Did Jesus Ever Offend Anyone?

What you've thought about Jesus might not be consistent with the Bible.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Is it ever ok to offend someone?

Many in our culture would tell us no.

As Christians, the example for how we live our lives is Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:21-25). Did Jesus ever offend anyone? If He did, what were the circumstances?

One circumstance involved the scribes and the Pharisees.

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” (Matthew 15:1-2)

Jesus’ disciples were guilty of not keeping the traditions that had been passed down for generations. They were not breaking the Law of Moses - only tradition. But the scribes and Pharisees held tradition as equal to the Law of Moses.

Jesus responded by calling out their view on their traditions.

He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, “Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ” (Matthew 15:3-9)

Jesus quoted from several Old Testament passages (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Leviticus 20:9) to show what God had said about honoring one’s parents.

The religious leaders allowed someone to tell their parents, “Mom and Dad, I’m sorry - I would help you, but I’ve already promised to give this money down at the temple.”

Who might benefit from money be given at the temple or the local synagogues? The religious leaders. The greed of the religious leaders drove them to “make an exception” to the law of God.

Jesus continued:

When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” (Matthew 15:10-11)

The Pharisees claimed that a person was defiled if they didn’t wash according to the traditions. Jesus said, “Not so.” He pointed out that a person is defiled by what comes out of the mouth - which first would begin in the mind.

The Pharisees did not appreciate Jesus correcting them in this way.

Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” (Matthew 15:12)

Did you catch that? The Pharisees were offended when they heard what Jesus said. Jesus offended someone!

Jesus’ purpose was not to offend - His purpose was to reveal the truth. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).

The Pharisees were offended by the truth. So, how did Jesus respond?

But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.” (Matthew 15:13-14)

Jesus responded, “If someone is offended by the truth, then leave them alone. God will uproot them, and they will blindly fall.”

I have heard well-intentioned individuals say that we must be careful never to offend anyone. I would agree that we must avoid needlessly offending people. Christians are not to be people who are looking for fights (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

However, if we follow Jesus’ example, we must stand for the truth - and some people will be offended by the truth. In that case, stand for truth and don’t worry about who is offended.

Peter wanted an explanation of all this.

Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” (Matthew 15:15-20)

Jesus said, “What you eat is eventually eliminated from your body. But what you put in your mind eventually comes out in your speech and actions - this is what defiles you.”

Jesus teaches us several lessons:

• Don’t hold traditions on the same level as God’s Word.

• Ignore those who are offended by the truth.

• Be careful what you put into your mind - because it will eventually come out.