Luke 7:23 - Homilies By W. Clarkson

Christ as an offence.

"Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." It was simply inevitable that our Lord, if he laid himself out to do the very best and greatest that could be done, should be an offence to many. "Not to send peace, but a sword," was a purely incidental, but it was a necessary result of such faithfulness as he showed.

I. THE OFFENCE TO BE FOUND IN CHRIST .

1 . The offence of the Messiahship. Our Lord offended John the Baptist (see preceding homily) by the quietness of his method and the slowness of his results. He offended Peter by foretelling the sorrows and the shame to which he was moving on ( Matthew 16:22 ). He offended Nicodemus by the profundity of his teaching ( John 3:1-36 .). He offended the leaders of religion of his time by denouncing their formality and insincerity. He offended the people by preaching a doctrine too broad for their narrow-mindedness ( Luke 4:28 ), too deep for their shallow-mindedness ( John 6:52-66 ), too elevated for their earthly mindedness.

2 . The offence of the cross.

3 . The offence of the kingdom. In one sense, "the offence of the cross" has ceased. It has become the symbol of all that is beautiful in art, refined in culture, strong in civilization. Yet is there everywhere, yet will there always be , something in Christ that will offend the human soul. For he requires of us that

II. THE BLESSEDNESS or THOSE WHO DO NOT FIND IT ; who come to learn of him in all docility of spirit; who cheerfully part with all that he condemns that they may follow him; who offer to him their undivided heart; who accept his service that they may receive a spiritual and a heavenly recompense. Blessed, indeed, are they; for:

1 . Their hearts will be the home of a heavenly peace, and a joy which no man taketh from them.

2 . Their life will rise to a noble height of sanctity, of beauty, of usefulness.

3 . On their checkered course will fall the sunshine of their Master's blessing—his consecration of their joy, his overruling of their sorrow.

4 . Their life will end in a calm and peaceful hope, which will pass into glorious fruition. Blessed, indeed, is he whosoever is not offended in Christ, but cordially accepts him as the Saviour of his spirit and the rightful Lord of his life.—C.