What Does the Bible Say About Abandoning Friends?

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Proverbs 27:10 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

Proverbs 18:24 ESV / 14 helpful votes

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

2 John 1:10-11 ESV / 13 helpful votes

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Psalm 27:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.

Matthew 9:11-13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Psalm 55:12-14 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Psalm 83:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

That they may know that you alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.

2 Samuel 16:16-17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?”

Joshua 22:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes

You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the Lord your God.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-12:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. ...

12 Bible Verses about Abandoning Friends