Non-Offensive

I know what it is like to “tip toe” around another person’s feelings or emotions. I don’t intentionally want to hurt them in a confrontation when they are vulnerable or weak. I also don’t want to impose or come off with a haughty attitude. I think there are other times when the truth comes out and it is offensive.  I’m ok if the message is offensive, but as the messenger, I don’t want to deliberately offend.

I came across an interesting passage where Jesus didn’t want to offend the people collecting the Temple tax. I think Jesus assessed the situation and the temple tax was a teachable moment about “paying your way”.  Check this out…

²⁴ On their arrival in Capernaum, the collectors of the Temple tax came to Peter and asked him, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the Temple tax?”

²⁵ “Yes, he does,” Peter replied. Then he went into the house.

But before he had a chance to speak, Jesus asked him, “What do you think, Peter? Do kings tax their own people or the people they have conquered?”

²⁶ “They tax the people they have conquered,” Peter replied.

“Well, then,” Jesus said, “the citizens are free! ²⁷ However, we don’t want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us.” (Matthew 17:24-27 NLT)

I struggled with why Jesus didn’t want to offend or upset the people collecting the Temple tax. I see this as Jesus picking His battles. The temple tax was small. The people responsible for spending the temple tax would be more accountable than the people collecting it.

Jesus taught truth that was offensive, but He chose to pay the temple tax to be “non-offensive”. I want to be discerning about when to let people be offended and when to seek to be “non-offensive”.  I want to be let the Lord lead my heart and guard my words and my tone. I’m ok if the truth is out there and offensive, I just don’t want my presentation of the truth to be what is offensive.

Pressing On!

Dwayne