One Really Bad Dinner Guest

Scripture: As He was speaking, a Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and reclined at the table. Luke 11:37

Observation: When Jesus goes to dine at the Pharisee's house, he ... refuses to observe the practices of his host, directly criticizes those practices, calls him a fool, then pronounces six different complaints against the Pharisee and those like him, expanding it to include scribes and law keepers. Jesus insults their giving, their injustice to the poor, their pride, their secrecy, their judgmental ways, their hypocrisy, and their lack of understanding of history. It is quite the rant at the dinner table.

In everything he said, Jesus is not wrong. He provides specific examples supporting his statements. He proves his superior knowledge by directly relating his statements to scripture. In the end, the Pharisees begin plotting to trap him into making a mistake, further supporting the fact that nothing he said at this time was mistaken. Yes, this angered them - they even told him so - but it was accurate. Certainly, it angered them BECAUSE it was accurate.

Application: God's correction will anger me. The issue will always be ... how will I choose to respond to that correction? Will I choose to be angry, figuring out a way to respond in that anger, or even plotting for ways to trick God into being wrong so I can then be justified in ignoring what he has said? Will I, in my anger, commit even more sin? Or will I actually listen to the correction, take it to heart, examine my ways, and improve?

We know a minority did the latter. We also know these sorts of verses exist so that we later believers may take the advice, recognize that we are Pharisees who do greedy, prideful, hypocritical things, and correct our actions.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I do not need to have you insult me to my face. I know I am in need of correction. I seek your correction, and I pray for my right response to that correction. May I receive it with humility, understanding the love by which it is corrected, so I may live a right life and better serve you daily. Again I say it, I wish to walk with you daily, and in doing so I will listen to your instruction. Amen.