Christ the Rock of Offence (Matthew #56)

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Text: Matthew 11:1-6

In chapter 10 the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded his disciples in their work in the harvest. Now he continues to travel around Galilee in northern Israel preaching. John Baptist has been arrested which has caused him to get angry with the Lord Jesus Christ. He sends his disciples to the Lord to cynically question him about God’s plan.

Offences are caused by failed expectations

Let’s consider John the Baptist’s situation. He’s given his life for the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s been “rewarded” with prison time and that’s not what he expected.
Offences are lost hopes. Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick…
Matthew 13:53-57
Back to John the Baptist. His imprisonment is not what he expected. He sends his disciples to the Lord to question him about God’s plan. Look back at 11:1-3.
Now, you’ve lost confidence in Jesus Christ.

Being offended in Christ has consequences

Matthew 13:18-21 The worst consequence is that you’ve been deceived about your faith. What you thought was “faith” is now disqualified. It’s proven to be rootless and the seed will not bear fruit.
- Trial of faith is precious to God in 1 Peter 1:7-8.
- Trying of faith in James 1:3, 21-22
- Mathew 24:6-10 expectations are dashed and people resort to hating each other
Another consequence is you’ll forsake Jesus Christ as in Matthew 26:31-35. Here’s what you assume about forsaking Jesus Christ in a friendship, in a relationship, in a job decision, in serving God in a ministry; you assume you can forsake Christ when you want to and come back to him when you want to.
Another consequence is that you’ll stop preaching Jesus Christ when you’re offended. Paul said in Galatians 5:11 that his persecution was the result of the offence of the cross. If he wasn’t willing to put up with the offence of the cross, he would’ve changed his preaching.

Solution to being offended is loving the word of God

Look at the Lord’s answer to John in verses 11:4-5.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
James 1:23-25, John 15:5-10, 1 Thessalonians 2:12-13