Then answered one of the lawyers and said unto Him, Master, thus saying Thou reproachest us also. Luke 11:45
The lawyer in our text was unhappy about what he was hearing from the dinner Guest. And well might he be upset! After the host challenged Jesus for not performing the ceremonial washing that the legalistic Pharisees deemed necessary before eating a meal, Jesus responded by pointing out the hypocrisy of such a criticism. And He followed that up by pronouncing a woe on the Pharisees for placing more emphasis on tithing their herbs than on proper judgment and the love of God. And He added woes for their prideful seeking of high places in the synagogues and market, and for the sneaky way in which they condemned others and excused themselves. Nobody likes to hear themselves criticized in such a way, especially when they think they are doing very well. But sometimes, it’s necessary to tell people that things are not going very well, otherwise, they won’t know they need to change.
Modern translations of this verse like to point out that the lawyer was complaining about being insulted. No doubt the lawyer was insulted, but Jesus’ purpose was not to insult but to point out where the Pharisees were wrong. That is why the KJV uses the word ‘reproach’. The Pharisees could take Jesus’ words in one of two ways: they could be insulted, or they could be challenged. The prideful among them would be insulted. The sincere among them would see how Jesus had accurately portrayed them, and would realize that things had to change. Every time we read the Word of God, the same two choices face us. We can read it and consider that the words do not apply to us, or that we are already in compliance with them. This proud attitude deprives us of any profit from the Word. Or we can be challenged by the Word to bring ourselves more into conformity with its message. This humble attitude brings us into potential blessing from the application of the Word to our lives.
Take it as a warning sign if we ever take offense at anything in the Scriptures. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16,17). This means that the Bible always has a message for us, always has something important for us to learn, something necessary for us to do.
Are you willing to take a little reproach from the Lord Jesus today? Or are you already as perfect as He would like you to be? – Jim MacIntosh