Your Daily Slice

Adar 21

On Being Offended

“If, then, you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother holds whatever against you,  leave your gift there before the altar, and GO, FIRST make peace with your brother, and THEN come and offer your gift..”  (Mat 5:23-24 ISR, emphasis mine)

“Woe to the world because of OFFENCES.  It must be that OFFENCES come, but woe to that man by whom the OFFENCES comes” (Mat 18:7 HRVS, emphasis mine)

In Matthew 18:7, the Greek word that has been translated “offence” is the word skandalon (Strong’s #G4625), and it is the root of our English words “scandal” and “scandalize”.  The meaning to this word paints a picture of a trap, or snare, hidden in a type of ambush, such as a pit covered by limbs or tree branches.  Skandalizō (Strongs #G4624) will generally refer to the conduct, or actions, of the person who is ambushed, or trapped.  Our Master told us emphatically that offenses would come; however, He never made allowances for us to hold on to all of the hurts, crimes and offences done to us.  All of these grievances will bind and harm us, in our relationship with Elohim, and with our brothers and sisters as well.

When we find ourselves in certain situations involving other people, and we are experiencing feelings of annoyance, irritation, resentment, hurt, bitterness, anger, etc., it is possible we have become offended.  We may have picked up “the bait” the adversary has thrown out for us.  The key now is how we choose to react.  If an offense has been committed against us, the Word of Elohim has given us steps as to how to resolve such a situation:

“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.  But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.”  (Mat 18:15-16 NLT, emphasis mine) 

If we are the ones that have committed the offense, we see from the opening verses above (Mat 5:23-24) that we are responsible to go, and be reconciled with the one who is offended.  Only then can we be restored to right relationship with our ABBA Father.  Should we choose not to follow these instructions that are very clear (Yeshua Himself said them), the blame then lies upon ourselves.  We cannot make the claim of walking in the unconditional love of our Father, our Creator, of loving each other as our Master commanded us to do, if we choose to hold offenses close to us.

“Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people. And you shall love your neighbour as yourself. I am יהוה.”  (Lev 19:18 ISR, emphasis mine)

“Love … is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].”  (1Cor 13:5 Amp, emphasis mine)

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