“I’m offended by what you did,” or “That offended Me.” Have you ever heard
either of these statements or had this directed at you? The term offend is a New Testament
word, but is at times misused; thus, leading to misunderstandings as to how it is to be
applied when such may or may not occur.
The apostle Paul said in Romans 14:21- “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink
wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
Notice, Paul uses two different words here to identify a possible result of eating or drinking
before a brother who is weak concerning these matters of expediency, stumbling or
offended. Now, if one ate with offence, it was to eat a certain meat under circumstances
that would lead a weaker person to eat against his conviction. The one eating the meat
caused, by his influence, the other who believed it was in error to eat meat; thus,
committing sin. Notice, the sin was committed in the forcing by influence the other to do
that which his conscience was so convicted was wrong in this matter of expediency. The sin
or a sin would not have been committed if the one who didn’t eat meat said for instance, “I
don’t like it that he eats meat.” That ladies and gentlemen is not an offense. There is a large
difference between a thing being an offense and an individual just not liking something!!
Now, a stumblingblock is to place an obstacle in the way, which if one strikes his foot
against it, he necessarily stumbles, or falls; that over which the soul stumbles, by which it is
impelled to sin. Thus, a Christian stumbles, or sins when he violates his convictions; and it
is evil for any one to lead a person to go against his convictions in matters of indifference,
no matter how innocent the act within itself may be. Friends, to cause someone to be
offended is a sin and must be repented of, but ladies and gentleman,
Question: Would Jesus have been right in raising the question to the
inquirer.......Friend, what sin did I commit causing you to stumble or be offended?
ABSOLUTELY YES!! Would Jesus have evidenced a poor, non-humble, arrogant attitude
by simply raising the question, “What sin have I committed to cause this offense?” Your
answer I am sure is ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! Yet, how many of us believe that based on the
mere fact that an individual says, “I’m offended,” we ought to ask for forgiveness without
even inquiring as to why the individual so believes that. WHERE IS THE BIBLE FOR
THIS???
Friend, if I should stand before an assembly and preach the importance of the soul
over the body as Matthew 10:28 states, and one is made to stumble as a result because they
didn’t like it, did I sin in preaching the truth???? Emphatically not. What of Christians today
who become offended at the doctrine of Christ because it is not in keeping with the kind of
lifestyle they are accustomed to? Should you apologize because someone doesn’t like the
way you live when it is in keeping with Gods word? Emphatically no.
Let me insert, an individual can have the wrong attitude in what he or she has done.
We could speak the truth, but not in love thus violating Ephesians 4:15 which commands
such to be done. We could seriously have caused an offense or stumbling block along the
way because of our action before another and thus repentance and forgiveness needs to be
recognized. But friend, we are obligated to make sure we know what sin has been
committed, if any, so we don’t apologize for something we ought not be apologizing for or
ought not be asking forgiveness for!!!!!
God said to Isaiah in Isaiah 1:18- “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the
Lord....” The term reason means, “an explanation of an act, idea, etc; a cause or motive;
the ability to think, draw conclusions, etc. good sense, sanity; to think logically; analyze to
argue or infer.” Ladies and gentlemen, friends of God ought to be able to come together
whether it be many or few and discuss present or even past circumstances in reasonable
ways without impugning one anothers motives to come to a sound, scriptural conclusion.
For, if an offense has been committed, for an individual to properly be able to repent,
shouldn’t they be told what that offense was so that they may know first of all it was a sin,
and so should be repented of, and next of all that they may be able to truly repent of a sin
that they may be able to do it no more. Ladies and gentlemen, repentance is to be willingly
rendered because of wickedness committed and not because someone has done what is
right! (Acts 8:22- “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the
thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.”)
HOW DID THAT
INDIVIDUAL CAUSE THEM TO STUMBLE?? HOW DID THEY CAUSE THE
OFFENSE TO COME ABOUT??
Now, I would like for us to kindly consider,...........because someone says, “That
offended me,” does that obligate the one it is said to, to ask forgiveness because another
thinks they were offended???? Remember, they may have just not liked what was done and
that is different than an actual offense being committed. Let’s reason together and consider
the following:
Matthew 10:34- “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to
send peace, but a sword.” (Jesus stated this. (rc)) Matthew 11:6- “And blessed is he,
whosoever shall not be offended in me.” Some translators render this as whosoever shall
find no occasion of stumbling in me. The point here is that Jesus came to this earth to pierce
the hearts of men with the sword of truth. There were some who were made to stumble as
a result of his teaching, for the humble life of Jesus was a stumbling block to many. To many
who heard the words of Jesus, he was the most offensive of people. And he still is today!!
I Cor. 1:23- “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the
Greeks foolishness;” Those offended included: Jews (Matthew 13:57), apostles, (Matthew
26:31- “All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the
shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”) Now friends, note very
carefully, is it possible at times for people to be offended or made to stumble simply because
what is said stands in the way with what they want or wanted to do or thought???!!! Could
you have said or done something which was right, another didn’t like it, as a result they
were offended or caused to stumble?...Question....DID THAT MAKE WHAT YOU DID
WRONG?????? Maybe we need to consider this in light of Jesus Christ and his work. Jesus
emphasized the spiritual over the material in Matthew 6:19-20; Matthew 8:31. He
emphasized the importance of the soul over the body in Matthew 10:28; Matthew 16:26.
He emphasized the importance of God’s government over man’s government as Peter
stated in Acts 5:29. Jesus contradicted the religions of his day in Matthew 15:12. He
emphasized the simple over the complex in religion. Now I have a question....if one of these
who were offended by what Jesus taught and did would come to him and say, “That
offended me,” did that automatically assert that somewhere along the line Jesus had sinned
and needed to ask forgiveness of the one who stated that he had committed an offense
against?? Absolutely Not!!! Should Jesus have simply apologized based solely on the
statement the one said, “I’m offended?” Absolutely Not. Why were they
offended?,.....because what Jesus said stood in the way of what they wanted to do!!