Ezekiel 44:24
And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths. And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.
In controversy the priests are to stand in judgment and decide the dispute according to God's judgments, not by human opinion or preference. That office joins judging with teaching, for they are to faithfully teach and uphold the distinction between what is holy and what is profane. Their instruction is also to cause the people to discern between the clean and the unclean.
Faithful judgment requires reproving sin and warning those who are in danger, as part of the same priestly duty to judge and teach. The fact that reproof is unwelcome does not excuse God's servants from giving it. Sympathy for one at fault must not be allowed to cloud judgment, nor to lead to speaking reassurance to someone who needs to be warned.