37 As Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table.[a] 38 His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom. 39 Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness! 40 Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside? 41 So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.
Teacher,” said an expert in religious law, “you have insulted us, too, in what you just said.”
46 “Yes,” said Jesus, “what sorrow also awaits you experts in religious law! For you crush people with unbearable religious demands, and you never lift a finger to ease the burden. 47 What sorrow awaits you! (Matt. 11:36-40, 45-47a)
So here we find Jesus eating with the very people who are oppressing the people He so loves, with their religiosity. And during the midst of the table talk, someone says...." you have insulted us, too, in what you just said." So loving, meek and mild, peaceful Jesus just offended someone? He did more than that He informed them that living, being, existing this way made their futures bleak. But why did He spend His time, or as you would put it...waste His times with such prudes?
I'll tell you why: BECAUSE HE LOVES THEM! Ok here's where my thinking gets TWISTED.....Jesus spent this part, this time of His life doing ministry of healing folks, doing miracles, and developing His disciples, but He paused to have a meal with, and confront those who KNEW THE WORD, but weren't living it, and were making it difficult for others to receive the WORD. If JESUS didn't love them, would He have wasted that time with them? Maybe it wasn't a waste, maybe He really appreciated their devotion to know the WORD, but was angered, broken-hearted, and disappointed that they didn't live it to the extent of practicing grace to those that may have been far from it. He really desired that they would LIVE THE WORD, and not create a burden, or be a burden for those struggling in life. He was offering SALVATION to them just by spending time them, offering them Himself before their lives too ended.
Here's where you come in.........who are you judging, instead of loving? Which candidate do you like, ok....which one do you love? Do you think JESUS loves one, more than the other? REALLY? Which neighbor do you go out of your way for, while you avoid the other? If JESUS was one of us, would He side with you....or call you to be on His side? See the Pharisees, Sadducee, and teachers of the LAW knew the LAW, but didn't live it, for it was devoid of love & grace......so does your living invite others to come to know JESUS, or keep them away? Simply put.......you need to LOVE AS HE LOVES (@home, @work, @school, in your neighborhood, etc.)LGLP
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