WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY THOU FOOL

August 2, 2023

Encouragement

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But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. - Matthew 5:22

As we continue in our study, we shall be focusing on commandments of our Lord that must be taken with utmost seriousness and carefulness. Any commandment of the Lord that has eternal consequences must be a priority study and given all necessary attention. There are silent killer diseases that doesn’t come to the surface but slowly and quietly doing damages to the body. A Plant called Lilly of the valley as sweet as the name and the fragrance of the plant ( being used for perfume) so also as deadly as every part of the plant is.

Anger can be a good tool to achieve many things- Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: BUT care must be taken on to what extent will you drag it along. Jesus was angry at the sellers in the temple, and he drove them out, Phineas was angry at the evil that was committed in the camp by a stubborn jew and his anger against the evil pacified the terror and judgement of God. Being at wrath with the works of darkness is good BUT getting angry with your brethren to the point of loosing your soul is deadly like the plant called the Lilly of the valley or a deadly disease.

A. OFFENCES AS A SELF-PRISON: Proverbs 18:19 We are living in an age of perpetual offences, people get offended for almost everything, people get offended for what you say, what you feel, what you post or write, people get offended for virtually insignificant things and when you roll in the mire of offences you cant be happy, you loose your joy, you end up locking up yourself in a prison that you have created for yourself. Jesus identified the core issue is offences. The strategy of the devil is to bring you to a point of getting offended by people around you to the extent that anger will start building up within you. The antidote to offences is toleration and bowels of mercy- Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. This is the water that quenches the rage of offences. Many have locked themselves in self-imprisonment for years and you can hardly notice joy around them. They are irritated by everything and everyone. This is a perpetual state of valley-life, and it takes the mercy of God and deeper work of grace to set them free from this self- imprisonment. Some are even offended with God.
The offences built up anger and resentment to anything that carry’s God’s name or identity. Jesus warned
that one of the signs of the last days is many offending one another. Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be
offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Couples can get offended over choices (what it should be and what it should not be), over family resources and priorities, over responsibilities, duties and obligation, over negligent of the partners, irresponsibility. Offences may not really be bad if properly handled but if mis-handled it may just be the beginning of that road to HELL. Friends, church members, brothers and sisters can offend each other over issues of conflicting perspectives. If you don’t take heed, you will keep building a FENCE from your OFFENCE. OFFENCE is an EVENT; BEING OFFENDED is a DECISION (The decision to be offended is yours)

B. CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS OF OFFENCES-BIBLICAL CASE STUDY: Gen 34:1-25
We will look at the symptoms first and we consider some cases in the scriptures of what led to some people being offended. Please note that Offence is an event (It is bound to happen by people’s limitations and characteristics behaviour but where that offence leads you as the one on the receiving end is what matters and is the bane of the issue. The decision that comes out of you determines how it will end).

Saul and David: How did we get here syndrome. This is a major signpost to offences ruined marriages, relationships, or good fellowships to the extent that all parties begin to ask the question how did we get here? We were once friends, were once allies, we were once looking out for each other, but from one offence to the other, we have come to a point where we ask ourselves that question “How did we get here?”. 1 Samuel 16:21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer. 22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight. This was how it all started a wonderful relationship. UNTIL the women in 1 Samuel 18:7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? What we hear most times brings offences. What has David done really but some women just speaking. Be careful of how you hear. A wonderful relationship that started well in I Samuel 16:1-2 went soured by just words and since then what happened? 9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. Let’s see the actions of Saul
– 1 Samuel 18:11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it…
– Planned to give him a wife with the intent of killing him. 17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife.( But He never gave him)
– He planned giving David another daughter, See the intention: 1 Samuel 18:21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.
– 1 Samuel 18:29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.
– 1 Samuel 19:1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

