What the Bible Really Says About Offense, Blasphemy, and Church Hurt—And How Jesus Calls Us to Love

Ever stopped to wonder why offense keeps popping up in church drama, or why hurt spreads so quickly in Christian circles? There’s a reason this keeps happening, and the Bible doesn’t stay silent about it. If you’ve seen believers turn on each other—especially over things like tongues or calls for deeper repentance—you’re not alone. Hurt in the church has roots that reach all the way back to how “offense” shows up in the Bible’s original Greek and Hebrew.

Jesus didn’t just warn about offense; He called it out as a sign of the times and even tied it straight to prophecy. He talked about scandalon—that trap stick that gets people snared, not just annoyed. And here’s the thing: offense isn’t just hurt feelings. It can open the door for betrayal, division, and bigger spiritual battles that mess with the whole Body of Christ. Even today, when people talk bad about others for speaking in tongues or call good things evil, it edges right into what Jesus called blasphemy. Some folks attacking Spirit-filled believers aren’t even truly following Christ; they’re just playing church, mixed up with spiritual influences most people never see coming.

Let’s clear the air about what we mean when we talk about Spirit-filled believers. Many people hear us mention speaking in tongues, and the first thing many think is, “Oh, they believe only tongue-talkers are filled with the Holy Spirit.” We get why that happens—maybe it comes from hearing old debates about tongues as “the evidence” of the Holy Spirit, or maybe it’s just nerves talking. But here’s the truth: when we say Spirit-filled believers, we’re talking about anyone Jesus has baptized in the Holy Spirit, not just those who have a prayer language.

The Apostle Paul talks about different gifts, not just tongues. Some get tongues, some get prophecy, some get a gift for crazy bold faith, and others get gifts you hardly notice but are just as important. Take Acts 19:6—some spoke in tongues, some prophesied, but it was the same Holy Spirit. Think about Peter in Acts 2. He spoke in tongues, sure, but what blew everyone’s mind was his boldness and the words he spoke.

Those who received the Holy Spirit showed fruit, power, and new life, not just a new language. Sometimes people feel left out or even judged—like if they haven’t spoken in tongues, maybe they’re missing out or don’t measure up. That’s not what the Bible says and it’s not what we mean. The key thing is Jesus. If He has baptized you in the Holy Spirit, you’re a Spirit-filled believer—tongues or not.

We all want the full package, but God works with each of us in different ways. Speaking in tongues is one sign, not the only sign. Sometimes people miss that and get defensive, but the real point is the Holy Spirit lives in anyone who trusts Jesus and believes Jesus is who He says He is. Have you felt His life, His leading, the way He changes your heart? That’s what matters—for all of us. The family of Spirit-filled believers is bigger than just one gift. So, if you’ve ever worried you’re on the outside looking in, relax. If Jesus has baptized you in His Spirit, you’re as much a Spirit-filled believer as anyone else—tongues or not.

Church hurt is real, but it’s not just about people being mean. There’s a deeper spiritual battle going on. Jesus settled it with radical love—He said His followers would be known by how they treat one another, not by how well they argue theology. The good news: the Bible doesn’t just tell us what’s wrong. It gives real answers for overcoming church hurt and finding forgiveness. If you’re hungry for Biblical truth that goes deeper—down to the roots of offense, prophecy, and healing—this is for you.

Curious how all this connects to modern church life, prophecy, and why so many believers get stuck in cycles of pain and division? We’ll be breaking it down using the words and context Jesus used, plus how it all points to both our hope and the enemy’s sneaky strategies. For even more on how offense is shaping these last days, check out this breakdown on offense, prophecy, and last day challenges.

What Does the Bible Say About Offense?

Understanding how the Bible talks about offense cracks open a new layer of clarity on why church hurt keeps coming up—and why it hits believers so hard. To figure out where it all started, we need to trace the actual Hebrew and Greek words that get translated as “offense,” and what those words meant to the people hearing them for the first time. This context doesn’t just make things more academic. It actually makes God’s message about offense, prophecy, and the roots of spiritual conflict personal and practical for church life today.

The Hebrew Roots of Offense in the Old Testament: Main Terms and Ancient Perspective

In the Old Testament, “offense” pops up in a bunch of places, but it’s not usually about someone just getting their feelings hurt. The Hebrew word most often used is mikshol, which means a stumbling block or something that trips you up. Picture it: you’re walking along, minding your own business, and you slam your toe on a rock that someone left right in your path—instant pain, maybe a fall. That’s how ancient Israel understood an offense: anything that causes someone else to trip, fall, or get pulled away from faithfulness.

The prophets, like Isaiah and Ezekiel, warned that idols and sinful influences were huge stumbling blocks. These weren’t just bad habits—they ripped people away from God, messed up entire families, and sometimes even whole nations. In Ezekiel, God charges leaders who cause His people to stumble with major spiritual crime. Meanwhile, in the wisdom books (think Proverbs), there’s a real focus on how our words—and especially gossip or slander—can be that same kind of stumbling block. Proverbs doesn’t play around: sowing discord in the community is listed as one of the seven things God can’t stand.

