead for him?

That is the way Eli rebuked his sons. "And very gently he did it, dear old man," says someone. Yes, but don't you imitate him; for if you do, you may also inherit the curse that came upon his house.

There are other virtues in this world besides gentleness. There is sometimes needed the power to speak sternly – to rebuke with firmness and severity; and Eli did not have this. He was an easy-going old soul. Ah! but when the honour of God is at stake, such action as his is out of place. It is all very well to have everybody saying, "Mr. So-and-so is such an amiable man; there is no sectarianism and no bigotry about him; he never says a word to offend anybody." Just so, but Martin Luther was not at all that kind of man, and where should we have been without such protests as his?