They Were Offended

Many of the Pharisees opposed Jesus while He was on the earth. On one occasion, they questioned Jesus about why His disciples broke “the tradition of the elders” by failing to “wash their hands when they eat bread” (Matthew 15:2). Though there was nothing wrong with the practice of washing one’s hands before a meal, they had elevated this human tradition to the same level as divine instruction. This was a problem and Jesus was willing to expose it.

In responding to their question, Jesus asked them about another tradition. However, this tradition was not harmless in itself. Instead, the tradition about which Jesus questioned them directly violated the commandment of God: “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3). He went on to explain how their tradition led them to forsake the command to “honor [one’s] father and mother” (Matthew 15:4; cf. Exodus 20:12). They had “invalidated the word of God for the sake of [their] tradition” (Matthew 15:6), thus making their worship “in vain” (Matthew 15:9).

It is important to notice what happened next as it has a direct application to our efforts to teach the truth.

Following the discussion with the Pharisees, notice what Matthew recorded: “After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, ‘Hear and understand. It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man” (Matthew 15:10-11). Jesus was still commenting on the Pharisees’ error. While their human tradition about hand-washing was perfectly fine for one to practice as an individual, they were foolish to think that one’s righteousness was dependent upon such a practice. Such practices could be rightly referred to as “self-made religion,” which were “of no value against fleshly indulgence” (Colossians 2:23).

However, notice that Jesus did not make this point in a private discussion with the Pharisees. He “called the crowd to Him” (Matthew 15:10) and exposed the error of these men. It is no wonder that Jesus’ disciples said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” (Matthew 15:12). It is possible that the Pharisees were offended when Jesus rebuked them for disregarding the command of God to honor their parents. However, their being offended was not apparent to others until Jesus publicly exposed their error.

This is often the case today. Many will disagree with things we believe, but are content to ignore the disagreement as long as we keep our beliefs to ourselves. However, when we publicly teach that homosexuality is a sin (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Timothy 1:10), divorce for any cause except fornication is wrong (Matthew 19:3-9), social drinking is unacceptable for Christians (1 Peter 4:3), or many other things, then they are offended. Paul asked the Galatians, “Have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). For many people, the answer to this question is yes. They are offended, feel we are attacking them, and charge us with hate speech because we stand up and proclaim the truth of God’s word.

Some people will be offended when we teach the truth. However, when one is offended, that does not mean that the truth teacher was motivated by hatred against the ones who practice the sin he was discussing. One may speak “the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and others will still be offended. This was what happened with Jesus. He had a sincere desire to save those to whom He preached (Matthew 23:37). He was willing to go to the cross to make atonement for those who were His enemies (Romans 5:6-10). He even showed a spirit of forgiveness toward the ones who actively participated in His crucifixion (Luke 23:34).

When Jesus warned the crowds about the Pharisees’ error, He did so out of love, not hatred. When the disciples asked Him if He knew “the Pharisees were offended” (Matthew 15:12), He did not express satisfaction and make a comment about how He despised them. Instead, He 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” (Matthew 15:13-14).

The uprooting that Jesus mentioned was going to happen. Therefore, since it was a reality, a warning needed to be issued. This principle is clearly seen in God’s instructions to the prophet Ezekiel. He was “appointed [as] a watchman to the house of Israel” in order to warn the people of the judgment that was coming (Ezekiel 3:17). However, this judgment would come whether Ezekiel issued the warning or not (Ezekiel 3:18, 20).

Jesus exposed the error of the Pharisees not because He hated them, but because He wanted the Pharisees and those who were influenced by them – the “blind guides” and “the blind” (Matthew 15:14) – to make their lives right before God. The only way to bring one to the way of righteousness is to expose them to the truth. The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Pharisees, as well as those who were influenced by them, needed Jesus to teach the truth without compromise if they were to have any hope of turning back to God.

We must proclaim the truth and expose error today just as Jesus did. Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2). Yes, some will be offended just as the Pharisees were when Jesus taught. But we must continue to preach the truth – the whole truth (Acts 20:27) – without fear and without compromise.