Jesus the shocking dinner guest

The other week I shared a sermon about Jesus eating with "riff raff"--you can catch a bit HERE.

In Luke 11 however, Jesus, instead of being invited to a "tax collectors" house, is invited to a Pharisees house to dine.  And Jesus "forgets" to wash his hands to the astonishment of the Pharisee!

But the trouble doesn't end there--reclining at the Pharisees' table, Jesus begins to tell the Pharisee what he thinks about him--here are a few of His choice words:

"...you are full of greed and wickedness..."

"You fools!"

"Woe to you Pharisees!  For you...neglect justice and the love of God...

you love the best seat...and to be recognized..."

At this point another guest--a lawyer (teacher of the law) speaks up--rather offended that he is being lumped in with the Pharisees...But rather than an apology Jesus continues, now directing His attention to the Lawyers!  

"Woe to you lawyers also!  You load people with heavy burdens and you don't lift a finger to help"

Woe to you!  For you build tombs for the prophets that you killed!"

"Woe to you lawyers!  For you have taken away the key of knowledge"

"You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."

The question to wrestle with is what makes Jesus so gracious and accepting on one hand...and so harsh and aggressive on the other? 

I'd encourage you to press past giving a pat answer.  

What is at the heart of Jesus' actions in the different ways he dines/speaks with people?  (And what might Jesus be revealing about the hearts of those He had dinner with?)

What does this say about how we should "dine" with others?  

What is the good news of the gospel revealed when these differences are examined honestly? 

What are the warnings you may need to hear and examine in yourself?

What tone does your soul hear?

The tone with which one speaks makes all the difference in the world as to how words are received.

You can say "I forgive you" -- but if said with sarcasm, it may actually cause more hurt than saying nothing.

You can say "I love you" -- but if said with tired apathy, it may be heard as saying just the opposite.

OUR TONE IS POWERFUL.


What tone is God's voice when He speaks to you?


When you read the Bible -- is there a common tone with which you receive the words?

Tone makes a BIG DIFFERENCE.

I was talking with someone the other day and he shared with me his feelings about a passage that spoke about "being bought at a great price!"

He heard it with a hint of guilt -- like an angry voice saying: "don't you ever forget it!"  It was the voice of a reluctant giver ... someone who paid the price out of duty rather than great love for us.

But Jesus says that our Father is a GOOD FATHER who LOVES to give GOOD GIFTS to His children.

I told my friend that when I hear "you were bought at a great price" -- I hear the gentle voice of a loving Father telling me "my son, you are so valuable to me!  Don't forget how deep my love for you is that I would go to such a length just so you may know me!"

Tone makes all the difference in the world.

I am not saying that everything you hear from God will be gentle encouragement.  He also disciplines and corrects...but He does so because we are children that He dearly loves.

Hear LOVE in His tone always!