Posted on 10/08/2010 6:46:35 AM PDT by Catholic Examiner
Jesus is often very blunt and very direct in His actions and teachings. IMO, He does this because He loves us and wants us to understand His Word, so He teaches in this manner to help get the point across. Here are a few examples:
Matthew 10:34-36 - Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.
John 2:14-16 (Cleansing of the Temple) - In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
Luke 11:23 - He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. (Ok I admit this one is one of my personal favorites :) )
Matthew 19:21-23 - Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. (This is one I have a hard time keeping because of my own selfishness, but notice that Jesus doesn't give the rich man a hug and tell him "Don't worry, it's all cool." He tells the rich man what he has to do, regardless of how he feels about it.)
On another personal note, when I first read these Teachings, I felt very uncomfortable because THIS Jesus was not the "warm and fuzzy" Jesus I was accustomed to (please do not think I am suggesting you do not know Jesus, this is not my intent). I was amazed at how I did not know Him. But I would not have gotten to know Him better, not even a little, had He not used this blunt and direct style. And I know He does it precisely because He loves us.
It seems that people that care about what other people think of them never find out who they are, just who they pretend to be...
Thanks for adding IMO. It’s not mine however. We are a light to the world. supposedly.
peace.
by the way...yours is a great testimony...please know I am glad Jesus reached out to you in these scripture.
Be blessed.
Joe
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