Overlooking
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Definition and Context
Overlooking, in a biblical context, refers to the act of intentionally disregarding or forgiving an offense, fault, or transgression. This concept is deeply rooted in the principles of mercy, grace, and forgiveness that are central to Christian teachings. Overlooking is not merely ignoring wrongdoing but is often an active choice to extend grace and maintain peace.

Biblical References
The Bible provides numerous examples and teachings on the importance of overlooking offenses as a reflection of God's character and a means to foster harmony among believers.

1. Proverbs 19:11 · "A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense." This verse highlights the wisdom and virtue in choosing to overlook offenses. It suggests that patience and understanding are key components in the decision to forgive and move past minor grievances.

2. 1 Peter 4:8 · "Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." Here, the apostle Peter emphasizes the power of love in overlooking sins. The love that believers are called to exhibit is one that forgives and does not hold grudges, reflecting the love of Christ.

3. Proverbs 17:9 · "Whoever covers an offense promotes love, but he who repeats the matter separates close friends." This proverb underscores the relational benefits of overlooking offenses. By choosing not to dwell on or spread the matter, one fosters love and unity.

Theological Significance
Overlooking offenses is a reflection of God's own nature. In the New Testament, the ultimate act of overlooking is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who bore the sins of humanity, offering forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Believers are called to emulate this divine forgiveness in their interactions with others.

Practical Application
In daily life, overlooking offenses can be a powerful tool for maintaining peace and unity within the Christian community. It requires humility, patience, and a willingness to prioritize relationships over personal grievances. By choosing to overlook minor offenses, believers can demonstrate the love and grace of God, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding.

Challenges and Considerations
While overlooking offenses is a virtuous act, it is important to discern when it is appropriate. Not all offenses should be overlooked, especially those that involve serious sin or harm. In such cases, biblical principles of confrontation and reconciliation, as outlined in Matthew 18:15-17, should be followed. The goal is always restoration and healing, rather than harboring resentment or allowing sin to persist unchecked.

Conclusion
The practice of overlooking offenses is a testament to the transformative power of God's love and forgiveness. It is a call to live out the gospel in everyday interactions, promoting peace and unity within the body of Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Overlook.
Greek
3929. paresis -- a letting go
... a letting go. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: paresis Phonetic Spelling:
(par'-es-is) Short Definition: overlooking Definition: overlooking ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3929.htm - 7k

1950. epilanthanomai -- to forget, neglect
... to notice. 1950 ("overlooking"), as an intensification of 2990 (), focuses
on that build on the forgetting (note the , ""). Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1950.htm - 7k

Library

Letter i. My Dear Friend, I Employed the Compelled and Most ...
... I shall best communicate the state of my faith by taking the creed, or system of
credenda, common to all the Fathers of the Reformation" overlooking, as non ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/letter i my dear friend.htm

Jesus Angry with Hard Hearts
... Overlooking the commendation due for the miracle of healing, they laid the emphasis
upon its being done on the Sabbath; and held up their hands with horror ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/jesus angry with hard hearts.htm

Righteous Grace
... unhappiness. To him human guilt seems but human misfortune, and God's acquittal
of the sinner little more than the overlooking of his sin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter iv righteous grace.htm

The World Our Enemy.
... it is a wrong notion,"which leads us, in consequence, to misapply the Scripture
precepts relating to the world; and this is even worse than overlooking them. ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol vii/sermon iii the world our.htm

The Arrest
... to ask from the Roman governor a division of soldiers,[1] which, at the time of
the Passover, was located in the fortress of Antonia, overlooking the temple ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter i the arrest.htm

Quaker City Excursion
... Yalta is a very beautiful place on the slope of a mountain, overlooking the Black
Sea, about two hundred miles east of Odessa, and is the summer home of the ...
/.../griswold/sixty years with plymouth church/quaker city excursion.htm

Post-Nicene Mothers
... It requires a considerable amount of imagination, coupled with a facility for
overlooking untoward historical facts, to enable one to draw an honest and at the ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/v post-nicene mothers.htm

General Service for the Festivals of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
... Do grant therewithal unhindered entry into Eden unto Thy servants, overlooking all
their sins. Twice. Glory...Both now... Tone 8: O Master, Lover of man! ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter i general service for.htm

Choosing the Tens
... On a slight eminence, overlooking the camp, were numerous small structures
of sun-dried brick, grouped about one of larger dimensions. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter i choosing the tens.htm

