He was invited into the homes of several Pharisees... religious leaders...
and He just didn't worry too much about their feelings...
or those of the other guests... as a matter of fact...
While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him,
so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished
to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him,
"Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish,
but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools!
Did not he who made the outside make the inside also?
But give as alms those things that are within, and behold,
everything is clean for you.
"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and
every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God.
These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the
synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you!
For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk
over them without knowing it."
One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, in saying
these things you insult us also." And he said,
"Woe to you lawyers also! ..."
Luke 11:37-46 ESV
Well... you get the idea...
Jesus was not concerned about offending His host... or the other guests...
what He was... and is... concerned about... is the heart...
He knew the Pharisees and lawyers had heard Him teach... seen His miracles...
but they just weren't getting it...
they were blind...
blinded by their hypocrisy...
So... Jesus spoke the truth in love...
He tried to shame them to repentance...
One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler
of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. And behold,
there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded
to the lawyers and Pharisee, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath,
or not?" But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed
him and sent him away. And he said to them, "Which of you,
having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath
day, will not immediately pull him out?"
And they could not replyto these things.
Luke 14:1-6 ESV
Not only did He try to teach truth with a long list of woes...
He told parables revealing truth...
humble yourself...
host those who could never repay you...
don't miss the Banquet on account of worldy pursuits...
Jesus... having failed to capture their hearts in the streets and synagogues... went into their homes... with bold... in your face... truth...
Desperate for their hearts...
desperate for our hearts...
He is not worried about our feelings...
"... Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets
and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I
have gathered your children together as a hen gathers
her brood under her wings, and you would not! ..."
Luke 13:34 ESV
So the next time His Word offends you...
or the Spirit convicts you over self-righteousness...
don't be too quick to brush it off...
sit in it for a minute...
don't let Him offend you...
remember... He only speaks truth... in... love...
"... And blessed is the one who is not offended by me." ---Jesus
Luke 7:23 ESV
This week's readings...
Monday Luke 15:1 - 16:13
Tuesday Luke 16:14 - 17:19
Wednesday Luke 17:20 - 18:30
Thursday Luke 18:31 - 19:27
Friday Luke 19:28 - 20:18
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