So why does this matter now? Because, just like back then, offenses still set up spiritual landmines inside communities of faith. Whether it’s bitterness or spreading rumors, these stumbling blocks aren’t just “petty drama”—they carry the weight of prophecy and the warnings that echo through Biblical history. For more on the impact unforgiveness has on your spiritual life, take a look at how offense ties straight to separation from God in Is Unforgiveness Certainly Sending You To Hell? – Matthew 6:15.

New Testament Context: Skandalon and Proskope

But let’s fast-forward to the New Testament, where Jesus brings out some powerhouse Greek words: skandalon and proskope. Both of these push the meaning of offense way past just being upset or annoyed. “Skandalon” literally refers to the trigger in a trap—the stick the bait is attached to. If anyone messes with it, snap! They’re caught. So when Jesus warns that “offenses must come,” He’s talking about traps that can pull people into sin, doubt, or even betrayal. It’s about spiritual ambush, not just a tiff between friends.

In Jesus’ parables—especially the one about the sower—He says some fall away because of “offense” (skandalon) when trouble comes. The picture is clear: hearts can get snagged, hardened, and even driven away from God by traps set in their spiritual journey. Paul uses “proskope” (occasion for offense) in his letters. He warns believers to do nothing that would make anyone else stumble or lose faith—even if you have the right to act a certain way. Love should guide our actions, not personal freedom.

And here’s where prophecy and church hurt come together. Jesus predicted a time when “many will be offended, betray one another, and hate one another” (Matthew 24:10). This isn’t random—it actually marks the times before His return. Offense is both the spark and the fuel for betrayal and spiritual coldness. That’s why the attacks on Spirit-filled Christians, the judgments over speaking in tongues, and the gossip that fuels division aren’t just misunderstandings—they can be direct fulfillments of Biblical warnings.

A lot of people get confused when it comes to the Holy Spirit and what happens when someone gets born again. We hear it all the time—people say you get the Holy Spirit the moment you give your life to Jesus, and that’s the only experience you need. That settles it, right? Not exactly. The Bible paints a different picture, actually.

If you flip over to 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul says we’re all baptized by one Spirit into one body. That’s the Holy Spirit baptizing us into Jesus, or the family of God, the Body of Christ, when we’re born again—forgiveness of sins, the new birth, all of it. But then you hit Acts 1:5 and Acts 2, and there’s something else happening.

Jesus says, “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Notice who’s doing the baptizing this time—it’s Jesus, and the purpose is different. It’s not about salvation. It’s about power. Power for what? To be witnesses, to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness and signs following.

That second event is what we Christians call the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and that’s where speaking in tongues comes in, like in Acts 2:4. Now, there’s this idea floating around—if you don’t speak in tongues, does that mean you’re not Spirit-filled, or even worse, not saved? Again, no one’s saying that people who don’t speak in tongues aren’t saved or that the Holy Spirit doesn’t live in them. That’s not what the Scripture teaches at all.

When you’re born again, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you—that’s a fact. You’re a child of God, same as anyone else. But the baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate event that empowers believers for ministry. Sometimes it happens right at salvation, but for a lot of people, it comes later. Speaking in tongues is just one sign of that empowerment, but it’s not a badge of spiritual rank.

The Book of Acts shows us both events in people’s lives—first salvation, then a clear moment of being filled or empowered by the Holy Spirit, often with tongues or prophecy breaking out. So when you hear people talking about Holy Spirit baptism or speaking in tongues, don’t mix it up with the new birth.

The new birth is for everyone who believes in Jesus. Holy Spirit baptism? That’s about receiving power to share the Gospel, and Jesus is the one who decides when that happens to a person. Everyone’s invited to it, but one doesn’t cancel out the other. If you’ve wondered about this or even felt left out because you haven’t spoken in tongues, know you’re just as much God’s child as anyone else—He loves you, and all of us are on the same team.

So what’s behind church hurt and division? It’s more than just wounded people wounding others. There’s a spiritual conflict—demonic agitation mixed with people who may not truly be following Jesus. That’s why harmful speech against those moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit isn’t just mean; it risks skirting close to what Jesus called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the one unforgivable sin.

Jesus said in Matthew 13:24-30, the wheat and the tares would grow together in the same field, and He meant people. He broke it down for us in Matthew 13:36-43: the field is the world, and the wheat are His real followers—those who’ve truly been born again by the Holy Spirit. But the tares? The tares are fake believers. Jesus said Satan snuck those in while no one was looking.

Tares look a lot like wheat when they’re young. On the outside, you might not spot the difference. But Jesus told His angels to not pull out the tares; He said He’d sort it out at the end, when He gathers His sheep and separates them from Satan’s goats. It may take wheat its whole life to mature while continually staying young in the Lord and resembling a tare. You never know who may get deathbed redemption.

Again, this isn’t about who speaks in tongues and who doesn’t. There are people who hear that we speak in tongues and jump to the idea that we must think everyone who doesn’t is not Holy Spirit-filled. That’s not how it works. The line isn’t drawn at tongues—it’s drawn at whether someone has truly been born again or not.

The tares were never real believers to begin with. They’re not struggling Christians having a bad day; they’re people who never let the Holy Spirit change them, no matter how much church they attend or how many words they say. The Bible calls them apostates. These are people who looked the part for a while but never had the real thing inside. That’s what Jesus warned about.

