The tone of our voice reflects the meditations of our heart. Let's use the brief inquiry, "What's the matter with you?" You can ask with sincere concern because someone is ill, or you can ask out of frustration that a person is not doing what you want him or her to do. Or take the sentence "Where are you going?" It can be asked out of polite curiosity, as when someone has told you he is going on a vacation, or it can be asked in anger when he is leaving the room in the middle of an argument.
Paul is making that kind of a distinction between a rebuke and an exhortation. A rebuke means to criticize sharply. To exhort is to give warnings or appeals. Paul tells Timothy that we must not rebuke an elder man, a younger man, a elder woman or a younger woman. In other words we are to speak to everyone as close family members whom we love (1 Timothy 5:1).
It is a wise person who shows respect when it is necessary to confront someone.