Saul was then living on the throne making his kingship role a lesser priority but killing a small boy David his utmost priority. He stopped facing the enemy and start fighting a friend- 1 Samuel 23:8 And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. Offences blur our visions from seeing the real enemies and turn us against our helpers. Be careful of offences. 1 Samuel 24:16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. Saul wept when he saw that David spared his Life. The weeping is a question how I got to this place that I am so consumed with an agenda of killing David. Beware of the agenda that has consumed you. Is it a revenge mission or reconciliation mission. The choice is ours. Offence is an event being offended is a decision.
Laban and Jacob: When our utterances and outward demeanour are getting affected: Genesis 31:1 And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory. 2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. When you get to a point in your relationship with anyone to the extent that you can no longer look at that person’s face again without being uncomfortable or
getting so angry, you are already in a prison of offence. But remember that this was the same Laban that embraced Jacob at day 1. Genesis 29:13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister’s son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him
to his house. And he told Laban all these things. Our enemies today were once our friends yesterday.
Esau and Jacob: When we begin to hate and start planning a revenge mission. Genesis 27:38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice and wept. 41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. What are you planning now? Are you sure it is born of the Spirit or it’s a product of the flesh?
Shechem and the Sons of Jacob: Deceitful approach in relationship and pretence with other intentions: Those who are offended pretends a lot. They have mastered the craft of pretence and they get consumed away in that pretence that all is well. Genesis 34:2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. 7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter: which thing ought not to be done. 13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister: From this case the offence was obvious there was nothing wrong to be grieved about it but what came out of it was deceit and eventually the drawing of swords and many deaths. in verse 25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. Before you draw the sword drop the offence. We can sentence people, but we can also drop the charges against them. If we forgive others Our Father will drop the charges against us.
Cain and Abel: We demonstrate the symptoms of offence when our countenance fall and our conversation is not genuine. Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. The offence that came because of lack of understanding.
Offended by progress another is making and you are not. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. They were talking but not really in good terms. Are you in that position? You are talking with
them but not in good terms with them.
Naaman and Elisha: When we withdraw and seclude ourselves. 2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Most at times
offences makes us to walk away from good things destined for us. This man was offended because it did not go the way he thought in his mind. Things will not always go our ways, but it may achieve an ultimate result at the end. Naaman through offence would have walked away from his miracle for the rest of his life and that door would have been forever closed. Many die in their problems because those who are meant to be a ladder for them to mount up have been broken apart because offences.
Uzziah and The Priests: Uzziah was a noble king that did so many great exploits in Israel, but a time came that he just felt that I don’t need anyone permission to do somethings. I can go to the temple and do the work of a priest by burning incense to the Lord. Some may call it multi-tasking.
But he was addressed by his subordinates since he is the king over them, they came and told him to stop what he was doing but he became offended and say who are these to tell me what to do? He continued and he suffered the consequences. 2 Chronicles 26:19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar. Getting offended can make you act foolishly to the detriment of your life and soul. Being offended to the extent you cannot let go absolutely is a baggage you can’t afford. Many don’t know that the house of God can be a place for blessing and at the same time a place one can be cursed. Carelessness can attract leprosy in that same house. Don’t come to church to carry leprosy because of careless actions. God is not mocked whatsoever a man sow that shall he reap.
Haman and Mordecai: Esther 3:2 And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.. When you magnify the small things and blow up the big things you are already offended. And when your subordinates or a junior did not respect you…you can be offended…and it can consume you. It is a small thing that man did not greet you so why not move on. No Haman was FULL of wrath. This a point we should all be afraid of not getting to. While you could be FULL of mercy, FULL of forgiveness, FULL of love and bowels of compassion. He was FULL of the negative. OFFENCES is a vessel that can fill you up with poison if you allow. Be careful of what you allow in your heart because without caution it can consume you. Hamman was consumed and he ended up in the gallows he used his offended heart to prepare.
There are many legitimate reasons to be offended but there are many illegitimate in the sight of God we can be wrapped in if we are not careful. John the Baptist almost got the Lord offended Jesus turned around and
used it to talk wonderfully about John the Baptist. Your friend can let out a secret you put in his/her hand.
Yes, it is enough reason to be angry with him but will you allow the anger to consume you. Jesus’s teaching in our anchor scriptures describes the various levels of anger and state of mind of being offended. In the Old Testament it was said thou shalt not kill BUT I SAY Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
There may even be a cause for your anger! Your words are misconstrued, you feel cheated or betrayed, your right denied, your good is being evil spoken of or like Moses the people you are pastoring and shepherding are not appreciative but are rather full of criticism and condemnation. All these are rightful reasons or occasion to be offended but WATCH because you may not know what the consequences of your response will lead to. Offences is a seed that if nurtured will grow into a tree that will take over the husbandman. Proverbs 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.