Bible verses about "offense" | Mace

⁷ wo unto the world, because of such scandals: tho' it cannot be, but that such occasions of relapsing should happen: yet wo to that man by whom the scandal cometh.

¹⁶ and 'tis my endeavour to preserve a conscience free from reproach both with respect to God, and with respect to men.

¹⁹ Wherefore, my dear brethren, let every one be eager to hear, averse to contradiction, and deaf to passion.

¹ Be ye therefore imitators of God, as his dear children; live together in love, ² for Christ loved us, and for us gave himself an offering and a sacrifice acceptable to God. ³ But fornication, and all impurity, or inordinate desire, let it not be approved by you, as being unworthy of christians: neither ribaldry, ⁴ nor buffoonry, which they call pleasantry, but is indecent: be you rather exercised in social virtue. ⁵ for this you know, that no licentious or dissolute person, no lewd libertine, that is, an idolater, hath any part in the kingdom of Christ, and of God. ⁶ let no man mislead you by vain reasonings: for it is for these vices, that the wrath of God lights upon the incredulous. ⁷ don't you therefore be concern'd with them. ⁸ you were heretofore altogether in the dark, but now being enlightned by the Lord, behave as children of light: ⁹ for the natural effect of light, is universal benevolence, justice, and truth: ¹⁰ consider what is acceptable to the Lord; ¹¹ and be not accomplices in the fruitless practices of vice; on the contrary, condemn them. ¹² for it is a shame even to mention what they practise in secret. ¹³ but whatever is unjustifiable will be brought to light: and that will show them to be unjustifiable. ¹⁴ wherefore 'tis said, " awake thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." ¹⁵ See then that you behave circumspectly, and not as fools, but as wise, ¹⁶ weighing the circumstances of the season, because the times are dangerous. ¹⁷ wherefore be not imprudent, but consider what is agreeable to the divine will. ¹⁸ do not drink to excess, for that tends to dissoluteness, but be regal'd with spiritual entertainments: ¹⁹ expressing yourselves in psalms, in hymns, and spiritual songs; and let your hearts beat the time, in concerts of praises to the Lord, ²⁰ and this the burthen of the song, "thanks be to God, even the father, for his son Jesus Christ our Lord." ²¹ Be mutually obsequious with christian respect. ²² let married women be submissive to their husbands, out of regard to the Lord. ²³ for the husband presides over his wife, as Christ presides over the church: and he it is that preserves the whole body. ²⁴ as the church then is subordinate to Christ, so let women be to their husbands upon all occasions. ²⁵ You husband, love your spouse, even as Christ loved the church, and laid down his life for her: ²⁶ to sanctify and purify her by the ablution of his word, ²⁷ that he himself might make her appear illustrious to his own eye, a church without spot, or any thing like a defect; so as to be holy and irreprehensible. ²⁸ in like manner ought men to love their wives, as their own bodies: "he that loves his wife, loveth himself." ²⁹ no man was ever yet averse to his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, as the Lord doth the church: ³⁰ of which we are the several parts constituting his body. ³¹ the scripture says, "for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and they two shall be as one." ³² these words contain a very mystical sense, I mean in reference to Christ and the church. ³³ wherefore let every one of you without exception, love his wife even as himself; and let the wife respect her husband.

¹ Judge not, that ye be not judged. ² for according as ye judge others, ye shall be judged yourselves: the measure you mete, shall be measured to you again. ³ why do you observe the mote that is in your brother's eye, and not consider the beam that is in your own eye? ⁴ with what assurance can you say, brother, let me take that mote out of your eye; when there is such an apparent beam in your own eye? ⁵ thou hypocrite, first get rid of the beam in your own eye; and then see how to remove the mote out of thy brother's eye.

²³ who, when he was reviled, did not revile again: when he was in his sufferings, he did not threat, but referr'd his cause to the righteous judge.

¹ Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, do you, who are spiritual, restore him with all gentleness, taking heed lest you yourselves be overcome by temptation. ² bear with one another's infirmities, and so fulfil the law of Christ. ³ for if a man thinks himself to be considerable, when he is not, he deceives himself.

¹ For tho' I should speak with the eloquence of men, and of angels, and not have social affection, I should be like sounding brass, or a noisy cymbal. ² and tho' I should have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and tho' I had all the faith necessary to remove mountains, and had no benevolence, it would signify nothing. ³ and tho' I distribute my whole substance to the poor, and give my body to be burned, and have not social affection, it profits me nothing. ⁴ Social affection is patient, is kind; is a stranger to envy; is not insolently vain, nor arrogant: does not behave indecently, ⁵ is not self-interested, is not easily provoked, nor suspects any ill; ⁶ it does not countenance injustice, but smiles upon virtue; ⁷ it excuses all things, believes what is favourable, hopes for the best, and suffers the worst. ⁸ Social affection will never fail: but as for prophecies, they shall be out of use; as for languages, they shall cease; as for knowledge, it shall vanish away. ⁹ for our knowledge is defective, and our prophesying is defective. ¹⁰ but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is defective shall be laid aside. ¹¹ when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I reasoned as a child: but when I became a man, I laid aside my childish ways. ¹² now we do but indirectly see the faint images of things; but then the objects themselves will be before our eyes; now I have a partial knowledge, but then shall I know, even as I myself am known. ¹³ and now faith, hope, social virtue, these three will all remain; but the most permanent of the three is social virtue.

¹⁶ where false zeal, and a spirit of contention reign, there confusion and every vice prevail.

² with all humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another in love; ³ endeavouring to preserve the spiritual union by your affectionate attachment to one another.

¹⁵ Now in case such a brother do you an injury, go and expostulate with him in private: if he repents, thou hast saved thy brother. ¹⁶ but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that the remonstrances of two or three persons may have its effect. ¹⁷ if he does not relent, tell it to the church: but if he is not moved by the church, show him no more regard than you would to a pagan or a publican.

³ take care of your conduct. if your brother offend you, rebuke him, and if he repent, forgive him. ⁴ tho' he should offend you seven times in a day, and seven times in the day return to you, saying, I repent, you must forgive him.