13/12/2023
Matthew 15:12-14
12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.
14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
We may assume that the "It's wrong to offend someone" mindset was created by our generation. It wasn't.
Even in Jesus' day, his disciples were concerned that the truth of God was offensive.
It seems logical.
We have certainly wronged a person if they are offended by our words, right?
Possibly... but not always.
Firstly, we must understand that being offended (Matthew 15:12 - making someone upset) is different from sinning against someone or causing someone to stumble. (Matthew 18:6-8; 1 Cor 8:13)
Those 2 things (translated as "offend" in certain contexts) are always forbidden.
Secondly, people may be upset because of our behavior or delivery of the truth, not the truth itself.
Colossians 4:6
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
This verse guides us in HOW we speak the truth. If someone is offended by our HOW, it is possible that we have wronged them. Possible, but not always wrong.
This passage in Colossians 4:6 must be understood in view of other precepts. There's an appropriate time, for people in a position of authority, to use a "less seasoned approach."
Titus 1:9-13
9 He [Elder/Pastor/Bishop] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
13 This testimony is true. Therefore [You/Titus/Evangelist] rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
In this case, Paul tells Titus, an evangelist, to rebuke sharply those who were divisive rebellious liars. These ungodly "influencers" were destroying entire families and causing great confusion and damage in the church. This section was also in connection to the elder's qualifications. Elders of the church need to have a grasp of the truth that enables them to refute those who would act/behave in such a divisive way.
So, no, it's not always wrong if our words offend someone.
So, what do we make of Jesus' words here? He obviously offended these people... and his disciples were obviously concerned about it...
Jesus responded with 4 facts:
• My Father did not plant them.
• They will be uprooted.
• They are blind leaders of the blind.
• They will fall into the ditch.
Now before we start accusing God of predetermining these men's eternal destination, let's establish some known facts.
• These Pharisees are of the devil. (John 8:44)
• Satan is the one who blinds the mind of the wicked, not God. (2 Cor 4:4)
• Satan can't blind a person spiritually apart from their own will/decisions. (Mt 13:15; "Their eyes, THEY have closed.")
So... what's the point of all this?
The point is, many people would rather be blind to the truth or remain offended by the truth because their desires and ambitions are impure.
They are, as Jesus said, "Pigs and Dogs." They trample the pearls of wisdom or turn and attack the one who tries to feed them holy meat. (Mt 7:6)
We need to remove the scales from our eyes and understand something about God's word:
God's truth is intended to "offend us."
God's truth is designed to afflict our fleshly and carnal mindset. It penetrates the intentions of the heart and mind. It is said to be profitable for reproof.
When it offends us, we will ignore it, remain offended, or be changed by it. (Or become hardened/calloused if we reject it for a long period of time)
The one who values its correction will welcome the affliction. They will be grateful for the pain that opened their eyes to their error. (Prov 12:1)
The shame and guilt in our conscience is like a nerve in our body. It alarms and alerts us to the ailment. It hurts, but it has a life-preserving function.
Would it really be better to have no sense of pain?
A person who loves God's truth will feel the pain and say, "The truth tells me I'm not right. I need to repent!"
A person who does not love God's truth will feel the pain and say, "You're not right for telling me I'm wrong. You need to repent!"
They'd would rather take the batteries out of the smoke alarm than put out the fire that will burn down the house.
2 Corinthians 7:8-10
8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Why did Paul write a letter that made them sorrowful? Because he was judgmental? Because he was self-righteous?
Paul intended to afflict them! He said the hard things, because it is more important that they remained in a right relationship with God than that they remain in a relationship with Paul.
He risked being offensive because he knew that their behavior would put them in jeopardy if they didn't repent.
The disciples weren't opening Jesus' eyes. Jesus knew it would offend the Pharisees before he said it, because he knew their hearts.
I've said things that I knew would offend people, not because I know their hearts, but because I knew my own.
I knew it was offensive because it offended ME when I read it!
As a vessel and messenger of truth we must understand that if God's word offends me when I read it, then I must share it with others so it can offend them too.
Not for their destruction, but for their restoration.
If I'm at peace with you, but I'm at war with God... how is it really compassionate when you are "too kind to offend me?"
I want to go to heaven. I want you to go to heaven. If I'm truly making a sinful choice or I'm blind to the destructive path I'm walking on, I NEED YOU TO OFFEND ME so I don't fall into the pit!
I need you to love me enough to risk our relationship.
I need you to have the courage to throw water on my eyes.
I need you to put the medicine where the pain is.
Proverbs 9:7-10
7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
