Whoever Conceals an Offense Promotes Love

Proverbs 17:9

Aug 16, 2026

(Photo by Ian Liberry on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible)

Proverbs 17:9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever brings it up separates friends.

God wants us to have healthy, loving relationships with other people. In this verse, we learn that when you conceal an offense, you promote love, but when you repeatedly bring an offense back up, you can damage or even destroy a friendship.

This doesn’t mean that you should ignore serious sin, cover up abuse, or refuse to address something that genuinely needs to be confronted. Instead, it means that you don’t continually bring up an offense or gossip about it to others.

Biblical love doesn’t keep a running record of the offenses someone has committed against you. Biblical love seeks restoration rather than revenge.

Look to Jesus as your example. He willingly went to the cross to provide forgiveness for our sins. As His followers, we are called to extend that forgiveness to others.

When someone has hurt or offended you, bring it to Christ. Ask Him to help you forgive, release bitterness, and respond with love. Let Christ transform the way you respond when people hurt you.

If the situation does require confrontation or reconciliation, ask Him to help you handle it with gentleness and truth rather than anger. ~ Jeff M Newman

Latest Bible Study

Lesson 93 - 1 John 3:10 By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God…

Observe Jesus’ Commands

Feed Jesus’ lambs. Shepherd His sheep.

John 21:15-16 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” 16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

Previous Bible Study