Are you following Jesus from your heart, or just looking like wheat on the outside? Because at the end of the day, fruit grows from genuine faith—not from convincing others by outward signs. We speak in tongues because the Holy Spirit gives gifts as He chooses. But tongues don’t make someone wheat. Only new birth in Jesus, the Body of Christ, by the Holy Spirit does that.

Jesus didn’t ask us to do the judging. He’ll handle who belongs to Him and who doesn’t. Don’t get distracted by who does or doesn’t speak in tongues—look for real fruit in your own life and make certain your heart belongs to Jesus. Follow the path the Father set for your own life and God will bring people into His Kingdom through your actions.

Attacks from fake believers—people who seem religious but don’t have the Holy Spirit—can poison a church from the inside. But Jesus gave all believers the sign of true discipleship: not perfect doctrine, but unfailing love for each other. “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples,” Jesus told us in John 13:35. The Holy Spirit’s fruit isn’t just for show; it’s about overcoming offenses through radical, supernatural love. If you want more on the actual strategies we have for dealing with these kinds of spiritual battles in church life today, check out the practical tools in Spiritual Warfare Against the Church: 21st Century Battle Tactics.

What Did Jesus Say About Offense?

Jesus didn’t pass by the subject of offense with a shrug. He put it front and center, especially when describing the wild times—the ones we can all feel heating up today. You see, for Jesus, offense wasn’t just about someone getting rude or sensitive.

In the Greek, Jesus used the word “skandalon.” This word isn’t just about momentary annoyance; think of it as the trigger on a hunter’s trap. Snap the trigger and something (or someone) gets snagged. Jesus ties this “trap” to betrayal, pain, and even the symptoms of the last days. He takes it up a notch: offense in the heart of a believer could even set the stage for prophecy, spiritual coldness, and major division. And, most church drama? Yep, it’s got this spiritual trap all over it.

Jesus’ Warnings About End-Times Offense

Let’s zero in on Jesus’ prophetic warnings. In Matthew 24:10–12, He drops this heart-stopping line:
“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

That word “offended”? The Greek is skandalizo (root: skandalon)—it’s the mechanism that springs the snare. So this isn’t about a simple insult; it’s a spiritual snare that leads to deeper problems. When Jesus says, “many will be offended,” He’s describing the engine that runs end-time betrayal and the breakdown of love within the church. Being trapped by offense, in the context of prophecy, starts a chain reaction:

1. Offense →
2. Betrayal →
3. Hatred →
4. Love grows cold

In Luke 17:1–3, Jesus says, “It is impossible that no offenses (‘skandala’ in the plural) should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” He’s blunt: offenses will happen, but watch out if you’re the one causing the trap. The ancient listeners would connect “skandalon” to a trigger-stick in a baited trap—the sort a hunter would use to catch an animal. Spiritually, that means any time a believer sets up a situation (words, actions, traditions) that trips up someone else, they’re acting as the trigger for someone else’s fall.

What does this have to do with prophecy? Quite a bit. Jesus places these warnings about offense smack in the middle of His teachings about the last days (see Do Luke 17 and Matthew 24 Describe Different Comings of Jesus?). Offense leads to betrayal, which leads to spiritual coldness—and if you’ve ever watched church drama churn through a community, you’ll notice it rarely starts outright. Usually, it’s a small trap. Someone says the wrong thing, or gossips, or criticizes how God is moving (think: worship, speaking in tongues, miracles), and the baited stick jerks. Suddenly, there’s a snare, bad blood, and division.

Sound familiar in today’s churches? Many believe we’re seeing exactly what Jesus said would happen in the last days. Believers get trapped by offense, then split apart. Gossip stirs, betrayal shows up, and the warmth of love fades. To see how this pattern matches up with world events and church struggles right now, check out Offense: A Sign Of The End Time and the deep-dive on offense, prophecy, and last-day challenges.

Practical Application of Jesus’ Teachings on Offense: How believers are to respond to offense, forgiveness, and reconciliation

Jesus doesn’t just warn us and leave us spinning. He gives a clear way out of the trap with some hard, but freeing, instructions. In Luke 17:3-4, right after His warning, Jesus says:

“Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

You ever notice how some churches decide someone’s doing wrong without ever sitting down with the person? It’s like they skip straight to an intervention, passing out judgments based on what they think is going on in someone’s heart. It’s actually pretty common.

Folks hear a rumor or pick up on a vibe, then draw their own conclusions—and next thing you know, the person’s benched, rebuked, or pushed out. But here’s the problem: Jesus didn’t teach us to live on guesses and gut feelings. He called out this kind of assumption head-on.

Matthew 7:1-2 is the classic, right? “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged.” But He didn’t stop there. Jesus was clear about what to do if you think your brother or sister has messed up. He laid it out in Matthew 18:15-17—you start by going to that person one-on-one and talking it out. Don’t spread it around, don’t take it to the group, just go to them. If things can’t be worked out, then, and only then, bring one or two others along. Then, if it still doesn’t get sorted, you go to the church.

But Jesus never said, “Take a vote on what you think is in someone’s heart and then blast them with a rebuke.” That’s not how He handled things. He looked at the heart for sure, but He also talked to people directly—think about the woman at the well or Peter after he denied Jesus. He called them out, but He did it to their face, with love and truth, not rumors or groupthink. And He never said, “Assume the worst.”

If you look at the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is basically flipping the script on assumption—look at your own heart first, then you can see clearly to help someone else. So, if you’re in a church or group that jumps to conclusions about people without ever having a conversation, you have to ask—are we following Jesus or just making things up as we go? The Bible’s direct. Don’t assume. Seek out the person. Talk about it. That’s what Jesus said.

In regular words: Don’t let the trap snap shut. Confront in love, forgive fast, and keep your heart soft even after repeated hits. This teaching hits everyone who has ever felt church hurt—or has considered walking away because of it.

Here’s how it plays out today:

• Someone speaks in tongues in church, and instead of support, critics pounce—sometimes out of pride, sometimes out of confusion. When people attack what God is doing, especially a work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus warns this is skirting blasphemy territory.
• A modern Christian gossips about another’s faith experiences. This isn’t just idle talk—it’s setting a trap that causes discouragement, sometimes pushing the wounded further away from God.
• The cycle repeats: offense, anger, silence, or worse—open fights and church splits.

Jesus’ plan? Forgive over and over. Bring things into the light and don’t let bitterness take root. That also means we don’t get to label somebody as a fake Christian just because they’re different—or even because we think they’re wrong. Remember, demons thrive in division, especially when fakes or half-hearted people become loud critics inside the church. The devil’s real goal is to use offense as a wedge. If he can get people fighting—especially about the Holy Spirit’s gifts—he wins twice: the Holy Spirit grieves, and love goes out the window.

On the flip side, the real evidence of God’s people isn’t perfect agreement, but deep, Spirit-fueled love even when it would be easier to hold a grudge. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” If you’re looking for practical ways to break the cycle and heal from church hurt, check out what the Bible teaches about unforgiveness and freedom.

To sum up this practical side:

• Speak truth, but do it with a gentle heart.
• Forgive quickly—even if you don’t feel like it.
• Don’t get trapped into splitting over differences in the Holy Spirit’s gifts.
• When in doubt, choose love over keeping score.

The Bible makes it clear: the pattern Jesus laid out isn’t just advice. It’s the survival kit for the last days, the rescue ladder from every offense, and the proof of God’s family in action.

Offense, Church Hurt, and Spiritual Warfare

Nobody wakes up wanting to be hurt in church, but it happens—a lot. Offense runs deep, not just as a random irritation, but as a spiritual trigger. The roots of “church hurt” go beyond cliques or personality clashes. There’s a mix of spiritual tension, unforgiveness, and straight-up spiritual warfare shaking things up inside the Body of Christ. Let’s break down how those traps get set, how people stay stuck, and what the Bible actually says about breaking free when church wounds cut deep.

What Is Church Hurt and How Does Offense Cause It?

Church hurt isn’t just disappointment with people; it’s a soul-wound that messes with your faith, trust, and sometimes your view of God Himself. In its simplest form, church hurt happens when believers—who should know better—inflict pain on each other. This can be spiritual, emotional, or relational. Sometimes it’s obvious, like abuse or betrayal. Sometimes it’s subtle, like icy silence, snide remarks, or public shaming about spiritual gifts.

Offense lights the fuse. In Bible terms, when Jesus speaks about “skandalon,” He’s talking about those invisible trip wires that set people off—traps that leave believers angry, divided, or doubting. These aren’t accidents; sometimes they’re demonically inspired. When someone gossips, spreads suspicion about people who speak in tongues, or publicly questions someone’s salvation, that’s “skandalon” in action—it sets a trap. It also brings spiritual confusion and opens doors for what the Bible calls spiritual warfare.

Church hurt is more than people acting out; it’s a trigger for much deeper spiritual struggles. The more a church pushes to follow the Holy Spirit, the more likely “offense” and hurt will show up as a counterattack. This is why, when you look closely, church hurt almost always comes hand-in-hand with an uptick in spiritual resistance—sometimes even demonic agitation hiding among people who are just going through the motions of faith. If you want a personal look at navigating and recovering from deep wounds in the faith community, check out this helpful story: How I Got Over My Church Hurt (Without Losing My Faith).

The Role of Unforgiveness in Perpetuating Church Hurt

Here’s the cold truth: offense festers because most people don’t forgive. Unforgiveness is the glue that keeps church hurt stuck to your heart. Once you get hurt—maybe someone mocked how you pray, dismissed a spiritual experience, or flat out lied about you—the offense can turn to bitterness if it’s not dealt with quickly. Bitterness is like spiritual rust; it eats away at love, patience, and even your desire to show up at church.

Jesus calls Himself our “first love” in Revelation 2:4, and that isn’t just a poetic phrase—it’s supposed to be real and personal. He’s saying, “I want to be your first choice, not just an option on your spiritual menu.” When God has our heart above everything else, we’re safe, grounded, and right where we belong.

But here’s where we trip up: it’s easy to let other things take His spot—good things, even holy-looking things, can sneak onto the throne of our hearts. That could be a relationship, your job, or even your own sense of comfort or approval. And when that happens, the Bible calls it idolatry, plain and simple—not just statues, but anything that gets more of our hope, attention, or love than God does.

