” But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the everlasting fire.…
Offense is defined as, a thing that constitutes a violation of what is judged to be right, legal or natural: or annoyance or resentment brought about by a perceived insult to or disregard for oneself or one’s standards or principles: This usually creates an emotional response in the offended.
Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him about his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Assembly: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
mathew 18
How Toxic is Offense?
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. ‘Mathew 5 v 21 – 25
Offense usually starts out small and can either be justifiable or trivial. When we examine it we should decide if it is a legitimate offense or it is based on personal idiocrasies. If it can be dismissed or if it requires confrontation to re-establish peace. It should never be suppressed as this causes it to grow.
This gives us an insight into how important it is to deal with offense quickly. It has the potential to cause us to want the demise of our neighbor.
Offense must be dealt with
The scripture is full of stories of sibling and family betrayal that was fueled by offense. Cain killed Abel, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and Absalom David’s son tried to steal his kingdom.
The heart of man is desperately wicked who can know it. Guard your heart because from it flows the issues of life. These are reminders to keep watch for the spirits that defile the heart like offense. It has to be removed or it will grow and turn into a spirit of murder.
That is why Messiah said there is none good, because every heart has the potential to become infected and unclean by the spirit of offense. Murder is always preceded by offense and hate.
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. 26“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, 27and do not give the devil a foothold.…
Ephesians 4 v 26
Typically, offense changes to anger, then resentment, then unforgiveness, then hate, then bitterness then revenge. This is why it should be dealt with before it grows. Some of the effects of offense is that it usually results in gossip, slander or what is commonly called venting. It is also very contagious.
Many diseases are linked to anger and bitterness, and it is behind most murders. Depression, heart disease, inflammation and even cancer.
https://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20040922/anger-linked-to-heart-disease
Offense is a major weapon in the enemy’s arsenal
Put on the full armor of God/Alahim, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God/Alahim, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God/Alahim.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s/Yah’s people. Ephesians 6 v 11-18
The enemy uses offense to get us into conflict with people instead of him and his demons. This disqualifies us from representing the kingdom of light. So, in order to walk in the light offense has to be eliminated. It is really in our best interest to overlook it if we can , by separating the person from the spirit and if we can’t we should set boundaries to stop exposing ourselves to it if the person will not repent. Which is why the scripture says if your eye offends you pluck it out.
How to handle the Offender
It is very important to mentally separate the individual from the spirit that is using them: so that we can fight the spirit and not the person. When we do this it stops us from getting offended at the person. This is important because it allows us to stay mentally clear and not get caught up in our emotions. So that we can discern what spirits we are dealing with and spend our energy doing spiritual warfare in the spirit world.
First, we pray to be protected and delivered from the spirit of offense. Then that the person who is being used by the spirit be delivered. If necesary we should confront the person who was used so they can be made aware of how they are being used. In order to truly conquer the spirit of offense we must be kind to the person that was used to offend us. This shows the enemy clearly that we know who our real enemy is and we are not mad at the person.
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also.
Luke 6 v 35
We are instructed to pray for our enemies because they need it. They have usually been captured or influenced by some spirit that is manipulating them and using them to get you offended. Some spirits that are usually in operation are offense, anger, hate, revenge, bitterness, pride. Hurting people hurt people because that is how the enemy spreads offense. Once we get infected it becomes contagious.
Handling the offense
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Almighty will reward you.
Proverbs 25 v 22
Ultimately, we need to forgive, and have goodwill towards all men.
“Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense”
Proverbs 19 v 11
The reason we get offended is usually because we are expecting something we did not get, usually love . Spirits use people to create offense. The reality is that only The Almighty can truly love us the way we should be loved and human beings are always going to fall short. We are only look to The Almighty to supply all our needs and to avenge us if we are wronged.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for Yah’s/God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Almighty.”…
Romans 12 v 18
This spirit can afflict families and cause them to have strife, conflict and malice between each other. This can also happen in Assemblies. If we get offended, then we must seek to be delivered before it grows into bitterness.
We cannot be forgiven if we don’t forgive
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.”
Mathew 6 v 12
The Almighty’s forgiveness is contingent on us forgiving others. So it is extremely important that we forgive others.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his master commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and begging him, saying, master, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their master all that was done.
32 Then his master, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his master was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Practical examples of handled offense in the scriptures
Then Jesus/Yashya said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23 v 24
Here Yashya showed that he knew that the people were not aware that what they were doing was offensive to The Almighty. And that they had been influenced by the enemy or demonic spirits.
“Jesus/Yashya turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God/Elohim, but merely human concerns.”
mathew 16v22
In this case Mashiach addressed the spirit that was using Peter. This is usually very effective. Spirits can be addressed under our breath, so as not to offend the person involved. It is also important to bind spirits that we might expect to be in operation before we have interaction with people.
A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. Proverbs 18 v 19
Once offense get deep rooted it is very difficult to uproot. The enemy usually keeps bringing the offense to the persons mind over and over until it is all they can think about. This is why it becomes a stronghold. Cases like this need fasting and prayer and the help of other believers to root it out.
Let us walk in the light
If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus/Yashya His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.…
1 John 1 v 7
Confessing our sins is how we walk in the light. Once offense is exposed , and confronted it can be rooted out. One thing that often keeps it in place is denial.
If thou, Yah/Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Yah/Lord, who shall stand? Psalm 130 v 3
We also tend to be oblivious of our own iniquity and our own sin. This make us harsh and judgmental with others. We also minimize our own sin and see the sins of others as more serious. We cannot walk in the light unless we are willing to expose the darkness inside of us.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…
1 John 1 v 9
4Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34v14