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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 did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
“Nor will I let you hear the taunts of the nations anymore, nor bear the reproach of the peoples anymore, nor shall you cause your nation to stumble anymore,” says the Lord God.’ ”
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.
Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “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?”
So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the Lord has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head.” And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife.
As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.
Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
Reproach has broken my heart, And I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; And for comforters, but I found none.
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.Remember Lot’s wife.Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
“Judge not, that you be not judged.Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.
“They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife, And she goes from him And becomes another man’s, May he return to her again?’ Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; Yet return to Me,” says the Lord.
“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.
“I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the insults of the people of Ammon, With which they have reproached My people, And made arrogant threats against their borders.
Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”
There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.
He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor, But a man of understanding holds his peace.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are 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 tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren!
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.
with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,But you have not so learned Christ,if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,nor give place to the devil.Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!