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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 Christ did not please himself, but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”
So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.
Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their taunt back on their own heads, and give them over as plunder in a land of captivity.
and no longer will I let you hear the insults of the nations; no longer shall you bear the disgrace of the peoples, and no longer shall you cause your nation to stumble, says the Lord God.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
Their mouths are filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under their tongues are mischief and iniquity.
Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
just as the sons of Jacob came in from the field. When they heard of it, the men were indignant and very angry, because he had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done.
David said to the men who stood by him, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has judged the case of Nabal’s insult to me and has kept back his servant from evil; the Lord has returned the evildoing of Nabal upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail to make her his wife.
As with a deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”
“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one.
Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.
It is zeal for your house that has consumed me; the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Let us therefore no longer pass judgment on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother or sister.
Insults have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
Be on your guard! If a brother or sister sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive.
And if the same person sins against you seven times a day and turns back to you seven times and says, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive.”
Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord!
You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger,
for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.
For the judgment you give will be the judgment you get, and the measure you give will be the measure you get.
One who forgives an affront fosters friendship, but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.
Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offense.
it is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your brother or sister stumble.
If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man’s wife, will he return to her? Would not such a land be greatly polluted? You have prostituted yourself with many lovers, and would you return to me? says the Lord.
“The king shall act as he pleases. He shall exalt himself and consider himself greater than any god and shall speak horrendous things against the God of gods. He shall prosper until the period of wrath is completed, for what is determined shall be done.
I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts against their territory.
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
Let each of you look not to your own interests but to the interests of others.
The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human, are making yourself God.”
Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”
Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.
Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife, but those who are slow to anger calm contention.
or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs;
Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice and all guile, insincerity, envy, and all slander.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so stop before the quarrel breaks out.
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient,
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.
If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
An ally offended is stronger than a city; such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also,
Do not say, “I will do to others as they have done to me; I will pay them back for what they have done.”
Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you,
yet do it with gentleness and respect. Maintain a good conscience so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
By insolence the empty-headed person makes strife, but wisdom is with those who take advice.
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
My brothers and sisters, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.
Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. In fact, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ.
And we do this so that we may not be outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs.
If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
For “Those who desire to love life and to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit;
let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins nor repay us according to our iniquities.
Woe to the world because of things that cause sin! Such things are bound to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!
But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Occasions for sin are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come!
Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never again eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.
“If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea.
A violent-tempered person will pay the penalty; if you effect a rescue, you will only have to do it again.
I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter,
for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
In fact, to have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?
But you yourselves wrong and defraud—and brothers and sisters at that.
And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Brothers and sisters, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors!
Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace:
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.
“All things are permitted,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are permitted,” but not all things build up.
Do not seek your own advantage but that of the other.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.
When the ways of people please the Lord, he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Whoever loves a brother or sister abides in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling.