Thread: A BROTHER OFFENDED - HARDER TO BE WON THAN A STRONG CITY!
Admin
A BROTHER OFFENDED - HARDER TO BE WON THAN A STRONG CITY!
Posted : 10 Dec, 2013 09:24 AM
Prov 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
�Relationships are built on trust, and the strongest relationships are forged over time. It�s common knowledge that a trust that is built over a lifetime can be broken in a minute, and once broken, it can be very hard to mend.
A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city.- Bible or Not?
A �brother� in the SPIRITUAL SENSE is someone with whom you have a kindred spirit, someone you have a strong relationship with, a special bond, someone you can trust. According to the Bible, a friend loves at all times but a brother is born for adversity � someone who will go through thick and thin for you. Have you ever had a falling out with someone you had called brother or sister? And have you been able to repair the breach?
Today�s quote about �a brother offended� is Bible, found in the book of Proverbs 18:19. Jesus teaches us that if our �brother� offends us that we should immediately forgive � and when pressed by Peter asking, �what if our brother offends us 7 times?�, He responded that even if our brother offends us 7 times 70 (yes, 490) that we should forgive.
As Christians we should always strive to be at peace with our brothers and sisters, and those around us. Yet, it can be difficult to mend even the smallest of offenses. If we are the offending party we need to be aware that if we have broken the trust of another that we will need to work long and hard to regain it � it may be harder to win them back than to take a strong city. And if we are the one offended, let�s forgive even as God has forgiven us for Christ�s sake. If a loved one is looking for a way back, let�s not make the way so hard.�
[Quoted from - �Bible or Not']
�A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,.... A fortified city may sooner be taken by an enemy, than one brother offended can be reconciled to another; their resentments against each other are keener than against another person that has offended them; and their love being turned into hatred, it is more bitter; and it is more difficult to compose differences between brethren than between enemies; wherefore such should take care that they fall not out by the way: this is true of brethren in a natural sense; as the cases of Abel and Cain, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brethren, Amnon and Absalom, and others, show; and of brethren in a spiritual sense, as Paul and Barnabas, Luther and Calvin, and others;
and their contentions are like the bars of a castle: which cannot be easily broken or cut asunder: so contentions, especially those among brethren, are with great difficulty made to cease, and their differences composed; they will stand it out against one another as long as a strong city, or a barred castle, against an enemy.� [John Gill]
�A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.� The nearer the relationship is, the harder it is to heal it once it has been disrupted. Because one expects something better from one that is related, so an offence is all the more bitter to the offended one. Sadly sometimes family disputes have been bitterly carried to the grave, with profit to none and hurt to all. This only emphasizes, however, how careful we all ought to be lest we offend. And it must be remembered that there is a closer relationship between spiritual than natural brothers. Christians� duty in this matter is made clear in 1 Corinthians 10:32.�
�Give NONE offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, NOR TO THE CHURCH OF GOD!� [1Cor 10:32]
[PB Ministries � Studies on Proverbs]
This was compiled from various sources (cited) by my good friend Michael. I have his permission to share it.
A BROTHER OFFENDED - HARDER TO BE WON THAN A STRONG CITY!
Posted : 10 Dec, 2013 05:37 PM
A large part of Torah is about treating people with kindness. Torah commands us to love both Jews and strangers, to give tzedakah (charity) to the poor and needy, and not to wrong anyone in speech or in business. In fact, acts of kindness are so much a part of Torah that the word "mitzvah" (literally, "commandment") is informally used to mean any good deed is commonly used in the Hebrew language (religious or not).
Everyone knows that the Ten Commandments command us not to murder. The full scope of Torah goes much farther in requiring us to protect our fellow man. We are commanded not to leave a condition that may cause harm, to construct our homes in ways that will prevent people from being harmed, and to help a person whose life is in danger, so long as it does not put our own lives in danger. These commandments regarding the preservation of life are so important that they override all of the ritual observances that people think are the most important (going to church, reading 10 min. in the Bible every day to give service) . {I�m not saying these are not important don�t through the baby out with the bathwater}. However, almost any commandment may be violated to save a life. We are commanded to help those in need, both in physical need and financial need. The Torah commands us to help a neighbor with his burden, and help load or unload his beast. We are required to give money to the poor and needy, and not to turn them away empty handed. Torah forbids us from cheating another or taking advantage of another. Torah regarding business ethics and practices is extensive. It regulates conduct between a businessman and his customer (for example, not to use false weights and measures, not to do wrong in buying and selling, not to charge interest) and between a business man and his employee (to pay wages promptly, to allow a worker in the field to eat the produce he is harvesting, and not to take produce other than what you can eat from the employer while harvesting).
A BROTHER OFFENDED - HARDER TO BE WON THAN A STRONG CITY!
Posted : 10 Dec, 2013 06:37 PM
M.,
Thanks for sharing some great insight about the Torah. I love the Torah. Torah should be studied daily by all believers.
As followers of Y-shua, we should strive to show charity towards each other. We are commanded to do good to all men but especially to our brothers and sisters in Christ. I am reminded of this almost daily. Sometimes, God will bring someone into our lives as an example of what to do and sometimes He brings people into our lives that are examples of what NOT to do. I am thankful for both examples.
Gal 6:10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
A BROTHER OFFENDED - HARDER TO BE WON THAN A STRONG CITY!
Posted : 11 Dec, 2013 05:45 PM
IMO why an "offended brother" is hard to reconcile with is because it takes so much to offend a true brother that by the time it gets to where Paul said there is nothing left but to turn him over to satan for the destruction of the flesh so that in the last day the spirit may be saved.............. all attempts to correct the offense and reconcile with the offender have been exhausted
So why was Paul so hard against this person?
Because there was no sign of repentance on the offender
However, when the person had been punished and repented what does Paul say
2Corr.2: 6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
On the other hand when there is no repentance..........
2Tim;4: 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
In this case the brother has been reprimanded yet has hardened his heart even more
I have had the misfortunate of witnessing persons such as this far too many times............ I will just say that not all signs and wonders are pleasant to observe, including when God passes judgment
God allowed his Son to be crucified and most of the apostles were martyred for their beliefs. however, God is not mocked and His Word will not return void.
As Jesus said, offenses will come but woe to the offender
