1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. (Luke 17:1-10 KJV)
Temptations to Sin
We are here taught that giving offense is a serious sin that we must all carefully avoid and watch against (Luke 17:1-2). Offenses are inevitable, given human nature and God’s wise purposes in allowing them, yet woe to the person through whom they come. His condemnation will be worse than that of criminals drowned with millstones, for his guilt is heavier.
This warning applies to persecutors who harm Christ’s followers and discourage them from serving Him; to deceivers who corrupt His truth and trouble believers; and to those who claim to follow Christ but live in ways that disgrace His name and burden the hearts of God’s people. It is no excuse that offenses are inevitable—the guilt remains.
Forgiving offenses is a serious duty that every believer must commit to (Luke 17:3). “Take heed to yourselves” may apply to both not causing offense and to forgiving those who wrong us. When someone wrongs us—whether by insult, injury, or damage to our reputation—we must be cautious not to react in anger or speak rashly (Proverbs 24:29).
If you are allowed to rebuke him, do so respectfully. Don’t bottle it up—point out the wrong, and you may find it was a misunderstanding or unintentional, in which case you must acknowledge your mistake, as in Joshua 22:30-31.
If he repents, forgive him completely and be reconciled. Forget the offense and do not bring it up again. Even if he does not repent, you must not harbor resentment or seek revenge. However, you are not obligated to restore the same closeness unless he expresses repentance. If the sin is serious and affects the community, correct him gently, and if he repents, restore him to fellowship (2 Corinthians 2:7).
This must be done repeatedly if necessary (Luke 17:4). If he wrongs you seven times in a day and just as often repents, continue to forgive. Christians must be forgiving, ready to excuse faults, and quick to ease tension and promote peace.