Many today try to preach the gospel and offend no one. Jesus often spoke in terms that would offend us today.

1. Jesus offended many.
Text: Matthew 11:1-6
“Blessed is he who is not offended by me.”

2. Politically Correctness
Today there is pressure on everyone to be
politically correct
The idea is – Don't say anything that would offend
anyone
This concept has some merit. We should not be
mean, cruel or vulgar.
Lately, political correctness has gone berserk.

3. Matthew 11:1-6
1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished
commanding His twelve disciples, that He
departed from there to teach and to preach in
their cities. 2 And when John had heard in
prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of
his disciples 3 and said to Him, "Are You the
Coming One, or do we look for another?" 4
Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell
John the things which you hear and see: 5 The
blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are
cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised
up and the poor have the gospel preached to
them. 6 And blessed is he who is not offended
because of Me."

4. Background of text

John is in prison and could be killed.

He was killed later. (Matthew 14:1-11)

John is beginning to doubt his mission and his
message.

Is this really the Messiah that is to come?

Jesus sent back a reply.

5. Background of text

What Jesus did not do:

No encouragement to keep the faith

No expression of sorrow or sympathy

No words of comfort.

No promises that things will be better.

What Jesus did:

Said what John needed to hear

The truth

6. This was Jesus pattern

To the Scribe who wanted to follow Jesus

Matthew 8:19-22 19 Then a certain scribe
came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow
You wherever You go." 20 And Jesus said to
him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air
have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to
lay His head." 21 Then another of His disciples
said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my
father." 22 But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me,
and let the dead bury their own dead."

7. This was Jesus pattern

To the rich ruler who wanted eternal life

Matthew 19:16, 21-22 16 Now behold, one
came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what
good thing shall I do that I may have eternal
life?"

21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect,
go, sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven; and
come, follow Me." 22 But when the young man
heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for
he had great possessions.

8. This was Jesus pattern

To Nicodemus who wanted salvation

John 3:9-12 9 Nicodemus answered and said
to Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus
answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher
of Israel, and do not know these things? 11
Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what
We know and testify what We have seen, and
you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told
you earthly things and you do not believe, how
will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

9. This was Jesus pattern

To the Greek woman who wanted a miracle

Mark 7:26-28 26 The woman was a Greek, a
Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking
Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27
But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled
first, for it is not good to take the children's
bread and throw it to the little dogs." 28 And
she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet
even the little dogs under the table eat from the
children's crumbs."

10. This was Jesus pattern

To Peter wanted to know John's fate

John 21:20-22 20 Then Peter, turning around,
saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following,
who also had leaned on His breast at the
supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who
betrays You?" 21 Peter, seeing him, said to
Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" 22
Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I
come, what is that to you? You follow Me."

11. In the Old Testament

Elijah to Elisha – 2 Kings 2:1-7

3 times Elijah told Elisha to go away

Elisha refused

Finally he was given the mantle of Elijah

12. In the Old Testament

Naaman – 2 Kings 5:9-11 9 Then Naaman
went with his horses and chariot, and he stood
at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha
sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and
wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh
shall be restored to you, and you shall be
clean." 11 But Naaman became furious, and
went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself,
'He will surely come out to me, and stand and
call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave
his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.'

14. Are you offended?

Class, sermon, preacher, elders, song leader,
deacons, brother or sister in the church?

Some say we should preach the gospel so that
no one is offended. Impossible!

Some get angry at God.

Galatians 4:16 Have I therefore become your
enemy because I tell you the truth?

15. Are you offended?

It is not what is said or how it is said.

It depends on your reaction to it.

Acts 2 – Cut to the heart – repented and were
baptized.

Acts 7 – Cut to the heart – stoned Stephen

16. Are you offended?

This is what the Word of God does

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is
living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit, and of joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart.

17. Are you offended?

How do we convince people to repent of their
sins – unless they know they have sinned?

How do we teach them to worship God properly
unless they know the way they are doing it is
wrong?

How do we convert a wicked world without
pointing out their wickedness?

18. Are you offended at Jesus?

Matthew 11:6 And blessed is he
who is not offended because of
Me.

Matthew 13:57a So they were
offended at Him.