Jesus seems so rude! Jesus called some Jews, “a brood of vipers” (Matt 12:34), “sons of the devil” (John 8:44), and “snakes” (Matt. 23:33)!
But, 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love is not rude! It does not act unbecomingly; it is not ill-mannered, or belittling of others. How puzzling at first sight was Jesus’ “out of character” response, until you realize why.
“To whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48). The jealous Pharisees, who should know better, were falsely accusing Him of casting out demons by the authority of the prince of demons, Beelzebul (Matt. 12:22ff); what their hearts were full of, they spoke out loud. Their undue fear, their insecurity, jealousy, and overprotectiveness blinded them to the Truth. Those that had believed in Jesus, but who now want to harm and kill Jesus, Jesus called them “sons of the devil” (John 8:39-47). He called the legalists “hypocrites”, “blinds fools”, and “blind guides” because they hinder people from entering the Kingdom of God, kill God’s prophets and teachers, etc. (Matt. 23:13ff).
But, did you realize that Jesus never said to the woman caught in adultery, “You sinful woman! You snake!” (John 8:1-11)? But, He did protect her from her tormentors who wanted her dead. He does not say she is sinless, no, He acknowledges that she sinned, but, also acknowledges her willingness to repent, saying, “I don’t judge you, Go sin no more…”
To a well-known public sinner, Zacchaeus the tax collector, (Luke 19:1-10), Jesus also never said a word of condemnation, but, in fact, invited Himself to be the guest of greedy Zacchaeus, who later automatically repented with concrete actions, without Jesus mentioning the word sin at all!
When Jesus was anointed with alabaster perfume by a woman who lived a sinful life (Luke 7:36-50), Simon the Pharisee who hosted Jesus, felt that Jesus didn’t know this woman led a sinful life. Why? Because Jesus didn’t rebuke her, but, allowed Himself to be anointed? Jesus instead tells her, “your sins are forgiven”, and explains, “…her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
Dr. Luke wrote, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” (Luke 7:34-35)
Jesus knows what He is doing: He comes to comfort the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. He comforts and soothes the guilty conscience of those willing to repent, and He afflicts those comfortable in their sins. That is Jesus’ principle!
