The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Many people, even My followers, are wondering how to respond to malicious or offensive accusations or talk against them. And I do not mean just persecution of your faith, although it can be that as well. But today we will just look in general whether it be from jealousy or misinformation or desire to have your position or just because the person is letting themselves have a bad day or someone has hurt them in life. I will reveal to you how Jesus responded to and corrected people who came to Him adversely. You need to know this to respond properly in a way that is edifying and not on the level of the evil one, who is behind the attack in any situation where someone is abusive or nasty for they are out of My Will.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
I edify, exhort, and encourage. That is the definition of prophecy and the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Revelation 19:10. So you know that His response no matter what the situation edifed, exhorted, and encouraged, and yours should as well. For you overcome the accuser of the brethren by the blood of Jesus and the word of your testimony, which should agree with that of your High Priest, Jesus.
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. . . But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and encouragement. 1 Corinthians 14:1, 3.
I am not abusive or harsh and you should not be either. Jesus always consulted Me before responding and so should you. He did not let adverse accusations and abuse move Him to anger and retaliation, He told them what they were doing was wrong but He never stopped there. He then also told them how to get it right, and you are to learn from Him for He is gentle and humble of heart and your souls will find rest as you learn from Him.
Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Colossians 4:6.
When someone comes against you in an offensive manner or goes after another, you can reply, but not in a hostile, angry, or rude manner. Do as Jesus did. Consider this:
A Pharisee asked Him to dine with him; and He went in, and reclined at the table. The Pharisee saw and took offense that Jesus had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. Jesus did not let that go and permit the Pharisee to stay in offense, but He did not answer it in anger and seek self-justification. He told him of a greater problem than not just washing the outside, but about looking what your heart is full of inside: “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you.” Luke 11:37-41.
The Pharisees did very long impressive prayers, but as Jesus told you about the Pharisee and tax collector in prayer, they were talking to themselves more than Me even though they guised it as prayer. They had lip service but their hearts were far from Me. And that is another point I want to make about prayer, for it to be effective, it must be from the heart, your heart joined with My heart is true fellowship and that should be constant and not a onetime event, a lifestyle of connection and communication by faith makes for succinct effective prayers using My Word that go straight to the heart of the matter, like an arrow hitting the bull’s eye every time.
But back to His correction of the Pharisee’s offense, Jesus used it as an opportunity to give the Pharisee a chance to examine his own life and make a correction that would get him on the divine plan for his life. If you recall on another occasion Jesus revealed that while the Pharisees were reciting long prayers and looking worthy they were, in reality, taking the saving of widows that they sacrificially put in the offering for temple use and using it for their own enrichment and obtaining and maintaining palatial homes of their own while the widows lived in poverty. The solution? Give back the wealth to the ones who needed it. And give it from a generous heart within.
When Jesus was attacked, He gave the attacker a reprimand in the form of a wakeup call, a chance to re-evaluate their own conduct, and a way out to be blessed going forward. You should do the same. That is speaking the truth in love.
Look at some of His responses:
When the religious leaders were trying to trap Him as breaking the law of Moses if He would not stone the woman caught in adultery:
But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 11:7.
And that made them look at themselves before the Light of the world, and they dropped their stones and left one by one with the elders leaving first.
And when they were all gone and He stood alone before the woman, what did He say to the woman caught in that sin?
Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” John 8:10-11.
He treated her with mercy, He could see her heart, she recognized Him as Lord. But He told her not to sin anymore. She needed to put her will to that seriously and when she did My grace completed the good work Jesus begun in her. Goodness and grace lead to repentance. Remember that as you speak to those who are living in sin. I am merciful but if you do not take the chance to repent and instead take the opportunity I give you to walk in newness of life to go back to sowing in the flesh you will reap from the flesh, and that harvest will destroy you and others.
And we could go on, all the times the religious leaders came to find a fault in Him so they could break Him and His ministry He replied with wisdom and grace. When they brought the question of whether loyalty to God permitted paying tax to a pagan government that was oppressive to them, He told them to look at the coin and whose image was on it. He asked them a question and they answered “Caesar’s image” and His answer stopped the further heckling: “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s.”
Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 And hearing this, they were amazed, and leaving Him, they went away. Matthew 22:19-22.
Questions and answers. Use that too and My Spirit will witness with your spirit how to respond. Yield to Him and not to the way your emotions would rise to respond.
“But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.” Luke 21:12-15.
When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:11-12.
Your anger does not carry out My righteousness.
But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. James 1:19-22.
Do not let the sun go down on your anger or you will wake up entwined with bitter roots—a stronghold of Satan in you.
Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil a place in you. Ephesians 4:26-27.
And when those who knew better from My Word were dishonoring their parents and grandparents by not supporting them in their old age when they had the means to do so but instead pledged it to Me, He did not just let that go but He reminded them of the benefit they were missing and the judgment they would face:
He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” Mark 7:9-13.
And by inspiration of My Spirit, My apostle Paul told you the rest of what to counsel:
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Ephesians 6:1-3.
But now I want to take you to the sufferings and death of Jesus to show how He responded to pure malice, lies, false witnesses, and evil tongues.
First, Judas came to the garden with a band of soldiers and betrayed who Jesus was to them by giving Jesus the kiss of friendship. Did Jesus push him away or speak to him harshly? No. He called him friend. Why? To let him know He was laying down His life for his friend. It was the final call for him to come back to Jesus.
While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came up accompanied by a large crowd with swords and clubs, who came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he who was betraying Him gave them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.” Immediately Judas went to Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. And Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized Him. Matthew 26:47-50.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:12-13.