In the Old Testament, every time Israel ran after other “loves,” God didn’t just say, “Oh well, they found something better.” He called it spiritual adultery (Ezekiel 16, Hosea 2). That’s strong language, but it shows how much Jesus cares about our hearts being His. Jesus isn’t after surface-level loyalty—He wants that first spark, the closeness and affection, not out of duty but out of love.

Love isn’t just an emotion here; it’s a choice and a direction. When we put our hearts “out there,” chasing after things that can’t love us back the way He does, that’s when our relationship with God starts to dry up. It’s not legalism. It’s about safety and joy. He knows every other “god” or idol will end up disappointing us, but He never will.

If you’re wondering whether Jesus is still your first love, check what you think about most, what you worry about most, or what you can’t imagine losing. If it’s not Him, something else has crept in—and that’s a chance to return, not with shame, but with an honest prayer: “Jesus, I want You back at the center of my heart.” Having Jesus as the center of our heart is what gives us the ability to forgive.

The Bible is blunt. If you don’t forgive, you get locked in a dungeon of your own resentment. This isn’t just spiritual theory—it’s Jesus’ warning in action. Even Paul warned believers not to let a “root of bitterness” grow, because it defiles many. Unforgiveness poisons worship, relationships, and even our understanding of God. The cycle is relentless:

• Someone hurts you.
• You replay it, stew on it, or spread the story.
• Trust erodes.
• Division grows—sometimes entire groups split up.
• Love dries up.

This is why the Bible ties unforgiveness to real spiritual consequences. It keeps people in bondage, invites the enemy to attack, and leaves the church weak. If you’re wrestling with forgiveness, or feel stuck in resentment, take a closer look at how grace and release set you free in Redemption in Christianity: Discover Freedom and Stop Struggling in Life.

You can also dig deeper into what happens when forgiveness is ignored and why Jesus made it a non-negotiable for believers over at Is Unforgiveness Certainly Sending You To Hell? – Matthew 6:15.

Overcoming Church Hurt: Biblical Solutions

Healing from church hurt isn’t about pretending the pain didn’t happen—it’s about using God’s tools to break the cycle for good. When offense morphs into spiritual warfare, believers need more than pep talks. The Bible gives steps that work:

1. Acknowledge the Wound: Denial never works. Admit you’re hurt—God cares, and hiding it won’t heal it.
2. Take the Wound to Jesus: He knows betrayal, slander, and spiritual jealousy. Tell Him about it; He won’t minimize your pain.
3. Refuse the Trap of Unforgiveness: Forgive, not as a feeling, but as an act of obedience. It can take time, but the Bible commands it for your freedom.
4. Pray for Your Enemy: Sounds harsh, but praying for the one who hurt you keeps poison from rooting deeper.
5. Draw Healthy Boundaries: Forgiveness isn’t pretending nothing happened. If someone is toxic, it’s not unbiblical to put distance while still walking in love, but if the person has truly repented and is now right with God, then you are not right with God for assuming the person is toxic. You may remain in sickness and mental anguish until you get right with God yourself. You may even be trapped in a cycle of sin without the desire to escape, no matter how much you love Jesus.
6. Fight in the Spirit, Not the Flesh: This is classic spiritual warfare. Arguments won’t defeat the enemy—prayer, the Word, and God’s armor will.

Divine resources are available—God gives grace, wisdom, and the strength to stand when offense tries to infect the church. When you choose forgiveness and spiritual fight over revenge, you’re taking ground back from the enemy. If you want to see how actively pushing back against evil changes the outcome, see Why God’s Love Overcomes Evil and Transforms Our Struggles into Victory.

If you’re passionate about walking in victory and not being a casualty in church conflict, you’ll benefit from practical spiritual tactics found here: Spiritual Warfare Against the Church: 21st Century Battle Tactics.

Offense isn’t just a feeling; it’s a battleground. Refuse the bait of Satan’s deception. Overcome evil with good, and you’ll see the power of real, Holy Spirit fueled love bring the kind of healing Jesus always wanted for His church.

When we talk about deception, in ancient Hebrew, it’s not just some vague idea about lying or tricking people. The actual word—mirmah—illustrates something pretty sharp: think about yourself as a fish and someone selling you a fishing hook but hiding the fact that it’s baited with a worm. You are buying the worm but the person is actually selling you the hook. The worm looks innocent, like a simple snack, but the hook? That’s the real catch. That’s what pulls you out of the water and into the frying pan, and you never see it coming until it’s too late.

In Genesis 27, when Jacob tricks Isaac, he doesn’t just lie about who he is. He puts on Esau’s clothes, covers his arms with goat hair, and cooks up a meal—he sets the bait, not just the trap. Isaac thinks he’s getting one thing, but the real effort is hidden underneath. This isn’t surface-level cheating. It’s layered. It looks good on the outside, but the real intention is camouflaged, hidden on the inside.

The prophets talk about deception this way, too—Jeremiah calls out the people for worshiping God with their lips while scheming in their hearts (Jeremiah 9:8). They put out something tantalizing, but the hook is buried in the fine print. Jesus comes back to this idea repeatedly, warning about wolves in sheep’s clothing—people who look harmless but have hidden motives. It’s not just what you say or sell; it’s what you hide that matters.

