Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. – Luke 17:1-4
If you think you won’t be offended, done wrong or misunderstood, you are fooling yourself. Unfortunately, it’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. The gospel of Luke records Jesus as saying, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” In other words, He is saying, there will be opportunities in life that present themselves, with an invitation to be offended.
The Word Offense Defined…
g4625. σκάνδαλον skandalon; (“scandal;” probably from a derivative of 2578; a trap-stick (bent sapling), i.e. snare (figuratively, cause of displeasure or sin): — occasion to fall (of stumbling), offence, thing that offends, stumblingblock.
offence 9, stumbling block 3, occasion of stumbling 1, occasion to fall 1, thing that offends 1; the movable stick or trigger of a trap, a trap sticka trap, snareany impediment placed in the way and causing one to stumble or fall, (a stumbling block, occasion of stumbling) i.e. a rock which is a cause of stumbling
*Occasions of stumbling … the Greek word rendered STUMBLING “meant the trigger of a trap, contact with which would cause the trap to spring and impair.”
>>> What I believe Luke is conveying to us through Jesus words is this: It’s impossible for you to go through life and not be offended and even worse than that, the one who sets a trap or manipulates to cause an offense, woe to him!
Don’t become who hurt you! -Toby Mac
Don’t make someone new in your life pay for the debt of someone old in your life. -RTK
Don’t allow the hurts of the past determine the joy of your future.
Don’t allow the negative you’ve gone through, to define you negatively.
Don’t get ‘caught up’ in, what will keep you ‘held up’.
Troubles, Tests and Traps …
> Troubles: (what we all have in common)
1. Your outlook ultimately determines your outcome.
2. Your tragedy doesn’t depict you; your attitude does.
3. Don’t allow what happened to you; deter you. Allow it to develop a determination, that will propel you to a new level of destiny.
> Tests: (Tests prove what you know and they determine what you become)
1. You can’t always determine what happens to you; nonetheless, you can determine how you will rebound from the adversity.
2. You can’t control what others do; nonetheless, you can control how you react.
3. You can’t control what others say; nonetheless, you can control how you will respond.
> Traps: (Offense is a trap. It keeps you bound to when & where you were offended)
1. A trap is designed to keep you from going any further, than where you were trapped.
2. A trap is designed to control you.
3. A trap is designed to hinder you; by hurting you.
Don’t take the bait. Don’t get caught up in what will keep you tied to a place of bondage: relationally, socially, physically, mentally, and most of all spiritually! There is freedom for you. The opportunity to be offended by someone, or something, can happen frequently. Jesus Himself said, “Offense will come.” However, staying offended is a choice, and that’s a choice you will have to make. Ask Jesus to give you a ‘grace‘ to ‘get over‘ what you ‘can’t get over‘ and see what happens. Don’t walk into the future dragging the offenses of yesterday… be set free, today, in Jesus name!
