Jesus explained to His disciples what the purpose of the church is — “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). He told them that this is how all will know they are His disciples. Today, if we desire for people to know we are His disciples, we must also love as He loves. This means we must imitate Christ, doing as He would do.

Jesus loved the scribes and the Pharisees by demanding that God’s law be followed instead of man’s when it concerns worship. “And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt. 15:9). The scribes and Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus by using a tradition of the elders, and the question that Jesus’ asked in return pointed out that it is not man’s tradition but God’s law that is important. “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Matt. 15:3). This question pointed out by implication that Jesus had only transgressed man’s tradition and not God’s law. Whereas, the scribes and Pharisees were breaking God’s law in order to keep man’s tradition.

Today’s false concept of love would state that Jesus had no right to judge the scribes and Pharisees, because we are not to offend anyone if we love them. Those who would argue this misuse Matthew 7:1 to try to justify themselves and neglect Jesus’ response to His disciples when they told Him some were offended (Matt. 15:12). “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch” (Matt. 15:13-14).

Notice that Jesus did not backtrack and apologize, demonstrating that love does not express regret for the truth. On the contrary, Jesus’ statement shows emphatically that love sometimes offends the hearers in order to help them. Paul told the Galatians, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Gal. 4:16). Paul upset or offended some of the Galatians with the truth to help them understand what God desires of them. Jesus instructs, “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26). This means that if some men are not offended by what you are teaching, then perhaps there is something wrong with what you are teaching.

Jesus loved the scribes and Pharisees by being ready with an answer. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col 4:6). Jesus loved the scribes and Pharisees by not backing down from the truth. “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Jesus loved the scribes and Pharisees by being straightforward with them when they were in sin because He knew if they did not repent, they would perish (fall into a ditch). “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). Therefore, Jesus loved them, because He desired them to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:3-4). This would cause Jesus to say things that were hard to hear and if we are going to love like Jesus, we must be willing to be hated by men. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

If we are going to fulfi ll the purpose of the church and love as Jesus loves, then we must be willing to say what needs to be said, even if it offends some and they are no longer our friends. Jesus was not afraid to say what needed to be said, even when it caused some of His disciples to walk away. “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more (John 6:66).

Just something to consider.