The Offense of the Truth

There are a number of passages in scripture that reveal offense taken by Israelites, Scribes and Pharisees. In this article, we’ll look at why truth offends and why truth of God’s word divides between those who adore and uphold God’s word, and to those who are offended by it like the stench of death itself. Before showing examples of where offense is taken where sin is revealed to the sinner, let’s look at what Christ says on the matter of the Word aka sword.

Don’t assume that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I came to turn

a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;

36 and a man’s enemies will be

the members of his household.[l]

Matthew 10:34

A sword is divisive; it cuts and creates two sections. Much like God’s word, it will cut to the heart and divide between those who love God’s word and those who hate God’s word. This is why Christ explains the nature of division between family members in the preceding verses. But this still doesn’t get to the heart as to why people hate God’s word with such ferocity. We must go deeper, we must examine the very nature of person’s being in order to know anything of this offense and why anyone is offended by truth. As I’ve mentioned in previous blog entries, Romans 1:17-32 and Romans 3:10-18 explain the sinful nature; how we were born into sin and hated God and with a desire to hate God even more. But how do we know this offense is real? How do we know that people just aren’t making the right ‘choice’? Well let’s consider what happened with the first martyr the apostle Stephen but let’s focus not on Stephen in particular but on Paul/Saul.

57 Then they screamed at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. 58 They threw him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They were stoning Stephen as he called out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin!” And saying this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:57-60

Here is Saul, a prominent man among the Pharisees and Israelites who approved of the killing of Stephen. Was he offended of the gospel message Stephen presented? Absolutely, but was Stephen wrong for presenting the gospel in such a way? (I encourage my readers to read the previous chapters). Not at all, as Christ said in Matthew 10:34 we will have division, it is natural to expect offense when you deliver the truth of the gospel and when you know people are given over to sin as they desire to sin even more (Romans 1:17-32, Romans 3:10-18 and Ephesians 2:1-4).

Offense is to be expected when we as Christians present the gospel, when we present the truth of God’s word. Consider what Christ says to the Pharisees in Matthew 21:31

31 “Which of the two did his father’s will?”

“The first,” they said.

Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you!

But hang on a minute; can anyone really be saved if they’re offended? Of course they can! Let’s consider Peter’s gospel presentation, this is actually the first gospel presentation we have from Christ’ ascension into Heaven in Acts 1. Once again I encourage my readers to examine the entire chapter:

 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!” Acts 2:36

Were the Israelites offended at this? No, instead they were convicted! The Lord had worked in their hearts convicting them of their sin and in response to Peter’s gospel presentation they reply with beautiful words and (I can only imagine) tear stained eyes “Brothers, what must we do?” (from verse 37).

Let me stress the point, we’re not to intentionally offend anyone, that’s not what we’re called to. We’re still called to follow the 1 Corinthians 13 model of love, however if people are offended it is because they love their sin and the truth is shining bright when all they want to do is hide in the dark. Let us therefore preach the gospel with boldness, knowing that it’s God who convicts and works in the sinner!

The Premise of God’s Holiness and His Judgment

The very premise of God’s holiness is the place is which God can judge rightly anyone and anything. Let us first consider Isaiah who encountered and was in the presence of God’s holiness.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe[a] filled the temple. 2 Seraphim[b] were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts;

His glory fills the whole earth.

4 The foundations of the doorways

shook at the sound of their voices, 

and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said:

Woe is me for I am ruined[c]

because I am a man of unclean lips

and live among a people of unclean lips,

and because my eyes have seen the King,

the Lord of Hosts. Isaiah 6:1-5

Consider these angelic beings who dare not gaze upon the Lord in all His majesty! These angelic beings of such power beyond our own comprehension that are closest to the throne of God are in full submission to His holiness and splendour. And now consider what Isaiah says in verse 5 “Woe is me for I am ruined…” How did Isaiah know of the sin that burdened him in the presence of God? God’s holiness reflects sinless perfection. It is His holiness that is separate from all sin, that in our life time we have never met a single person (apart from Christ) who has ever lifted even a pen without sinning in some measure. Let us now consider the centrality of God’s holiness upon Mount Sinai, in Hebrews 12:20 the author echoes the powerful centrality of God’s holiness that is completely unapproachable, no man nor beast could endure His holy presence and live.

It is by this same holiness Christ judges rightly the money changes and those selling doves in the temple complex in Matthew 21:12-13

Jesus went into the temple complex[c] and drove out all those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers’ tables and the chairs of those selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer.[d] But you are making it a den of thieves!”

We see Christ’ judgment displayed, fully man and fully God using the word of God and His love for the Father as the source of judgment and His holiness to execute rightly. And in Revelation 19:11-13 we see Christ’ judgment from the premise of His holiness and His execution as swift and as sharp as the sword; the very word of God. Dear friends if we are not aware of God’s holiness as we ought to be, we would easily touch the mountain without question, we would easily set up our money changing tables in the temple courts and we would be judged by His holiness with such ferocity! Let us not nullify the holiness of God, but approach our Lord and His word knowing that He is holy. It is only by His grace that we can even pray to our Lord, it is by His mercies that we receive at every moment we breathe that we may carry out His will and not be burned by His holiness. Let us consider the greatness of our Lord and not grow weary in knowing Him as we draw closer to the end of our days.