Ignoring someone can be a sensitive topic for many people. It can be hurtful to be ignored by someone, but sometimes it may be necessary to protect ourselves from toxic relationships or situations. The Bible offers guidance on how to handle ignoring someone, whether it be to preserve our own well-being or to teach a lesson to the person ignoring us.
The silent treatment is often used as a form of punishment or manipulation in relationships. It involves ignoring or refusing to communicate with someone as a way to express disapproval or to exert control. However, the Bible provides guidance on how we should treat others, even when we are angry or upset. Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about the silent treatment.
Here are 12 Bible verses that talk about ignoring someone:
Proverbs 19:11
“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”
Matthew 18:15-17
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14
“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”
Proverbs 17:9
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.”
Matthew 18:21-22
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”
Psalm 15:1-3
“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others.”
Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
1 Peter 3:9
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
Proverbs 25:21-22
“If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
Ignoring someone can be a challenging task, but these Bible verses offer wisdom and guidance on how to handle such situations with love, patience, and forgiveness. It’s important to remember that we are all sinners in need of grace, and by following the teachings of the Bible, we can strive towards reconciliation and peace in our relationships.
Bible Verses About Silent Treatment
Bible Verses
1. Matthew 5:23-24 – “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
2. Proverbs 12:18 – “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
3. Ephesians 4:26 – “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
4. Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
5. Proverbs 29:11 – “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
6. James 1:19-20 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
7. Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
8. Matthew 6:14-15 – “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
9. Proverbs 18:21 – “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
10. James 4:11 – “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it.”
11. Proverbs 17:27-28 – “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
12. Proverbs 15:18 – “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”
By reflecting on these Bible verses, we can learn the importance of communication, forgiveness, and patience in our relationships. Let us strive to follow God’s word in how we interact with others, even when we are facing challenges or conflicts.
Bible Verses About Ignoring Negativity
Bible Verses About Ignoring Negativity
Negativity can weigh heavily on our hearts and minds, causing us to feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed. However, as Christians, we are called to focus on the positive and trust in God’s plan, even when faced with negativity. The Bible offers us guidance on how to ignore negativity and focus on the good. Here are 12 Bible verses that speak to this topic:
1. Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
2. Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
3. Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
4. Psalm 118:6
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
5. Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
6. 2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
7. Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
8. Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
9. Matthew 6:34
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
10. Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
These Bible verses remind us to trust in God’s plan, focus on the positive, and not let negativity consume us. By turning to God in prayer and focusing on His promises, we can find peace and strength to overcome any negativity that comes our way.
Is Ignoring Someone a Sin
1. If Someone Is Putting You Down as You Seek to Serve the Lord, Ignore Them
Perhaps you really like someone and begin to date them. But the more time you spend together, the more you realize this person has a poor view of your spiritual motivations. They think your service to God is rooted in pride because they are jealous of you.
Or maybe you have a family member who really doesn’t like the changes you’ve made in your life as you seek to serve the Lord. So they begin to mock you and judge you when you do things for Jesus.
Notice how David experienced this with his older brother. When David was inquiring about Goliath and what Saul said about him, Eliab said to David:
Now Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. And Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, ‘Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your presumption and the evil of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.’ And David said, “What have I done now? Was it not but a word?” And he turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way, and the people answered him again as before.” (1 Samuel 17:28-30)
Don’t waste too much time arguing with people who are assuming the worst of you. Like David, say what needs to be said and then keep moving, ignoring their slights as you keep seeking to serve the Lord.
As Matthew 27:14 states of Jesus ignoring Herod, “But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.”
2. If Someone Is Living in Sin, Will Not Repent, and Is Unwilling to Walk with You in Righteousness, You May Just Have to Ignore Them
When you have a relationship with someone, whether that be through family bonds, friendship, or dating, it’s right to confront this person when you see a repeated sin in their life that you know is causing them and others harm (Galatians 6:1).
However, as you can see from the verses below, there does come a time where you must accept that they are not willing to receive anything good from you and are stuck in their ways:
- Proverbs 14:7, “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.”
- Proverbs 23:9, “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.”
- Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”
- Proverbs 9:7, “Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.”
When someone is living in sin, when they will not repent, and when they just want to attack you whenever you are trying to help them, it’s time for you to move on and let them go their own way.
3. If Someone Is Distracting You from Focusing on Jesus, You Have to Ignore Them
Even when someone really loves you, they can inadvertently mislead you if they have a works based mentality.
This is what happened in Luke 10:38-42 when Mary sat at Jesus’ feet while Martha worried about hosting. Martha really loved Mary and Jesus, but her preoccupation with service caused her to scold Mary and complain to Jesus.
Apparently, Mary ignored Martha and kept focusing on Jesus, which caused Martha to complain directly to Jesus. Jesus then defended Mary when Martha complained about her.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:38-42)
Likewise, if someone is complaining about how much you focus on Jesus, ignore them. Jesus wants you to keep choosing him above everything else.
4. If Someone Doesn’t Believe in Jesus and Is Giving You Bad Advice, Ignore Them
When someone is close to you, whether it be a romantic partner, a friend, or even a family member, we tend to listen to their advice more closely. This isn’t always the best thing to do. Regardless of who says it, bad advice is still bad advice. And when someone doesn’t believe in Jesus, you can be sure their spiritual advice is going to be bad.
As you can see by reading John 7:3-10, this is what happened to Jesus when dealing with his own brothers:
So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.’ For not even his brothers believed in him. Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.’ After saying this, he remained in Galilee. But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.”
Regardless of their relationship with you, you must always ignore people who don’t believe in Jesus and are trying to give you bad advice.
Bible Verses About Ignoring Friends
Bible Verses About Ignoring Friends
Friends are an important part of our lives, but there are times when we may need to distance ourselves from certain individuals. Whether it’s due to negative influences, toxic behavior, or simply a season of personal growth, the Bible offers guidance on how to handle these situations. Here are 12 Bible verses that speak to the topic of ignoring friends:
1. Proverbs 22:24-25
“Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.”
2. 1 Corinthians 15:33
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.'”
3. Proverbs 13:20
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
4. Proverbs 18:24
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
5. 2 Corinthians 6:14
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”
6. Proverbs 14:7
“Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.”
7. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”
8. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
“And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.”
9. Proverbs 27:17
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
10. Proverbs 19:20
“Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.”
In considering these verses, it’s important to remember that friendship is a gift from God, but it’s crucial to surround ourselves with individuals who will uplift and encourage us in our faith. Sometimes, this may mean having to distance ourselves from friends who do not align with our values or beliefs. By seeking wisdom from the Bible and staying grounded in prayer, we can navigate these relationships with grace and discernment.