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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.
For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee;
leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more, saith the Lord God.
and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.
And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Ab´igail, to take her to him to wife.
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor: mine adversaries are all before thee.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling-block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
Remember Lot's wife.
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
and render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the Lord.
Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering;
forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient;
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love.
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
And again, Isaiah saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyr´icum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbor: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
but I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear:
having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to them that are weak.
Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love;
But ye have not so learned Christ;
if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
and be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
neither give place to the devil.
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!