Deception in the Hebrew mindset isn’t about being smart; it’s about covering up the sharp parts so you can pull someone in and get what you want. That’s a betrayal of trust, and that’s what God keeps warning people about. The outside and the inside have to match, or else you’re just selling hooks and hiding the the true intentions of the worm. Have you ever felt like you bit down on something that seemed safe, only to find the sting later? That’s what mirmah is getting at—don’t hide the bait and pretend the hook doesn’t exist.

Offense, the Holy Spirit, and Blasphemy: What’s Really Happening?

Offense in the church goes deeper than bruised egos or rough conversations about theology. When it comes to the Holy Spirit and the controversial topic of speaking in tongues, the lines between honest confusion, willful rejection, and spiritual blindness start to blur. More than a few folks have whispered or shouted that tongues are “fake,” “demonic,” or something suspicious. But what if those words cross into something Jesus gave the strongest possible warning against—blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Understanding what’s really happening needs more than quick answers. It calls for honest talk about spiritual roots, Biblical warnings, and why these conflicts won’t stop just because we ignore them.

Why Attacks on Tongues and Calling Good Evil Is Blasphemy

When Jesus talked about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, He wasn’t handing out easy warnings. In Matthew 12:31-32, He says, “every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” The crowd He was talking to? Religious leaders who said His miracles were actually the work of the devil.

Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first,” and that line from John 15:18 isn’t just about people who didn’t like his preaching style or the way he hung out with outcasts. He’s talking about a deep resistance to the truth he brought—a truth some folks outright rejected, even when they saw the miracles with their own eyes.

Now, you might wonder, what’s that have to do with blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Let’s break it down. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, according to Jesus in Mark 3:28-30, is this serious kind of rejection. It’s not just being rude or doubting for a moment. It’s seeing God’s work, knowing it comes from the Holy Spirit, and still calling it evil.

The Pharisees, just like religious leaders today who are not baptized in the Holy Spirit, are Exhibit A here—they watched Jesus free people from demons and called it the work of Satan. They weren’t just criticizers; they shut their hearts and stamped “evil” on what was Holy. So when Jesus says, “If they hated me, they’ll hate you too,” he’s warning us that this stubborn blindness isn’t only aimed at Him. His followers get it too, especially when they live and speak by the power of the Holy Spirit.

People who refuse to hear the Holy Spirit when he speaks—who label the Good News as a lie or a threat—are brushing up against that same danger. There’s a kind of rebellion where you don’t just miss the message, you deliberately push it away. That’s why it’s so serious—because you’re not fighting ideas, you’re fighting the truth of God’s Spirit. When that happens, forgiveness isn’t on the table, not because God’s mercy runs out, but because the person keeps slamming the door on the only One who can save them.

Jesus wasn’t trying to scare people for no reason; he was sounding the alarm about a pattern. Reject the work of the Holy Spirit long enough, and it shapes your whole outlook. You stop seeing truth. You start reading grace as a threat. That’s what happened then, and honestly, it still happens today. Are you seeing how all this connects? The point is, how we respond to the Holy Spirit matters. If you hate what Jesus did, hate what His Spirit does, you’re putting yourself in the same group as those religious leaders who called good “evil” right to God’s face.

Let’s break this down. To blaspheme the Holy Spirit is to look at a Holy Spirit led work and say, “That’s evil.” For example, if someone sees a healing or deliverance, or hears a believer speak in tongues, and instantly calls it demonic or fake (even though it’s a true move of God), that’s not just a hot take—that’s skirting the edge of the one sin Jesus says is unforgivable. It’s not about questioning or wrestling with doubt. This is willfully twisting what’s Holy and good into something evil.

Here’s why this happens:

• Pride or ignorance: Some Christians grew up being told tongues died out or only weird people do it. When the unfamiliar shows up, they attack instead of seek understanding.
• Fear of disorder: The gifts of the Holy Spirit can get messy, especially if leaders haven’t taught about them. Some want control, so they call anything odd “demonic.”
• Spiritual blindness: The Bible says the god of this age [Satan] has blinded people. For some, there’s a stubborn refusal to see that God moves in ways they don’t expect.

Why does the Bible treat this so seriously? Rejecting or mocking a true work of the Holy Spirit isn’t just a mistake—it hardens the heart and cuts the person off from the very One who brings repentance. The consequences? Jesus says it’s unforgivable. This is the unpardonable sin—not because God isn’t merciful, but because the heart gets so hard it refuses to even let the Holy Spirit in.

It’s not just about dramatic miracles or big church showdowns, either. Sometimes, blasphemy hides in slander, gossip, or public shaming of people simply obeying what they hear from the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees said Jesus had a demon for healing and delivering. Now, church folks roll their eyes or whisper that tongues or prophecy is “from the devil.” Different context—same trap.

When Isaiah warned, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,” it was about more than politics or culture wars—it was about a spiritual heart condition. The same dynamic plays out when believers, out of pride or fear, slander the very thing God is blessing. For a deeper look at the Trinity and the unique role of the Holy Spirit—which explains why this sin is so severe—check out The Trinity Explained: Biblical Roots and Real World Questions.

