Our Lord’s sayings were all of a piece with His actions and His way of life in general. The fewer preconceptions we bring from the outside to the reading of the Gospels, the more clearly shall we see Him as He really was. It is all too easy to believe in a Jesus Who is largely a construction of our own imagination—an inoffensive Person Whom no one would really trouble to crucify.

But the Jesus we meet in the Gospels, far from being an inoffensive Person, gave offense right and left. Even His loyal followers found Him, at times, thoroughly disconcerting. He upset all established notions of religious propriety. (Hard Sayings of the Bible, 18, 19)

F.F. Bruce

See also:

YOU LOVE JESUS; GOOD FOR YOU, BUT WHICH ONE?

JOHN MACARTHUR: EVANGELICALS CHALLENGED TO PREACH BOLD, HARD TRUTHS

EMERGENCE CHRISTIANITY—A POSTLIBERAL CULT SLITHERS INTO EVANGELICALISM

THE EMERGING CHURCH HIGHJACKING EVANGELICALISM

THE NEW DOWNGRADE CREATES NO CONTROVERSY TODAY

TEST THE SPIRITS: STUDY IN 1 JOHN 4:1

RECLAIMING THE BIBLE AS THE WORD OF GOD