Luke 7:23Blessed is he who is not offended by me."
The setting
Galilee, ~30 AD. Jesus responds to John the Baptist's disciples who came asking if Jesus was really the Messiah. Modern-day northern Israel.
The emotion here: gentle concern for his forerunner's wavering faith
The original word
skandalizō (σκανδαλίζω) — to cause to stumble, be trapped, or fall away from faith
Why it matters
John was imprisoned by Herod Antipas in Machaerus fortress, east of the Dead Sea
Read with care
What most readers miss in Luke 7:23
This was Jesus' final message to John before John's execution — a gentle warning about losing faith
Common misconceptionMost people think this is about being offended by Jesus' teachings, but it's specifically about John the Baptist's crisis of faith while imprisoned, doubting if Jesus was really the Messiah he had announced.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Luke 7:23
Bible Genome reading
Luke 7:23 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Luke 7:23 comes from the book of Luke, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Jesus. The dominant emotion in this verse is growing, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include blessing, offense. Notable phrases: blessed is he; not offended by me. This verse contains a promise of God.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same growing
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6
“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
— Romans 10:17
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
— John 3:30
“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2
“He believed in Yahweh; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.”
— Genesis 15:6
Your reflection
What does Luke 7:23 mean to you, today?
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