Let us take a moment to use this expression as a means to clear things up or as we sometimes say, “set the record straight”. In Luke 19 we have recorded a meeting between Zacchaeus and Jesus. We are told that Zacchaeus was very rich and was chief among the publicans (Luke 19:2). Jesus meets him and tells him to come down out of the tree because He was going to Zacchaeus’ house that day. He come down from the tree and receives Jesus, joyfully (verse 6). Some in the crowd complained because Jesus was going to go to the house of a sinner.
Zacchaeus makes a defense of his own life. He relates that he gave half of his goods to the poor (verse 8). He then goes on to say that if he had taken from any man by false accusation, he would restore fourfold. This offered an opportunity by any in the crowd to come forth and say that Zacchaeus had cheated them. There is silence and the integrity of the man is not questioned. His use of the wording “if” implies he was unaware of any harm he had done. If he had done something that cheated someone then he was willing to repay and clear up the problem. A person then may very well say, because of misconceptions, “if” I have offended anyone.
There is then a serious difference between someone dealing with false perceptions as opposed to someone who KNOWS they have done wrong. It took a while for Samuel to convince Saul of his error in failing to destroy the Amalekites (I Sam. 15). After pointing to the evidence and unable to blame the people, Saul says, “I have sinned”. What if Saul had said something like this. Samuel I understand the problem and if I have offended anyone by not being the king then I apologize. Such an apology does not touch the area of the problem. Saul sinned and with motivation from Samuel acknowledged it.
The second king of Israel, David, ran into a problem when he allowed sin to overtake him in the matter of Bathsheba (II Sam. 11). In II Sam. 12, Nathan the prophet confronts David. What is the response of David? I have sinned against the Lord (verse 13). No prodding or pushing, by Nathan. David freely admitted that he had sinned. It would not have been proper for him to say, “if I did offend someone”. He was wrong, knew he was wrong and admitted it. This is the difference between a Zacchaeus and someone who knows they have done wrong.
A person can get away from the way of God (Gal. 5:4). Paul explains what our efforts should be when one leaves the faith. Paul says if a brother be overtaken in a fault, something needs to be done (Gal. 6:1). Those who are spiritual (faithful Christians) should make every effort to restore such a one. A Christian can lose their way. Paul said that he had a concern that after he had preached to everyone else, that he should lose his own faith (I Cor. 9:27). It can therefore happen to anyone who loses focus on Jesus (Heb. 12:2). A person would have a hard time changing if they approach it from the view, “if I have offended anyone”. Change takes place when a person is willing to admit, “I did wrong”.
James approaches it from the view of a man who errs from the truth (James 5:19). Such a person needs to be converted back. We know a person at times has not grown in the faith in a particular area (Rom. 14:1). Time and consistent growth in the study of the Word of God will lead a person to better understanding. James is not speaking of that kind of situation. He is speaking about the person who leaves the truth itself. If such a person can be converted back from the error of his way, a soul is saved and sins covered.
We do in this life offend one another. Such offense can be dealt with by thinking about how we have been forgiven by God and practicing kindness to each other (Eph. 4:32). However, the movement away from God requires confession and change. Not if I have offended but rather I confess that I sinned and did wrong.