Question 1

Why are insults so harmful?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 55:12-14It is not an enemy who taunts me—I could bear that. It is not my foes who so arrogantly insult me—I could have hidden from them. Instead, it is you—my equal, my companion and close friend. What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.Insults can be most hurtful when they come from a friend.Psalm 44:16All we hear are the taunts of our mockers. All we see are our vengeful enemies.The harm of insults can be made worse when we focus too much the hurtful words and allow them to consume our thoughts.Psalm 69:19-20You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing. Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.Insults stir negative emotions in us. When we take them seriously, they can break our hearts and lead to depression.Job 19:1-3Job spoke again: “How long will you torture me? How long will you try to crush me with your words? You have already insulted me ten times. You should be ashamed of treating me so badly.”Job 20:2-3“I must reply because I am greatly disturbed. I’ve had to endure your insults, but now my spirit prompts me to reply.”An insult can endure, taking on a life of its own in someone’s mind, causing long-term pain.Psalm 89:50Consider, Lord, how your servants are disgraced! I carry in my heart the insults of so many people.Because insults are not easily forgotten, they can continue to linger with us.Luke 22:63-65The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and said, “Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?” And they hurled all sorts of terrible insults at him.Insults often come in multiples, causing even more pain.Psalm 22:6-8I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all! Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord rescue him!”Insults often attack our beliefs, and we can start believing their inherent messages.

Question 2

How did Jesus respond to insults?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 12:24-25When the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.”Matthew 27:39-44The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!” The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.Luke 18:31-33Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, “Listen, we’re going up to Jerusalem, where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans, and he will be mocked, treated shamefully, and spit upon. They will flog him with a whip and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”Luke 22:65-70They hurled all sorts of terrible insults at him [Jesus]. At daybreak all the elders of the people assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. Jesus was led before this high council, and they said, “Tell us, are you the Messiah?” But he replied, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me. And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God’s right hand.” They all shouted, “So, are you claiming to be the Son of God?” And he replied, “You say that I am.”John 8:48-49The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?” “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me.”1 Peter 2:23He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.Jesus expected to be insulted and was prepared to receive the people’s insults. When he did respond, he responded truthfully without being defensive or revengeful. Jesus trusted God to be the fair judge.

Question 3

How should I respond to insults?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 10:26-27When Saul returned to his home at Gibeah, a group of men whose hearts God had touched went with him. But there were some scoundrels who complained, “How can this man save us?” And they scorned him and refused to bring him gifts. But Saul ignored them.Proverbs 12:16A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.Luke 6:27-29“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.”Acts 18:6When they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads—I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.”1 Peter 3:9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.Sometimes, the best way to respond to insults is to ignore them; other times, we may need to respond. When we do respond to insults, however, we should do so in a deliberate, controlled, and loving manner. Before responding, we should ask God to guide us and trust him to give us the right words and actions.Matthew 5:11-12“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”Luke 6:22-23“What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.”Acts 5:41The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.2 Corinthians 12:10I [the apostle Paul] take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.Hebrews 10:32-34Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.1 Peter 4:14If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.When insulted, we should keep an eternal perspective. We can rejoice while being insulted for Jesus’ sake because we know that we will be victorious with him.Lamentations 3:25-31The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is good for people to submit at an early age to the yoke of his discipline: Let them sit alone in silence beneath the Lord’s demands. Let them lie face down in the dust, for there may be hope at last. Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies. For no one is abandoned by the Lord forever.Lamentations 3:61Lord, you have heard the vile names they call me. You know all about the plans they have made.God is aware of every insult hurled against us. He will comfort us when insulted and reward us for how we respond in faith. Eventually, we will go to a place free of insults.

Question 4

In what ways might I insult God?

Accepted Answer

2 Chronicles 32:16-19Sennacherib’s officers further mocked the Lord God and his servant Hezekiah, heaping insult upon insult. The king also sent letters scorning the Lord, the God of Israel. He wrote, “Just as the gods of all the other nations failed to rescue their people from my power, so the God of Hezekiah will also fail.” The Assyrian officials who brought the letters shouted this in Hebrew to the people gathered on the walls of the city, trying to terrify them so it would be easier to capture the city. These officers talked about the God of Jerusalem as though he were one of the pagan gods, made by human hands.Psalm 74:18, 22-23See how these enemies insult you, Lord. A foolish nation has dishonored your name. . . . Arise, O God, and defend your cause. Remember how these fools insult you all day long. Don’t overlook what your enemies have said or their growing uproar.Proverbs 30:9If I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.Isaiah 65:3, 7“All day long they insult me to my face by worshiping idols in their sacred gardens. They burn incense on pagan altars . . .” says the Lord. “For they also burned incense on the mountains and insulted me on the hills. I will pay them back in full!”Hebrews 10:29Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.Jude 1:15“He [the Lord] will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”Open unbelief or rebellion against God insults him.Proverbs 14:31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.Proverbs 17:5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.Mistreating others, especially the poor, insults God, who made all people in his image.

Question 5

How can I avoid insulting others?

Accepted Answer

James 3:5-6, 9The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself . . . Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God.1 Peter 3:10The Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.”We can avoid insulting others if we think before we speak. It is usually better to not say what we are thinking because we cannot take back what comes out of our mouths. The damage will already have been done.Proverbs 10:11The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.Proverbs 10:32The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.Proverbs 12:6, 18The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush, but the words of the godly save lives. . . . Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.Proverbs 15:4Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.Proverbs 18:4,21Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook. . . . The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.We can avoid insulting others if we speak nurturing, helpful, healing words that build up others.Proverbs 9:7Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.Proverbs 22:10Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too. Quarrels and insults will disappear.We can avoid insulting others if we avoid hanging around those who consistently mock and insult. Unless we can influence them for good, we will likely be influenced by them.1 Peter 3:8-9Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.We can receive God’s blessing by treating one another with sympathy, tenderheartedness, and humility—not with vengeful retaliation and damaging words.Proverbs 21:23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.We can avoid insulting others if we simply don’t answer insults we receive and just remain silent.