When dealing with offense

“Give no offense to Jews or to Greek or to the church of God…” (1 Cor. 10:32 ESV) 

 Overlook offenses

“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” (Prov. 19:11 ESV)

“Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.” (Eccles. 7:21 ESV)

 Don’t offend 

“A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.” (Prov. 17:19 ESV)

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” (James 1:19 ESV)

“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:2-3 ESV)

Repair personal offenses 

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (Matt. 18:15-17 ESV)

“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4 ESV)

Jesus is our best example

“When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (Peter 2:23 ESV)

 Therefore…

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph. 5:1 ESV)

“And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Tim. 2:24-26 ESV)

“So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” (Acts 24:16 ESV)

“Great peace have they which love your law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalm 119:165 NKJV)

 Quote:

“We need to forgive our brother seventy times seven not only for 490 offenses but for one offense.”  - C. S. Lewis