12 Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
We must give careful thought to our ways – put our hearts upon our conduct – have a firm resolve regarding who is our guide or whose words we choose to follow? It can make a difference between being an “oak of righteousness” or being “pulled up by the roots.” Sinfulness can spread and increases in one’s life unless it is effectively combated by conscious effort. Jesus alone has the Words of eternal life:
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” John 6:66-69 (NIV)
5 This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. 6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands; he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.” Jer 17:5-6 (NIV)
“The words of Jesus shall stand when heaven and earth shall pass away. If you grasp only half of a promise, you shall still find it true...His lips are most sweet, and drop with honey still.” Charles H. Spurgeon
35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Matt 24:34-35 (NIV)
Isaiah prophesizes regarding the coming Savior who came seeking to make all oaks for His glory:
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)
In our verses for today the disciples were perplexed over Jesus’ offensive Words towards the Pharisees. They thought it strange that their Master would say things that would cause rife. While Jesus ever demonstrated care in His Words towards others – always sensitive in giving the right Word at the right time being fully aware of what every heart needed to hear, He never evaded Truth and duty for fear of offence either. Truth must always be acknowledged and duty done and if Truth is offensive it is the fault of the hearer not the speaker of the Truth.
The disciples did not want the Pharisees to go away angry or displeased with Christ’s Words and sought to have Him modify or at least explain them. Weak believers are sometimes more concerned than they should be not to see unbelievers offended by Truth. In this fallen world, Truth will always offend. Believers are not called to offend, but we are called to get God’s Word – true Truth – out. In our day of tolerance, this of course is not readily embraced - to say the least. Like Jeremiah, it should weary us when we hold God’s Word in:
“I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. 8 Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long. 9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” Jer 20:7-9 (NIV)
God gives Jeremiah (and us) the following Word:
28 “Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” Jer 23:28-29 (NIV)
“Scripture is like a lion. Who ever heard of defending a lion? Just turn it loose; it will defend itself.” Charles H. Spurgeon
Do we want to follow a blind guide or do we want to follow God?