OffendedI

I heard a sermon on this word once. I was not satisfied that the man knew what the word meant. His knowledge was not visceral enough to be convincing. He did not seem to have acquired his knowledge from experience, but rather from a dictionary, and therefore did not have a feel for its implementation. I prefer to look to the Word. I let it interpret itself.

The verse he preached on was THIS one: Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. 

At first glance, this verse makes no sense. Isn’t being offended mean someone is angry at a trespass of the law, and the ones who know it the best should be the ones OFFENDED at those who break it? Yet one can see a contrast in the verse between knowledge and understanding of the law. Only understanding YOU and knowing YOU brings the heartfelt response of LOVE, because the “law” is only a description of Your perfection and beauty of character. You are the definition of gracious and lead the simple to understand. Being OFFENDED means we refuse to give up our own understanding to follow Yours, because YOUR way is best, for only good. That would explain these two different interpretations of the same verse:

Matthew 26:33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended

Matthew 26:33 J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) 33 At this Peter exclaimed, “Even if everyone should lose his faith in you, I never will!” 

I finally understand the meaning behind THIS end of days verse....

Matthew 24:10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

Being offended is misunderstanding what is good because we chose to hold on to something else entirely. It is losing our faith and trust in someone because we did not get our way. Don’t lose faith! Trust that God is greater than all!

Last word is Christ’s.....John 16:1These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended