Perhaps the greatest challenge we face in life is learning how to live with toxic relatives. Unfortunately, for some, at least one person in the family is a narcissist, an abuser or some type of manipulator. This has a negative impact on everyone and affects their ability to enjoy life and establish meaningful relationships and careers.
When you choose to take the risk of forgiving someone in your family, the pain of experiencing the abuse all over again can provoke you to want to turn back and say – it’s not worth it. But what if I told you that when you forgive them and truly love them, it actually heals your relationship with God? It seems counter-intuitive but by forgiving a toxic family member, it actually forms a deeper bond with God. Talking about; When God separates you from family, Family relationships in the last days.
Bible Verses About Toxic Family Members
Romans 12:19 ESV / 80 helpful votes
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Romans 5:3-5 ESV / 72 helpful votes
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 56 helpful votes
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; …
Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 47 helpful votes
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Matthew 5:8-13 ESV / 42 helpful votes
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. …
Colossians 3:13 ESV / 40 helpful votes
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Family relationships in the last days
The family is under attack. As a result of changing morals, many people are living together outside of marriage, having children out of wedlock and divorcing at alarming rates. The Bible teaches that we are to honor our father and mother (Exodus 20:12). Yet many families are broken up because of rebellion against this commandment (Romans 1:30).
We live in an age when the sins of our forefathers are being visited upon their children. God’s word warns us not to follow the example of those who went before us: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. He will not allow His covenant partner to be tested beyond his strength, but with the temptation will provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 39 helpful votes
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 37 helpful votes
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
Luke 10:19 ESV / 34 helpful votes
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 30 helpful votes
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Matthew 5:44 ESV / 27 helpful votes
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Genesis 50:20 ESV / 27 helpful votes
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
Exodus 20:5 ESV / 23 helpful votes
You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,
John 3:16-17 ESV / 21 helpful votes
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Exodus 20:12 ESV / 21 helpful votes
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Matthew 11:28-30 ESV / 19 helpful votes
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
When God separates you from family
In the last days, God will separate you from your family.
In the book of Deuteronomy, God commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves. He goes on to say that we should love even our enemies and do good to them. This means that it is not enough for us to recognize our neighbor but that we must also show love towards him.
But what happens when our family members are not like that? What if they have hurt us or caused us pain? What if they are not willing to change or repent? In such cases, how can we show them love?
The Bible gives us an example of this in the life of Joseph. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers because they were jealous of him and wanted him out of the way. They lied about him being a thief (Genesis 37:18) and then threw him into a pit (Genesis 37:22). But Joseph forgave them and helped them in their time of need (Genesis 43:1-15).
What about you? What will happen when God separates you from those who are not like Him? Will you be able to forgive them and help them like Joseph did?
Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Psalm 45:10-11 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father’s house, and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your lord, bow to him.
John 10:10 ESV / 17 helpful votes
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Matthew 18:22 ESV / 17 helpful votes
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
Proverbs 3:34 ESV / 17 helpful votes
Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.
Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV / 14 helpful votes
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, …
Jeremiah 31:3 ESV / 14 helpful votes
The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Leviticus 18:22 ESV / 14 helpful votes
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 12 helpful votes
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Hebrews 12:15 ESV / 12 helpful votes
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Ephesians 3:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes
That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
Matthew 10:34-40 ESV / 11 helpful votes
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. …
Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 11 helpful votes
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
James 4:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Revelation 11:1-19 ESV / 7 helpful votes
Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. …
Jude 1:20-23 ESV / 7 helpful votes
But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Ephesians 4:30 ESV / 7 helpful votes
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Galatians 6:1-2 ESV / 7 helpful votes
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Luke 1:37 ESV / 7 helpful votes
For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Mark 11:25 ESV / 7 helpful votes
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Matthew 28:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Genesis 50:15-21 ESV / 7 helpful votes
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died, ‘Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? …
Philippians 3:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
Matthew 8:21-22 ESV / 6 helpful votes
Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
Proverbs 4:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Revelation 1:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes
Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.
James 3:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV / 5 helpful votes
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Ephesians 4:27 ESV / 5 helpful votes
And give no opportunity to the devil.
Romans 13:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 12:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
Romans 12:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Luke 6:31 ESV / 5 helpful votes
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Luke 6:28 ESV / 5 helpful votes
Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Matthew 10:35-37 ESV / 5 helpful votes
For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 7:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 5:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Proverbs 24:29 ESV / 5 helpful votes
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 5 helpful votes
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …
1 Timothy 3:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes
He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 3 helpful votes
However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 7:1-40 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. …
Luke 6:27 ESV / 3 helpful votes
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 15:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes
A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
Proverbs 11:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
Proverbs 6:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
Proverbs 3:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 1:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
Joshua 24:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Exodus 20:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes
“You shall not commit adultery.
Genesis 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Revelation 21:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
Colossians 3:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Colossians 3:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
Ephesians 6:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Ephesians 6:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),
Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Ephesians 5:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
Ephesians 5:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
Ephesians 4:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Ephesians 3:14-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
Luke 17:3-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.
Bible Verses About Toxic People
There are many who consider the idea of staying away from certain people as rejecting them which would not be Christ like. However, the Lord commanded all His followers to be wise, and that includes dealing with certain people in our lives, especially toxic people. Here are our top 16 Bible verses about toxic people.
16
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
- Galatians 5:25
3
15
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
- Proverbs 17:14
3
14
As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
- Titus 3:10
7
13
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Ephesians 5:20
7
12
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
- Philippians 4:8
21
11
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Romans 12:2
25
10
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
- Proverbs 17:22
29
9
Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,
- Proverbs 22:24
104
8
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:33
117
Friendship
7
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
- Galatians 6:9
124
6
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
- John 14:27
131
5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- Hebrews 13:5
141
4
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
- Philippians 4:6
153
3
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
- Romans 8:28
202
2
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
- Philippians 4:13
242
1
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.