Insult

Luke 11:42-54 (The Message)

"I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds!

You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God's love. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required.

"You're hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You love sitting at the head table at church dinners, love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flattery. Frauds! You're just like unmarked graves: People walk over that nice, grassy surface, never suspecting the rot and corruption that is six feet under."

One of the religion scholars spoke up: "Teacher, do you realize that in saying these things you're insulting us?"

He said, "Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You're hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help.

"You're hopeless! You build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed. The tombs you build are monuments to your murdering ancestors more than to the murdered prophets.

That accounts for God's Wisdom saying, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, but they'll kill them and run them off.'

What it means is that every drop of righteous blood ever spilled from the time earth began until now, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was struck down between altar and sanctuary, is on your heads. Yes, it's on the bill of this generation and this generation will pay.

"You're hopeless, you religion scholars! You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won't go in yourself, and won't let anyone else in either."

As soon as Jesus left the table, the religion scholars and Pharisees went into a rage. They went over and over everything he said, plotting how they could trap him in something from his own mouth.

"Do you realize you're insulting us?"

That question hung heavy in the air.

The "gauntlet" had just been thrown down in a pretty violent way. There wouldn't be any turning back.

"You haven't seen anything yet," Jesus seems to say.

How do you take insult? Most of us don't take insults very well. We're taught not to take such things "lying down."

But I have a theory about insults. The ones that make us most angry are usually grounded, at least partially, in truth.

If someone insults me in a way that I know is absolutely false, I can usually shake it off.

But when someone starts "meddling," poking me in the tender spots of my pride...pushing me to come out of the deep woods of denial...well that can get my dander up.

Jesus pressed the disciples in all of their most vulnerable places. He challenged their self-deception, self-importance and self-righteousness.

They reacted with rage. What about us?

Which teachings of Jesus challenge you the most? When does he make you feel insulted?

We can remember that his love never changes. But sometimes he will say what we need to hear, whether we're ready or not.

Prayer: Father God, we pray that we will never lock the door so others can't go in...while also standing outside ourselves. If we need to hear corrective teaching, from you or from others, help us not to be insulted and defensive. Give us hearts that can learn.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.