When Offense Comes

Matthew 18:15
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone…”

Jesus is profoundly realistic. He does not say if offense comes—He says when. Relationships among believers are not immune to hurt. The difference between a healthy church and a broken one is not the absence of offense, but the presence of obedience when offense occurs.

Jesus gives a clear, gracious path forward: go privately. Not publicly. Not indirectly. Not through others. Revival restores this obedience because it values restoration more than vindication. Gossip feels easier; obedience requires courage.

Private confrontation protects dignity. It allows misunderstanding to be clarified and repentance to occur without shame. Many wounds that fester for years could have healed quickly if addressed early and biblically. Revival teaches us to deal with problems while they are still small.

Avoiding confrontation does not preserve peace—it postpones conflict and deepens resentment. At the same time, confrontation without humility escalates damage. Revival restores the balance: truth spoken gently, promptly, and prayerfully.

Jesus assumes the goal is reconciliation. “If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Not won an argument. Not proven a point. Gained a relationship. Revival reorients our aim toward restoration rather than victory.

Ask yourself today how you handle offense. Do you withdraw, explode, or obey? Revival matures believers who are willing to do the hard, holy work of peacemaking.

When offense comes—and it will—walk the path Christ laid out. Obedience protects the body.