I like thinking about how the Bible uses the word offense & offend. We're caught up in a fear of offending people, and rightly so. We should be Peacemakers, Humble & Meek.
However, if Jesus blessed those who did not take offense in him ... it makes me wonder what he does with those who do take offense in him.
The real key is that when "offended" is used in Luke 7, Jesus is referring to people who choose to be offended (more accurately translated "stumble") over what they hear. That's exactly what his following argument against the Pharisees, with regard to John the Baptist, was about.
"They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling to one another, and saying, 'We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.'" (Lk 7:32 KJV) The Pharisees were annoyed when John didn't behave like they wanted him to. Jesus describes their reaction to John by saying: "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, 'He hath a devil'" (Lk 7:33 KJV).
They were all offended by what Jesus said and did. They chose to stumble over who and what he was, and ended up killing him. "But wisdom is justified of all her her children." (Lk 7:34 KJV)
I pray that I'm wisely listening to the Bible's teaching and not stumbling over what I hear.
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