The Great Denial
... They passed under the archway into the court, which they crossed, and then
entered one of the apartments overlooking the courtyard. ...
/.../stalker/the trial and death of jesus christ/chapter iii the great denial.htm

Thesaurus
Overlooking (11 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Overlook. Multi-Version
Concordance Overlooking (11 Occurrences). Exodus 34:7 Having ...
/o/overlooking.htm - 10k

Overlooks (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 20:24 When Judah came to the place overlooking the wilderness, they
looked at the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth ...
/o/overlooks.htm - 8k

Wrongdoers (18 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:7 Having mercy on thousands, overlooking evil and wrongdoing and sin;
he will not let wrongdoers go free, but will send punishment on children for ...
/w/wrongdoers.htm - 11k

Punishes (4 Occurrences)
... Exodus 34:7 Having mercy on thousands, overlooking evil and wrongdoing and sin;
he will not let wrongdoers go free, but will send punishment on children for ...
/p/punishes.htm - 7k

Ciccar
... all portions of Dan or Judah "unto the hinder sea." The phrase from Jericho Zoar
is like "from Dan to Beersheba." The mountain heights overlooking Zoar were ...
/c/ciccar.htm - 14k

Overlooked (10 Occurrences)

/o/overlooked.htm - 9k

Plain (113 Occurrences)
... all portions of Dan or Judah "unto the hinder sea." The phrase from Jericho Zoar
is like "from Dan to Beersheba." The mountain heights overlooking Zoar were ...
/p/plain.htm - 71k

Cities (427 Occurrences)
... all portions of Dan or Judah "unto the hinder sea." The phrase from Jericho Zoar
is like "from Dan to Beersheba." The mountain heights overlooking Zoar were ...
/c/cities.htm - 91k

Zorah (10 Occurrences)
... 31). It was situated on the crest of a hill overlooking the valley of Sorek,
and was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 11:10). ...
/z/zorah.htm - 11k

Kain (2 Occurrences)
... thee away captive." This place has been very doubtfully identified as the ruin Yukin,
a place on a lofty hill Southeast of Hebron, overlooking the wilderness ...
/k/kain.htm - 8k

Resources
How and when should we overlook an offense (Proverbs 19:11)? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Simon the tanner? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about being self-centered? | GotQuestions.org

Overlooking: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Overlooking (11 Occurrences)

Exodus 34:7
Having mercy on thousands, overlooking evil and wrongdoing and sin; he will not let wrongdoers go free, but will send punishment on children for the sins of their fathers, and on their children's children to the third and fourth generation.
(BBE)

Numbers 14:18
The Lord is slow to wrath and great in mercy, overlooking wrongdoing and evil, and will not let wrongdoers go free; sending punishment on children for the sins of their fathers, to the third and fourth generation.
(BBE)

Numbers 23:28
So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, looking down over the waste land.
(See NIV)

Joshua 8:14
It happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hurried and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the Arabah; but he didn't know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 13:18
and another company turned the way to Beth Horon; and another company turned the way of the border that looks down on the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 8:50
Answering with forgiveness the people who have done wrong against you, and overlooking the evil which they have done against you; let those who made them prisoners be moved with pity for them, and have pity on them;
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, on whom my name is named, make themselves low and come to me in prayer, searching for me and turning from their evil ways; then I will give ear from heaven, overlooking their sin, and will give life again to their land.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 20:24
When Judah came to the place overlooking the wilderness, they looked at the multitude; and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and there were none who escaped.
(WEB)

Proverbs 19:11
A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.
(BBE)

Song of Songs 7:4
Your neck is as a tower of ivory; your eyes like the waters in Heshbon, by the doorway of Bath-rabbim; your nose is as the tower on Lebanon looking over Damascus:
(See RSV)

Micah 7:18
Who is a God like you, offering forgiveness for evil-doing and overlooking the sins of the rest of his heritage? he does not keep his wrath for ever, because his delight is in mercy.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Overlooking

Related Terms

Overlooking (11 Occurrences)

Nazareth (29 Occurrences)

Overseer (84 Occurrences)

Overly (1 Occurrence)

Features (3 Occurrences)

Prospect (10 Occurrences)

Carmel (33 Occurrences)

Annoyance (3 Occurrences)

Insult (25 Occurrences)

Shows (42 Occurrences)

Prudent (40 Occurrences)

Vine (76 Occurrences)

Natural (49 Occurrences)

Fool (95 Occurrences)

Overlooked
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