Isaiah’s warning — “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20) — rings out like an alarm in our lives right now. Picture this: God lays out His heart on some things, calling them abominations (which literally means things that make Him sick), and yet, so many people flip that truth upside down. Suddenly, what God says is broken and wrecks lives gets paraded as healthy, natural, and even brave. Instead of calling sin what it is, culture tends to slap a gold star on it—celebrate it, protect it, push anyone who questions it to the margins.

At the same time, if you speak up for God’s truth and call sin by its actual name, you get painted as hateful or bigoted or intolerant. It’s strange, isn’t it? We’ve ended up in a spot where the heart of God—His mercy, His justice, even His design for sex, marriage, and forgiveness—is called evil by people who want to set their own rules.

The people Isaiah was talking about wanted to rewrite the book, change the rules, make God’s standards sound outdated or cruel. Sound familiar? You hear it everywhere, from TV to social media to everyday conversation: The things God warns us about get celebrated, and anyone who raises a flag about it gets labeled the enemy.

Isaiah wasn’t talking about some far-off time in the past; he was warning us, too. When God’s people hold up the truth—when they refuse to back down or change the definition of mercy and love—suddenly, they’re the problem. So, what do we do with that? The answer hasn’t changed. We trust God’s Word. We speak with kindness, but we don’t twist the truth to make it easier to swallow.

Jesus showed love to people stuck in sin, but He never called sin “good.” He called out the sickness and pointed to the cure. Today, the world says you’re mean if you do that, but the real hate is letting people believe a lie that keeps them from God’s forgiveness. Are you seeing that reversal around you? Have you felt the pressure to stay quiet about what God calls true? The ancient warning is echoing in our streets, and we’re called to walk in truth—even when others call it evil.

Let’s talk about the true story of the woman caught in adultery, because there’s a lot of confusion about what Jesus actually did here (and what He didn’t do). The scene is dramatic—a group of religious leaders drags this woman into the middle of the crowd and throws the law in her face. According to Moses, she should be stoned.

Instead of launching into a speech or joining the mob, Jesus bends down and draws in the dirt. The crowd presses Him, trying to trap Him. You can almost hear the tension. Then Jesus straight-up tells them: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” That line gets quoted all the time, like Jesus was telling everyone to ignore sin or to stop making judgments about right and wrong. But that’s not the full story, not even close.

The crowd starts to leave—oldest first, maybe because they knew how much baggage they had—and soon it’s just Jesus and the woman. He asks her, “Where are your accusers? Is there no one left to condemn you?” When she says no, there is no one left to accuse me, He says, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on, sin no more.”

Here’s the key: Jesus doesn’t brush off her sin or pretend it wasn’t serious. He forgives her, but then He tells her not to keep living that way. He calls her to turn around and start fresh. The world likes to quote “judge not,” but skips the part about repentance and change.

Jesus’s words here are full of both mercy and truth. He loves her enough to forgive her—and loves her enough not to leave her stuck in the same pattern. The whole point is this: forgiveness leads to transformation, not a free pass to keep doing the same thing. There’s comfort and hope in that, but there’s also a challenge if you’re really listening. Are you willing to go and sin no more, or do you just want a pat on the back for your choices?

So here’s the bottom line: if you see something good, holy, or miraculous—check your heart before you speak. It’s one thing to be cautious, it’s another to put words in God’s mouth or, worse, credit the enemy for the Holy Spirit’s work.

The Spiritual Roots: Demonic Influence and False Converts

Offense doesn’t grow in a vacuum. The heart of the problem is often hearts that aren’t truly changed—and demons at work behind the scenes. The New Testament doesn’t shy away from this: Paul warns about “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” “false brethren,” and even “doctrines of demons” circulating in the church. How does this play out? Two main ways:

• Demonic influence: Demons love stirring up confusion, division, and offense. When something supernatural happens—like speaking in tongues or deliverance—they stoke fear, suspicion, and envy in anyone willing to listen. Demons twist good works, making people doubt, gossip, or attack.
• False converts: Not everyone in church is really following Jesus. Some people show up for the community or out of habit but don’t have the Holy Spirit. Paul describes these folks as “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). They might be the first to criticize or slander gifts of the Spirit because they’ve never tasted the real thing. Their hearts are hard soil—“skandalon” springs up quick, leading to offense and division.

Here’s what happens: Mature, Spirit-filled believers try to walk in love and operate in their gifts. But the enemy plants fake followers and uses spiritual outsiders to stir up trouble. Gossip starts, rumors fly, and suddenly the church is full of suspicion and pain. That’s not just a messy community—that’s spiritual warfare.

This isn’t just theory. Churches across the world experience seasons when offense explodes, division grows, and people camp out on secondary doctrines or style differences. But these aren’t random flukes—they’re signs of a deeper war. Whenever Spirit-led believers face slander (especially over tongues, miracles, or bold faith), don’t be surprised if the loudest critics are the ones least connected to the Holy Spirit. You can see more on the roots and dangers of division in Truth About Fighting God’s Will: Personal and Biblical Insights.

