Taking Offense

“Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him… (Matthew 13:54-57)

Taking offense is a thing we do, whether warranted or not;  our judgement can cloud our reason and leave us trapped in a snare of our own design. I believe this practice can be habit forming and build upon past offenses until it constructs a fortress of pride with walls of condemnation held together with unforgiveness. Consider Yeshua’s home town people who were amazed by His teaching and miracles, but questioned His authority by focusing on the natural. What validity was there in such reasoning? Did they have no knowledge of His amazing birth or miracles? What was the basis of their offense? Did they think, “He is no better than us.” 

America is full of people who think, “I am better than …”, it is part of our fallen human nature. We can take offense at just about anything, overt acts or omissions of expected acts, even ones appearance is enough to prompt bitter hatred. Anything is enough for the fallen human nature to take offense at someone who is different from us. Cain killed his brother Able because his offering was acceptable to God. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)

Believers have the Holy Spirit who searches our hearts and discloses error and evil. Moreover, we have a fountain of forgiveness from which we can receive purification and atonement through the blood of Yeshua, Messiah. (1 John 2:1-2) “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24) 

Taking offense and judging others is condemned in scripture. (Matt. 7:1-5) The truly amazing thing about forgiveness is that it is a source of blessing to us. ““Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”” (Luke 6:37-38) We can forgive any offense in Yeshua’s name, even if our emotions are slow to catch up to our will. (Ps. 51)