124 Bible verses about Offense, offending

When you face hurts, you can find real comfort and guidance in Scripture. God's word reminds us that He is our refuge and strength, especially when things get tough.

Facing hurts with humility and forgiveness can truly heal your wounds and restore relationships. Loving your neighbor is a fundamental command, and that includes loving your enemies and blessing those who persecute you. I know it's a challenge, but it's part of what God calls us to as His followers.

The Bible teaches us that offenses are just a part of life. But it also encourages us to handle them in a way that honors God and leads to reconciliation. In Matthew 18:21-22, Jesus gives us key instruction on forgiveness: "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’"

This passage tells me that Jesus wants us to have hearts that don't hold onto bitterness and resentment. He wants us to forgive others, just as our Heavenly Father has forgiven us.

Christ didn't live to please himself, but as Scripture says of him, “The insults of those who abused you have fallen on me.”

If you're at the altar making an offering, and remember that your brother has something against you,

leave your offering on the altar and go and make peace with him first, and afterwards come back and make your offering.

I prayed, “Lord, please listen to us, because we are being treated with contempt. Rain down their insults on their own heads! Let them be taken away like plunder, prisoners in a foreign land!

I'm going to stop these nations insulting you, and you won't have to put up with their taunts any more, or make the nation fall, declares the Lord God.”

Be kind and compassionate to each other, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Their speech is full of cursing, lies, and threats; their tongues are always ready to spread trouble and cause evil.

Be patient with one another, forgive others among you if you have grievances against one another. Just as the Lord forgave you, you should do the same.

When Jacob's sons returned from the fields they were very upset when they heard the news and became extremely angry because Shechem had done something outrageous in Israel by having sex with Jacob's daughter—something that should never be done.

David asked the men who were standing beside him, “What will the man receive who kills this Philistine and removes this shame from Israel? Who does this heathen Philistine think he is, mocking the armies of the living God?”

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise the Lord who has supported me against Nabal's insult and has kept me from doing evil. For the Lord made Nabal's wickedness fall back on himself.” Then David sent a message to Abigail, asking for her to marry him.

The mocking of my attackers crushes my bones. They're always asking me, “Where is your God?”

and as far as it's up to you, live at peace with everyone.

If a brother sins against you, go and point out the wrong to him, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you've won your brother over.

You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering your own mother's son.

For your sake I put up with the insults; my face shows my embarrassment.

Don't pay back evil for evil, or retaliate when you're abused, instead you should give a blessing—because that's what you were called to do, so you could gain a blessing yourself.

My devotion for your house is burning me up inside; the insults of those who insulted you have fallen on me.

You—you know my shame, my disgrace, my humiliation. You see everything my enemies are doing.

For if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you don't forgive those who sin against you, then your heavenly Father won't forgive your sins.

Therefore let's not judge each other anymore, but decide to do this instead—we won't put obstacles in the way of fellow-believers, or cause them to fall.

Insults have broken my heart—I am so sick there is no cure. I looked for some sympathy, but there was no one! Nobody showed me any compassion.

So take care what you do. If your brother sins, warn him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Even if he sins against you seven times a day, and seven times comes back and tells you, ‘I'm really sorry,’ forgive him.”

Pay each of these neighbors back seven times for the scorn and ridicule they directed against you, Lord.

Remember this, my dear friends: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak, and slow to get angry,

because human anger doesn't reflect the good character of God.

Don't let me be scorned and insulted, for I have kept your laws.

Take away the shame I dread, for your law is good.

“Don't judge others, so that you won't be judged.

For whatever standard you use to judge others will be used to judge you, and whatever measurement you use to measure others will be used to measure you.

Don't sin by getting angry; don't let evening come and find you still mad—

He will be wounded and dishonored. His disgrace will never be removed.

Stupid people get angry immediately, but if you're sensible you ignore an insult.

A kind reply wards off anger, but hurtful words make people mad.

Give up your anger! Let go of your rage! Don't get mad—it only results in evil!

If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.

If you have good sense you'll be slow to get angry; you gain respect by forgiving wrongs.

Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!