But you know Jesus taught you to examine yourself by asking you questions and He did ask Judas one question as he approached him before he kissed him to make him re-evaluate while he still had time not to do it:
But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48.
But Judas went through with it and then Jesus just stated, “Friend, do what you have come for.” He had failed the last chance Jesus gave him not to do it.
Jesus then addressed the soldiers and those that came out against Him with a question, and of course He always backed up what was going on in His life with Scripture.
At that time Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest Me as you would against a robber? Every day I used to sit in the temple teaching and you did not seize Me. But all this has taken place to fulfill the Scriptures of the prophets.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled. Matthew 26:55-56.
If you recall, Jesus simply, like the lamb led to the slaughter, let them tie Him and lead Him to judgment before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin, but Peter in his great zeal for My Son pulled out a sword and went running towards those taking Jesus and cut off the ear of the High Priest’s slave. Jesus protected Peter from prosecution by putting the ear back on the slave perfectly as if it had never been cut off and rebuked Peter to put away the sword, explaining that those who use it will perish by it.
So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him, and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. And I want you to see how He responded there to straight abuse.
The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching. Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.” When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?” Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?” So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. John 18:19-24.
He would not betray the names of His disciples, in the garden He had told those arresting Him to let His disciples go, which they did and the disciples fled except for John and Peter who followed along at a distance. But the priests and religious leaders had followed Jesus around listening to Him and trying to trip Him up since He began preaching and teaching and attracting crowds that He healed so they had no need to act like they did not know what He taught. Jesus was not there to answer useless questions. The officer then struck Him a severe blow across the mouth. And Jesus, of course, asked Him a question so he could evaluate his behavior and that question cut him to the heart.
And then Jesus was then led off to a mock trial. He refused to say anything in refutation or answer because He knew their hearts were set and what He would say would not change their plan but only make their judgment more severe. But then the High Priest commanded Him to speak and so He quoted Scripture, a prophecy about the Messiah from the prophet Daniel.
The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!” Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him, and said, “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit You?” Matthew 26:62-68.
He fulfilled Isaiah the prophet and kept silent:
The Lord LORD has opened My ear; and I was not disobedient nor did I turn back. I gave My back to those who strike Me, and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. For the Lord LORD helps Me, therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. Isaiah 50:5-7.
When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put Him to death; and they bound Him, and led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate the governor.
Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.” Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” John 18:33-38.
And after that encounter, when Pilate questioned Him facing the accusations of the religious leaders and even sent Him before Herod, Jesus never said another word until He was on the way to the cross and spoke to the weeping women to warn them of the judgment that would fall on Jerusalem for they had chosen Caesar over Jesus. You get the master you pick.
So they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” John 19:15.
About forty years after that, they still had not repented, and the one who was soon to be Caesar came in as the commanding officer of the Roman army, just as Daniel had foretold, and destroyed Jerusalem, the temple, and everything they were trying to protect from being taken over by the Romans by killing Jesus.
Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” John 11:47-50.
They were so afraid that in Jesus all the gentiles would join the church and their private click would be gone, they would lose being My only chosen people and having the place of power. What they feared came on then. To keep their enclave they chose Caesar over their Messiah.
Jesus said words on the Cross but they were not in bitterness or in self-justification. He did not have to prove who He was, Isaiah and David already were His witnesses, Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 told the whole story, there was no need to say more for all the experts in the Law before Him were seeing the exact fulfillment of those eye witness accounts written 800 to a thousand years before they took place.
But every response He made on the Cross was to Me and those He loved and even to the thief who quoted Psalm 25 to Him. His words were forgiveness, mercy, and peace, showing one gentle and humble of heart who finished the work I gave Him to do, suffering the shame for the joy of bringing all who would choose Him to new birth and eternal life. He redeemed you from the fall of Adam in just that day on the Cross. The seed of the woman had crushed the devil’s head on Calvary as the devil struck at His heel. But in the next three days that heel would smash everything in Hell as He spoiled principalities, dominions and powers and took back the keys of death and hades. The gates of hell had not prevailed against the seed planted in the line of Abraham. He paid your judgment and satisfied your sentence and then I raised Him from the grave and you with Him and seated Him, with all of you, at My right hand on the throne of the Son of Man. Shalom.
What you sow you reap. And that is not about condemnation, it is what you are seeking and what you are seeking fellowship with. If you are a blasphemer, glutton, drug addict, alcoholic, or controlled by any other self-destructive spirit such as depression, bitterness, anger, jealousy and resentment, you will destroy your body so that others must be servants to your flesh when you are old because you cannot get out of the bed, walk about, or do the things of life by yourself. And then you cry out against Me for your “junky body” and wonder where My promise of healing is. And why do you want to be healed and perfect? So you can run out and be a glutton or do whatever was your sinful pleasure again, abuse your body and your life, and not give Me one iota of your time. I did not “junk” your body, you did by disobeying Me and thinking you were acting independently of Me and had outsmarted Me, but you had been taken captive by Satan and worked with him as your master to destroy you. I had nothing to do with it.
But it is not too late to turn back to Me and I will heal you. Like the prodigal son when he came to his right mind. But he had to take the initiative to turn around and head back to his Father with a change of heart and then the Father ran to meet him and reinstate him in the house. He had decided to stop serving the devil and go to work serving in his Father’s house. He got off the wrong territory. The prodigal son, if you will note, had left the Father to go to a distant country, Luke 15:13, not Mine, the Kingdom of Heaven is in you. The Kingdom is at hand.
I love you. When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19. Watch the path your feet are on by watching your thoughts and words. This is serious. Keep guard over your heart. Judas started out on the right road but greed, pride, and offense took him where he did not really want to go but he had set words in motion that ran his life and he never took control of them to turn back.