For real healing to happen, the church has to get honest about spiritual warfare. Offense and division are signals that the enemy is at work, using both spiritual outsiders and old wounds to keep people from deep faith and real love. Overcoming this isn’t just about policies or programs—it takes spiritual armor, clear teaching, and the courage to call out darkness while protecting unity.

If you’ve felt blindsided by criticism, gossip, or pushback in the church—especially when you’re pursuing more of God—know that it’s probably part of a bigger spiritual attack. The good news? The Bible always points to love as the test. Hold fast to the Holy Spirit, forgive quickly, pray for eyes to open, and remember: you’re not fighting flesh and blood. For more on beating division and standing firm in the church, there are practical resources on spiritual warfare and how to stand strong.

Attacks against the Holy Spirit’s work aren’t new. They’re part of a dark strategy to trap, offend, and divide—especially in the places where God is moving most. Stand strong, walk in love, and let the fruit of the Spirit prove who you really belong to.

How Jesus’ Followers Display True Love Amid Offense

If you look around at churches these days, you’ll notice the struggle is rarely about obvious enemies—it’s about how believers treat each other in stressful or messy moments. Jesus didn’t say His crew would be special because of miracles, loud prayers, or perfect doctrine. He said love is the badge. How do you spot real followers of Jesus? Not by their Instagram page or even their theology degrees, but by how they respond when someone offends them or stirs up drama. The real test is love when it’s not easy, forgiveness when it hurts, and unity that stands strong when there’s every excuse to walk away.

Unity and Love as the Mark of True Believers

Jesus made it simple—and radical. In John 13:35, He says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Not “if you post Bible verses,” or “if you win arguments.” The proof is practical, stubborn love, especially with the people who push your buttons or see the world differently.

When offense bubbles up, people usually want to lash out, gossip, or just leave. But Jesus calls us to flip the script, to answer offense with a kind of love that sinks roots deeper than any conflict. What does that look like in real church life? Here’s how you can build and protect the unity Jesus prayed for:

• Choose empathy before judgment. Slow down. Listen. If someone offends you, try to see the world through their eyes. Maybe they’re hurting, stressed, or misunderstood.
• Address conflict directly—without drama. Matthew 18 gives a playbook: talk to the person in private, not behind their back. Keep it real, but keep it gentle.
• Forgive, even if the wound is fresh. Forgiveness isn’t a free pass for bad behavior. But it cuts the chains offense tries to lock on your heart. Sometimes forgiveness needs to happen more than once (sometimes a lot more).
• Pray for unity and mean it. Real unity doesn’t mean everyone’s a clone. It means people are honest, humble, and focused on what matters most: Jesus and His way.
• Set boundaries that protect—not punish. Sometimes, showing love actually means stepping back from toxic patterns or people, not pretending everything’s okay.
• Celebrate differences as gifts, not threats. The early church was made up of wild variety—Jews, Gentiles, bold personalities, and quiet servants. Love knits all that together for God’s purpose.

The early church practiced this, even when it hurt. You see that kind of love didn’t erase tension, but it set the tone for unity that could outlast persecution, personality clashes, and even betrayals. You’ll find this pattern for living out Christ’s love worked into the core of strong, healthy ministries—like the ones highlighted on living out authentic Christ-like community.

If you want to dig into what real love means in the Bible—how it’s different from the world’s version—explore the practical side in Biblical Love Definition: What God Is Love Really Means.

Walking this out in real life isn’t fluffy or fake. It’s an act of the will—choosing to cover offense with kindness, pray for those who throw shade, and keep showing up when quitting might be easier. For even more practical wisdom on love, unity, and church life, there’s a great take on the connection between neighborly love and spiritual health.

Jesus knew offense would come. His answer? Don’t let it win. Love is still the only mark that never lies. When the church lives this out, even a messy crowd becomes a real family that can survive any storm together.

Conclusion

Offense in the church is never just about hurt feelings—it sets off a trap that Jesus warned would fuel betrayal, division, and even false prophecy as the days grow darker. In the original language, “skandalon” makes it clear: offense is bait that can trip anyone, and unchecked, it opens the door to bitterness and church hurt that runs deep. Talking down those who move in the Spirit or calling God’s work evil isn’t just a bad attitude; it pushes people dangerously close to what Jesus called blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—a line no believer wants to cross.

Division and pain often come from a mix of wounded hearts, false converts, and real spiritual warfare in the background. You can’t solve church hurt by just brushing things off—but the Bible offers the way out: honest confession, real forgiveness, and love that covers offenses just like Jesus modeled. Want to rethink how your church handles division and see where modern conflicts are taking us? See how bigger cultural trends shape our pain points in Is the Separation of Church and State Helping or Hurting?. If you’re curious about the ways different beliefs play out and stir up misunderstanding, take a honest look at What Sets Mormonism Apart From Christianity?.

It all circles back to this: Loving like Jesus isn’t always easy, but it’s always the sign that you’re walking with Him. Is there anyone you need to forgive? Any root of offense you’re ready to let go? The healthiest churches aren’t those without conflict—they’re the ones committed to real love in the face of offense. Want practical next steps or deeper dives? Check out the resources linked above and invite God to search your heart. The chance to break free from the trap is always open. Thanks for sticking with this—share where you’re at in your own journey, or pass this along to someone who needs hope for healing.