Proverbs 19:11
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.
Matthew 12:25
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
Matthew 7:1-5
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
The closer the relationship, the greater the opportunity.
Matthew 5:22-24
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘ Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there, remember that your brother or sister has something against you leave your gift there in front of the altar. First, go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
An offense creates a fence.
Matthew 18:15-16
If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
Drop It.
Offense is an event. “Offended” is a decision.
1 Corinthians 13:5
It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking; it is not easily angered; it keeps no record of wrongs.
Minimizing the Seriousness of the Offense It’s not repression.
It’s not being a doormat. It’s not restoration of trust.
Matthew 6:14-15
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Forgiven People Forgive People
Forgiveness is setting a prisoner free and discovering that the prisoner was you.