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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 the Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of those that reproached thee fell on me.
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother has something against thee;leave thy gift there before the altar, and go; first restore friendship with 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 their captivity.
Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the Gentiles any longer, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the peoples any more, neither shalt thou cause the sons of thy inhabitants to die any longer, saith the Lord GOD.
and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God has forgiven you in Christ.
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 anyone has a quarrel against another: 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, a thing which ought not to be done.
Then David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that overcomes this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should dishonour the armies of the living God?
And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord that judged the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and has kept his slave from evil, for the Lord has returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent word unto Abigail to take her to him to wife.
It is as death in my bones when my enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
¶ Therefore if thy brother shall sin against thee, go and reprove him between thee and him alone; if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
not rendering evil for evil or curse for curse, but to the contrary, blessing, knowing that ye are called, that ye should possess a blessing by inheritance.
For the zeal of thy house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
Thou hast known my reproach and my shame and my dishonour; my adversaries are all before thee.
For if ye set men free from their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also set you free;but if ye do not set men free from their trespasses, neither will your Father set you free from your trespasses.
Let us, therefore, not judge one another any more, but judge this rather: that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness, and I looked for some to take pity, but there was no one, and for comforters, but I found none.
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother should trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.In that day, he who 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 turn back.Remember Lot’s wife.Whosoever shall seek to save his soul shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose it shall cause it to live.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, Where the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together.And if he trespasses against thee seven times in a day and seven times in a day turns again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him.
and render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached thee, O Lord.
¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;¶ My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse trials,for the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God.
¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged.Or if he asks for 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 who is in the heavens give good things to those that ask him?¶ Therefore, all things whatsoever ye desire that men should do unto you, so also shall ye do unto them, for this is the law and the prophets.Enter ye in at the narrow gate, for the way that leads to destruction is wide and spacious, and those who follow it are many;because narrow is the gate, and confined is the way which leads unto life, and there are few that find it.¶ Keep yourselves also from the false prophets, who 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 brings forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.For with the judgment with which ye judge, ye shall be judged, and with the measure with which ye measure, ye shall be measured again.
Cease from anger and forsake wrath: let not thy wrath in any wise cause you to become evil.
¶ He that covers a transgression seeks love, but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
¶ The discretion of a man defers his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
It is good neither to eat flesh nor to drink wine nor do any thing by which thy brother stumbles or is offended or is sick.
¶ They say, If a man puts away his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, shall he return unto her again? Is she not a land that is now completely polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, said the Lord.
Be without offense, neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the congregation {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones} of God;
He shall turn his cheek unto him that smites him; he shall be filled with reproach.
And the king shall do according to his will, and he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god and shall speak marvels against the God of gods and shall prosper until the indignation is accomplished, for the determination has been made.
¶ I have heard the reproaches of Moab, and the revilings of the sons of Ammon, by which they have dishonoured my people and magnified themselves over their border.
Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He has 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 humility let each esteem others better than themselves,because for the work of the Christ he was near unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.with each one not looking to their own things, but also to the things of others.
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover a multitude of sins.
The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we do not stone thee, but for blasphemy; and because thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
¶ There are those that speak like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is medicine.
¶ Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? until seven times?Jesus said unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times, but, Until seventy times seven.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamour and evil speaking be taken away from you, with all malice,
Let us, therefore, follow after the things which make for peace and the edification of each one to the others.
¶ Clothed, therefore, (as the elect of God, holy and beloved) with bowels of mercies, with kindness, with humility, with meekness, with tolerance,forbearing one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a quarrel against another: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
¶ Having therefore left all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all murmurings,
¶ To release the waters (to speak rashly) is the beginning of contention; therefore, leave off strife before it gets started.
¶ Therefore, all things whatsoever ye desire that men should do unto you, so also shall ye do unto them, for this is the law and the prophets.
But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye are not consumed one of another.
and walk in charity even as the Christ also has loved us and has given himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
See that no one renders evil for evil unto anyone, but always follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men.
