When To Take Offense! - Matthew 15:12-20
12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” 13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. 17 “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.”
Reflection: The disciples take Jesus aside to say, "Hey Jesus it didn't go over too well with those Pharisees when you confronted their hypocrisy!" Jesus isn't surprised by their offense, nor does it deter him. He calls them "blind guides", meaning they didn't really know what they were teaching, because they didn't really know God. They were teaching man made rules to uphold their positions of authority. Then he goes deeper to say they have no root. And when there is no root their is no fruit.
Today's teaching re-defines what it means to be offensive. In a politically-correct world, we are always reminded of what is offensive and what could be a slight to someone. And while generally is it is good to not try to offend people or be rude or insensitive, the worst edge of the politically correct movement is when no one has any business correcting anyone for fear of being offensive. Sometimes people need to be offended when they have offended God. Now the caveat here is to make sure you pull the beam out of your own eye, before you pull the splinter out of somebody else's.
And as an individual it is a good trait not to be easily offended by anyone. If we are easily offended it is a good sign that our goal is to seek the approval of others. Or, we want to be liked by everyone. I think the question for us to ponder today is when do we offend God? And are we offended by the cross when the Son of God came down from heaven and died a brutal death for sinners like you me? Jesus died for something he didn't do. If anybody had reason to be offended it was Jesus, after all he was God and got treated pretty badly. But the scripture says "He took no offense at them!"
Jesus help us not to be easily offended by the things of this world. Help us be more offended by the things you take offense to. Plant us deeply in Your Word and our relationship with you Jesus, so that by abiding in you we might bear fruit out of a heart that has been changed by your great and deep love for us! Amen.
Reflection: The disciples take Jesus aside to say, "Hey Jesus it didn't go over too well with those Pharisees when you confronted their hypocrisy!" Jesus isn't surprised by their offense, nor does it deter him. He calls them "blind guides", meaning they didn't really know what they were teaching, because they didn't really know God. They were teaching man made rules to uphold their positions of authority. Then he goes deeper to say they have no root. And when there is no root their is no fruit.
Today's teaching re-defines what it means to be offensive. In a politically-correct world, we are always reminded of what is offensive and what could be a slight to someone. And while generally is it is good to not try to offend people or be rude or insensitive, the worst edge of the politically correct movement is when no one has any business correcting anyone for fear of being offensive. Sometimes people need to be offended when they have offended God. Now the caveat here is to make sure you pull the beam out of your own eye, before you pull the splinter out of somebody else's.
And as an individual it is a good trait not to be easily offended by anyone. If we are easily offended it is a good sign that our goal is to seek the approval of others. Or, we want to be liked by everyone. I think the question for us to ponder today is when do we offend God? And are we offended by the cross when the Son of God came down from heaven and died a brutal death for sinners like you me? Jesus died for something he didn't do. If anybody had reason to be offended it was Jesus, after all he was God and got treated pretty badly. But the scripture says "He took no offense at them!"
Jesus help us not to be easily offended by the things of this world. Help us be more offended by the things you take offense to. Plant us deeply in Your Word and our relationship with you Jesus, so that by abiding in you we might bear fruit out of a heart that has been changed by your great and deep love for us! Amen.
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