It's better not to eat meat or drink wine or anything else that would cause your fellow-believer to stumble.

If a man divorces his wife and she goes and marries someone else, could he ever go back to her? Wouldn't the country be made totally unclean by this? But you have done worse by prostituting yourselves with many lovers, and now you want to come back to me? declares the Lord.

Don't cause offense, whether it's to Jews or Greeks or the church of God—

They should turn a cheek to someone who wants to slap them; they should take the insults of others.

Blessed are those who work to bring peace, for they will be called children of God.

The king will do whatever he wants, praising himself and considering himself greater than any god, even saying outrageous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of anger has finished, for what has been decided will be accomplished.

Kind words are like a honeycomb—they taste sweet and are healthy for the body.

I have heard the mocking taunts of the Moabites and the scornful derision of the Ammonites who have insulted my people and made threats against their territory.

Then the high priest tore his clothes, and said, “He's speaking blasphemy! Why do we need any witnesses? Look, now you've heard for yourselves his blasphemy!

Don't do anything from a spirit of selfishness or pride, but humbly think of others better than you do of yourself.

None of you should be preoccupied about your own things—instead concern yourself with the interests of others too.

Most of all, you should love one another very deeply, for love covers many of the wrong things people do.

The Jews replied, “We're not stoning you for a good deed, but for blasphemy because you are just a man but you're claiming to be God.”

Some people's hasty words cut like a knife, but the words of the wise bring healing.

Peter came to Jesus and asked him, “Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother for sinning against me? Seven times?”

“No, not seven times. I would say seventy times seven!” Jesus told him.

Get rid of every kind of bitterness, rage, anger, verbal abuse, and insults, along with all forms of evil.

Short-tempered people stir up trouble, but those slow to anger calm things down.

Those who love your teachings have wonderful peace and nothing trips them up.

So let's pursue the path of peace, and find ways to encourage each other.

Love does not act improperly, or insist on having its own way. Love is not argumentative and doesn't keep a record of wrongs.

Since you are God's special people, holy and dearly loved, adopt a sympathetic nature that is kind, humble, gentle, and patient.

Be patient with one another, forgive others among you if you have grievances against one another. Just as the Lord forgave you, you should do the same.

Hatred causes conflict, but love covers all wrongs.

So give up all the evil things that you do: all your dishonesty, hypocrisy, and jealousy, all the ways you speak badly about others.

The beginning of a quarrel is like the first leak in a water dam, so drop it before a major argument bursts out.

Treat others the way you want them to treat you. This sums up the law and the prophets.

But if you attack and tear into one another, watch out that you don't completely destroy yourselves!

Live in love, just as Christ loved you. He gave himself for us, a gift and sacrificial offering to God like a sweet-smelling perfume.

Do to others what you want them to do to you.

Do your best to live in peace with everybody, and look for holiness—if you don't have this you won't see the Lord.

Make sure none of you pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to one another, and to everyone.

For the Lord's minister must not fight, but be kind to everyone, able to teach, patient,

Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.

Dear friends, let's go on loving one another, for love comes from God. All those who love are born of God and know God.

Those who don't love don't know God, for God is love.

Those of us who are spiritually strong ought to support those who are spiritually weak. We shouldn't just please ourselves.

We should all encourage others to do what's morally right, building them up.

People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.

However, wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, and it also brings peace. It is kind and open to reason. It is full of mercy and produces good things. It is genuine and not hypocritical.

Those who sow peace will harvest the peace of what is truly good and right.

If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.

Reject what is evil, do what is good. Look for peace, and work to make it a reality.

Don't pay back anyone evil for evil. Make sure you show everybody that what you're doing is good,

and as far as it's up to you, live at peace with everyone.

My dear friends, don't seek revenge, but leave it to God to execute judgment—as Scripture points out, “‘It's for me to dispense justice, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.

You've heard that the law said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

But I tell you, don't resist someone who is evil. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to them as well.

Don't say to yourself, “I'm going to do to him what he did to me! I'll pay him back for what he's done!”

Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.

Don't use bad language. Speak words that will encourage people as necessary, so that those who listen will be helped.

just keep your mind focused on Christ as Lord. Always be ready to explain to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that you have. Do this in a gentle and respectful way.

