Faithful on Fridays Blog

Part Three

Everyone gets offended, it’s human nature, however, Jesus taught it’s not our ‘new nature’ in Him. Someone’s words or actions stirred up a variety of emotions in you and bitter roots began to take hold; that’s a dangerous place to reside, that’s the home of the Pharisees. There’s always a tension between pride and humility.

John the Baptizer immersed people who wanted to publicly show their repentant heart declaring when Messiah comes He’ll immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire. He’s coming to gather and separate people who will humble themselves and those who refuse.

But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism. Luke 7:30 

Matthew invited Jesus and the other disciples to dinner along with a group of his colleagues and other ‘sinners’ when the Pharisees questioned them why He fellowshipped with ‘those kind of people’. Jesus overheard and responded,

“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Matt. 9:12

He was exposing a heart of pride and empty actions as He quoted Hosea 6:6 which the Pharisees recognized; God desires a merciful heart not just empty sacrifices. Jesus is still calling those who know they’re sinners and rejecting those who think they’re righteous. He always has a way of cutting through our bull and hitting the mark. 

Jesus was obviously a different kind of rabbi since He fellowshipped with a variety of lowlife, apparently that’s who He was sent to, those who cry out for mercy as we see in the story of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36-40). He continued chipping away at the pride of the Pharisees, don’t get offended but that’s you and me too, when He acknowledged the humble actions of an immoral woman. He knew Simon’s prideful thoughts and responded with a story of a loan officer who demanded payment of the debts of two people; one owed him $500 and the other 50 bucks. Jesus quickly made His point with a question to the Pharisee (and to us) since both debts were forgiven:

(Paraphrased) “Who loves more?” 

Our Savior followed up with these words,

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown Me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Luke 7:47 

And so we return to the topic of offenses; who has offended you or your family and what’s your response? The Pharisees were continually irritated and offended by Jesus which eventually became hatred; the natural consequence. They failed to recognize the depth of their sin while at the same time the depth of forgiveness offered by the Messiah; what about you? If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ you’ve admitted the depth of your sinfulness and strive to live with a pure heart and mind before Him. Don’t be a Pharisee but conversely, with the help of the Holy Spirit, love Him more than your offense.