That the slave of the Lord should not be contentious, but be meek unto everyone, apt to teach, patient,
¶ Beloved, let us love one another, for charity is of God. Anyone that loves is born of God and knows God.He that does not love does not know God, for God is charity.
¶ We then that are stronger ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not please ourselves.And again he says, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and magnify him, all the peoples.And again, Isaiah says, There shall be a root of Jesse and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall wait for salvation.¶ And believing, the God of hope fills you with all joy and peace that ye may abound in hope by the virtue of the Holy Spirit.¶ But I am convinced regarding you, my brethren, that even without my exhortation ye are full of charity, full of all knowledge, so as to be able to admonish one another.Nevertheless I have written, brethren, in part boldly, as admonishing you by the grace that is given to me of God,being the minister of Jesus Christ, to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be well pleasing, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.¶ Therefore I have something to boast of in Christ Jesus, with regard to God.For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not wrought by me, unto the obedience of the Gentiles, with word and with deed,with power of signs and wonders, in virtue of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem and round about unto Illyricum, I have filled the entire area with the gospel of the Christ.Let each one of us please his neighbour in that which is good, unto edification.
¶ He that is void of understanding despises his neighbour, but the intelligent man remains silent.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, modest, benevolent, full of mercy and of good fruits, not judgmental, unfeigned.And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace unto those that make peace.
Not repaying anyone evil for evil; procuring that which is good not only in the sight of God, but even in the sight of all men.If it can be done, as much as is possible on your part, live in peace with all men.Not defending yourselves, dearly beloved; but rather give place unto the wrath of God, 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 was said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;but I say unto you, That ye resist not with evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Do not say, I will do unto him as he has done unto me; I will render to the man according to his work.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for edification, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to respond to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and reverence,¶ having a good conscience, so in that which they murmur against you as of evildoers, those that blaspheme your good conversation in the Christ may be confused.
¶ Pride shall certainly give birth to contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Let your word be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
¶ Brethren, if anyone is overtaken in a fault, ye who 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 I forgave it in the person of Christ,lest Satan should deceive us, for we do not ignore his devices.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those that hate you, and pray for those who speak evil about you, and persecute you;
¶ The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
If anyone among you thinks to be religious and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, his religion is vain.
¶ He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.
For he that desires to love life and see the good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile;let him separate himself from evil and do good; let him seek peace and follow 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 comes!
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours becomes a stumblingblock to those that are weak.
¶ Then he said unto the disciples, It is impossible that offenses will not come, but woe unto the one through whom they come!
Therefore, if food makes my brother to fall, I will never eat flesh nor do anything which may cause my brother to fall.
But whosoever shall cause one of these little ones who believe in me to fall, it would be better for him that a millstone such as is turned by an ass be hanged about his neck and that he be sunk in the depth of the sea.
¶ A man of great wrath shall suffer the consequences, for even 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 certainly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather suffer the wrong? why do ye not rather be defrauded?But ye do wrong and defraud and do this to your brothers.
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the discipline 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.
Complain not one against another, brethren, that ye not be condemned: behold, the judge stands before the door.
¶ He that is slow to wrath is of great intelligence, but he that is short of spirit exalts folly.
¶ with all humility and meekness, with tolerance, forbearing one another in love,But ye have not so learned of the 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 everything concerning the old way of life, that is, the old man who corrupts himself according to deceitful desires,and be renewed in the spirit of your understandingand that ye put on the new man, which is created in conformity to God in righteousness and in the holiness of the truth.Therefore, leaving the lie, speak every man truth with his neighbour, 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 labour, working with his hands that which is good, that he may have to give to him that is in need.Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good for edification, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.being diligent to guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
¶ In the multitude of words there is no lack of rebellion, but he that refrains 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 do not edify.Let no one seek his own good, but that of the other.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou belittle thy brother? for we shall all stand before the tribunal of the Christ.
who, when he was cursed, did not return the curse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him that judges righteously;
¶ The fool gives full rein to his spirit, but the wise man in the end will bring it into rest.
¶ When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
¶ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those that love it shall eat its fruit.
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 everyone know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no occasion of stumbling in him.
¶ A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!