Make sure your conscience is clear, so that if anyone makes accusations against you, they will be embarrassed for speaking badly about the good way you live your life in Christ.

Forgive our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

Pride only causes conflict; but those who take advice are wise.

Always be gracious when you speak. Make sure it's in good taste, and think about how best to answer everyone.

Lord, make sure I don't say anything I shouldn't—keep a watch over my conversations.

My friends, if someone is led astray by sin, you who are spiritual should bring them back with a gentle spirit. Watch out that you don't get tempted too.

Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. What I have forgiven, whatever it may be, I have forgiven before Christ for your benefit.

In this way Satan will not be able to take us in, because we know the tricks he thinks up.

If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Gentle words are a source of life, but telling lies does a lot of damage.

If you think you're religious, but don't control what you say, you deceive yourself—your religion is pointless.

Everyone should know about your kindness. The Lord will soon be here.

Better to be slow to anger than to be powerful, better to have self-control than to conquer a town.

Remember: “Those who want to love life, and to see good days, must refrain from speaking evil, and not tell lies.

Turn away from evil and do good; search for peace—run after it!

Don't be defeated by evil—conquer evil with good.

He does not punish us for our sins as he ought to; he does not pay us back for our wrongdoing as we deserve.

The Lord is kind and gracious, not quick-tempered, and full of trustworthy love.

He doesn't keep on accusing us; he doesn't stay angry with us forever.

What a disaster is coming on the world for all its temptations to sin! Temptations will surely come, but it will be a disaster for the person through whom the temptation comes!

Accept those who are still struggling to trust in God, and don't get into arguments over personal opinions.

A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.

Just take care not to use this freedom you have to eat food sacrificed to idols to become offensive to those with a weaker attitude.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Temptations are unavoidable, but it will be a disaster for those through whom they come!

So if eating food sacrificed to idols would cause my fellow believer to stumble, I will never eat such meat ever again, so that I don't offend any believer.

But anyone who makes one of these little ones who trust in me sin, it would be better for them to have a large millstone tied around their neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, not easily angered, and full of trustworthy love.

People who often get angry have to pay the penalty; if you help them, you'll have to do it again.

I tell you, people will have to account for every careless thing they say on the Day of Judgment.

For what you say will either vindicate you or condemn you.”

The very fact you have lawsuits against each other already is a complete disaster. Wouldn't it be better to accept the injustice? Why not let yourselves be defrauded?

But you would rather cause injustice and defraud even your fellow-believers in church.

Fathers, don't make your children mad, but look after them by disciplining them and instructing them about God.

You fathers, don't make your children mad, so they won't feel like giving up.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and accuse you of all kinds of evil things because of me.

My friends, don't complain about each other, so you won't be judged. Look, the judge is standing right at the door!

If you're slow to get angry, you're very wise; but if you have a short fuse you glorify stupidity.

Be in awe; do not sin. When you rest, reflect on this, and keep quiet! Selah.

Don't think proudly of yourselves; be gentle and patient, showing tolerance to each other in love.

Make every effort to remain one in the Spirit through the peace that binds you together.

If you talk too much, you'll say something wrong. Be wise and take care what you say.

Some say, “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is appropriate! “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is constructive!

You shouldn't look out for yourself, but for your neighbor.

So why do you criticize your fellow-believer? Why do you despise your fellow-believer? For all of us will stand before God's throne of judgment.

and when he was badly treated, he didn't retaliate. When he suffered, he didn't threaten to take revenge. He simply placed himself in the hands of the one who always judges rightly.

Stupid people let all their anger out, while wise people quietly hold it in.

When the way that people live pleases the Lord, he makes even their enemies be at peace with them.

I keep what you say in mind so I won't sin against you.

What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.

Be completely dedicated to each other in your love as family; value others more than yourselves.

I am giving you a new command: Love one another. Love one another in the same way I have loved you.

If you love one another you will prove to everyone that you are my disciples.”

Those who love their fellow Christians live in the light, and don't cause others to sin.

A good answer makes people happy—it's great to say the right thing at the right moment!

Prayer