Taking Offense

Steven’s Scribbles
“Taking Offense” 
Luke 7:23


    Have you ever been offended by the Scriptures? I have. I don’t think the question is whether we get offended or not, rather what we do after we’ve been offended. When speaking with some of John’s disciples, Jesus said “Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me” (Luke 7:23). We are blessed when we take the Lord’s teachings in and apply them to our lives. Some have been offended by the Lord but weren’t blessed because they rejected His teachings. In Mark 10, we can read about the rich young ruler who “went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property” (Mark 10:22). Jesus didn’t curb the telling of the truth, just because it was going to offend them. As a matter of fact, Jesus told them the truth because he loved them (Mark 10:21). After rebuking the Pharisees for their hypocrisy he addresses them being offended. ‘Then the disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know they were offended when they heard this statement?” But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit”’ (Matt. 15:12-14). When the disciples were upset about his teachings concerning marriage, this was his response, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given” (Matt. 19:10-11). We are blessed if we don’t take offense to Jesus. But if we as christians are going to be like Christ, our love must motivate us to tell people the truth.


In His service,
Steven Hugley