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HELEN SANDERS
2-3-2023
OFFENSES
I am sure that anyone reading this has been offended at one time or another. In Proverbs 18:19 it says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”
The word offended here means: to break away from authority, to trespass, to apostatize, to quarrel, to rebel, to revolt, transgress.
Matthew 24:10 says, “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” This is speaking of end times, and we are living in those times now.
God takes offenses seriously. In Matthew 5:29 it says, “And if thy right eye offend thee (causes thee to be offended) pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” It goes on to say in verse 30, “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that the whole body should be cast into hell.”
The word offend in Matthew 5 means to entrap, to trip up, to stumble, to be enticed to sin, apostasy, displeasure.
God isn’t saying to literally pluck out your eye or cut off your hand. He wants you to stop sinning with your eyes and hands. If you can’t then it is better to have them plucked out.
God is not playing games. He is coming back for a bride that has no offense in her. In Matthew 18:6 Jesus said, “But who shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were
drowned in the depth of the sea.”
We should not walk in offense or cause someone else to be offended by our actions. If God doesn’t take it lightly, we shouldn’t take it lightly either.
If you have caused offense to someone, or are offended, then repent. Don’t be judged by God for staying in that condition.
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