Devotionals

Remaining Offended Is Unforgiveness

by Michael Edwards 
09/16/26
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Offense feels justified. Someone wronged you, ignored you, spoke against you, or failed you. The wound feels real. But Scripture uses a word that exposes what offense often is: unforgiveness. Offense, trespass debts, and sin are all closely related.

In the Lord’s Prayer Jesus taught us to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12 NASB). Luke records it this way: “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4 NASB). The idea behind debts, sins, offense and trespasses is the same. A trespass is a crossing of the line—an offense. When we refuse to forgive those who offend or trespass against us, we are holding their sin against them. That is unforgiveness. And unforgiveness is sin.

Jesus made the connection inescapable: “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions” (Matthew 6:14-15 NASB). He was not teaching that we earn salvation by forgiving. He was showing that a heart that clings to offense is not walking in the mercy it claims to have received.

Paul warns that offense and unforgiveness is a trap of the enemy. After calling the church to forgive, he writes, “so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11 NASB). Offense is one of those schemes. The devil wants you locked on the wound so you will not walk in love. “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity” (Ephesians 4:26-27 NASB). Held offense gives him that opportunity.

This is why Scripture keeps calling us to release people. “Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you” (Colossians 3:13 NASB). “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions” (Mark 11:25 NASB). “A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression” (Proverbs 19:11 NASB).

Under the New Covenant you have been forgiven much. Christ canceled the debt against you (Colossians 2:13-14 NASB). You do not forgive to get loved. You forgive because you have been loved. Offense says, “They owe me.” Grace says, “Jesus paid it all—mine and theirs.”

Being offended is being unforgiving. Do not take the bait. Release the trespass. Bless instead of keep score. Walk in the same mercy you received. That is how you refuse the enemy’s trap and keep your heart free.

Think about how the Gospel is offensive to those who do not believe and how unbelief is the only unforgiveable sin.