The Sting of an Offense

Matthew 24:10 / Mad;. 24:10

The Bible plainly tells us that offenses must come, but Jesus said “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come” ( Matthew 18:7)

Scandal-on is the Greek word for What is it? And Skandalon translates to “offense” or stumbling block. Another meaning by vines dictionary is “ anything that arouses prejudice or becomes a hindrance to others or to cause them to fall by the way.”

However The Bible says that Jesus Himself is the Rock of offense in Romans 9:33

“ Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense” and in Matthew 21:44 the Lord says “And whoever falls on this stone Christ Himself the corner stone will be broken, but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder”

John 6:53 is where Jesus’ teaching brought offense to His own disciples about how they would have to it His Body and drink His blood. Jesus also cautioned His followers against becoming offended over trials and persecutions. He warned of those who believed His word, yet failed to pull down roots deep enough to withstand the enemy’s well-placed attacks. (Mark 4:17)

The Bible speaks about offenses many many times in Romans 14:21 other places.
Bitterness the fruit of Unresolved Offenses

When an offense has not been resolved Biblically it turns into resentment and prolonged resentment leads to anger and anger into bitterness. The Biblical perfect example is the Life of Absalom in 2 Samuel 15. The Warning Signs of Bitterness

# 1.- Words that Cut ======Husbands do not be bitter (Pickros) toward you wives ( Col. 3:19)
# 2.- The Inability to hear someone’s name or encounter them publicly without being flooded with negative emotions.
# 3.- Thoughts of revenge, including fantasies of harm coming to the offender.
# 4.- Obsessive preoccupation with the events surrounding the offense.
# 5.-Conversational obsession- constantly telling anyone who will listen about the offense.
# 6.- A depleted devotional life. Valuable time that was spent once with God withers as spiritual dryness sets in, we feel cut of from God.
# 7.- Failed Expectations, which can cause being offended towards God Himself the story of Namman the commander of the King’s armies in Syria in 2 Kings chapter 5.
# 8.-The Bitter Sting of Personal Failure. Apostle Peter being the most zeales of all was one who felt the worst bitter sting of all due to his own failure in denying his Lord three times. You must forgive yourself reality.