There may have been times in the recent past when the use of the word “offensive” was most often in the context of a sporting event. But in our “politically correct” world of today, being offensive seems to have become one of the major things we must avoid in any relationship.
Because we have a tendency to portray Jesus through our own culture and our own way of thinking, we might consider that any individual who is walking like Jesus, would be, first and foremost, an individual who does not offend. And so, striving to be the people of Jesus, we strive to never be offensive to anyone. Even if necessary truth must go unspoken.
Jesus was no such person.
Granted, the people loved to hear him. He was a friend to all, even sinners. His enemies knew Him to be a man who spoke truth and treated all men with fairness and justice.
But he spoke God’s truth, even if it offended.
A prime example is given in Matthew 15. Jesus engages in a conversation with some scribes and Pharisees regarding traditions and God’s commandments. At the end of the conversation Jesus describes them as hypocrites and said the words spoken by Isaiah were directly applicable to them. Those words are, “These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.”
Even Jesus’ disciples approached Jesus about offending the Pharisees. Jesus’ reply, “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.”
Don’t be an offensive person when it can be avoided. But if God’s truth offends, it just has to offend.