Dealing with offenses toward others and ourselves

The Bible has a LOT to say about how to deal with offenses. Just scrolling through the citations takes a lot of time!

1 Timothy 1:19 ESV / 33 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,

Titus 1:15 ESV / 30 helpful votes 

To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.

Acts 23:1 ESV / 30 helpful votes 

And looking intently at the council, Paul said, “Brothers, I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day.”

Acts 24:16 ESV / 29 helpful votes 

So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

Hebrews 10:22 ESV / 28 helpful votes 

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Timothy 1:5 ESV / 25 helpful votes 

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 4:2 ESV / 24 helpful votes 

Through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

1 Peter 3:16 ESV / 23 helpful votes 

Having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Hebrews 13:18 ESV / 23 helpful votes 

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

2 Corinthians 1:12 ESV / 21 helpful votes 

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you.

1 Timothy 3:9 ESV / 18 helpful votes 

They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

Romans 9:1 ESV / 18 helpful votes 

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—

Hebrews 9:14 ESV / 17 helpful votes 

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

2 Timothy 1:3 ESV / 16 helpful votes 

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

1 Corinthians 8:7 ESV / 16 helpful votes 

However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

Romans 2:15 ESV / 15 helpful votes 

They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

Romans 2:14-15 ESV / 15 helpful votes 

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them

1 Peter 3:21 ESV / 14 helpful votes 

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1 Corinthians 4:4 ESV / 14 helpful votes 

For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.

Romans 14:1-23 ESV / 14 helpful votes 

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. …

1 John 1:9 ESV / 13 helpful votes 

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Peter 2:19 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

2 Corinthians 4:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

1 Corinthians 8:10 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols?

John 8:9 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.

Job 27:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes 

I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

2 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes 

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

1 Corinthians 8:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes 

Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

Romans 14:23 ESV / 8 helpful votes 

But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Romans 13:5 ESV / 8 helpful votes 

Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 ESV / 7 helpful votes 

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

John 3:16-17 ESV / 7 helpful votes 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”— …

Romans 14:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

1 Samuel 24:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes 

And afterward David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

1 Peter 1:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes 

Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

1 Corinthians 8:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes 

Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Romans 14:22 ESV / 5 helpful votes 

The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.

Romans 14:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes 

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …

1 John 3:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

1 John 3:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

1 John 3:18-19 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

1 John 3:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

1 John 2:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

1 Peter 4:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

James 4:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

James 1:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 10:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?

Hebrews 9:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

(which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

1 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Philippians 2:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

1 Corinthians 10:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,

1 Corinthians 10:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?

1 Corinthians 10:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—

1 Corinthians 10:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

1 Corinthians 10:25 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

1 Corinthians 10:1-33 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. …

1 Corinthians 8:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

Romans 14:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

Romans 14:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 14:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Romans 14:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.

Romans 14:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.

Romans 14:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables.

Romans 14:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.

Romans 7:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

But I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

Romans 7:1-25 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. …

Romans 2:14 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

Romans 1:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Acts 20:35 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

John 14:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 5:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Matthew 22:37 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Matthew 7:1-2 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Isaiah 30:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

Ecclesiastes 10:20 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.

Proverbs 20:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 119:165 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

2 Samuel 24:10 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”

Genesis 42:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes 

Then they said to one another, “In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 3 helpful votes 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Revelation 14:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

1 John 4:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

James 2:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1 Timothy 3:1-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? …

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. …

Ephesians 6:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

Ephesians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:16-26 ESV / 2 helpful votes 

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, …