Challenging Bible Verses Jesus Spoke and Why We Avoid Them

In my previous post, I talked about what it means to be uncomfortable with some of Jesus’ teachings because they call us out to move our heart towards Him.

Now I want to explore some of his teachings that challenge us deeply. My hope is that by sitting with these truths together, we can grow into more authentic disciples. Not perfect ones (who’s perfect anyways?) but honest ones.

If you’re looking for areas of your life that might benefit from some transformation, then join me in these challenging Bible verses.

I know that deep down in my heart, I want the blessings of following Jesus without the sacrifice. I want the purpose, the peace, the sense of belonging, the hope of eternal life.

But…do I want to deny myself daily? Do I want to take up a cross?

When Jesus spoke these words, His audience knew exactly what a cross meant. An instrument of execution. The most shameful, painful, humiliating way to die. And Jesus says that's what following Him looks like, dying to self every single day.

Think for a minute, what version of Christianity do we see marketed in popular culture?

There’s the prosperity gospel that promises health, wealth, and happiness. There’s the self-help spirituality that asks us to believe in ourselves and follow our hearts.

And there’s also the comfortable, convenient faith that fits neatly into a weekly schedule of events that we can squeeze in around working hours and weekend activities.

That’s not what Jesus’ words mean here.

This is costly discipleship. And it challenges me because I want an easy, comfortable Christianity. I want Jesus to fit into my life, not the other way around. I want to follow Him when it's convenient, when it makes sense…and when it doesn't cost me too much.

So what does it mean? It means dying to my need to be right in an argument when I think I’m right. And I’m always right! It means dying to my desire to pursue success at any cost.

It means dying to my craving for approval and validation from my peers. It means dying to my plans when God calls me to something different for His glory.

This verse contains some of Jesus' most vivid imagery, and it would be funny if it weren't so convicting. Picture it, I'm walking around with a massive wooden beam coming out of my eye. It’s completely blocking my vision and I’m stumbling around.

But then I say to the person next to me, “hey there, you've got a little speck of dust in your eye. Let me help you with that!”

It's absurd. It's hypocritical. Yet it's exactly what I do.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, when you point the finger, there are three pointing back at you.

Yep, that’s me!

Why is it that I'm quick to notice the failures of others while excusing my own? It’s sooo easy for me to judge others’ motives, their choices, their faith, their lifestyle, (and the list goes on) while ignoring the mess in my own heart.

I can see their speck in high def yet my own plank is somehow invisible to me.

Jesus calls this out with almost comical exaggeration to make a point. I am in no position to judge. Because I'm not the judge. I'm a fellow sinner, desperately in need of the same grace I'm withholding from others.

I think about how much energy I've wasted critiquing others. Like when I've bonded with people over shared judgments of someone else. Or how I've felt superior because at least I don't struggle with THAT particular sin.

My quickness to judge others is usually a reflection of my own unaddressed issues. I'm harshest on the sins I'm most tempted by or most afraid of in myself. I'm most critical of the people who expose the parts of me I don't want to face.

If I want to grow in Christlike love (and I do!), then I need to be challenged and turn the mirror back on me and acknowledge my own brokenness.

The art of the compromise. I so want to believe I can have it both ways, that I can serve God while also serving my own ambitions. It’s like I want to keep one foot in the kingdom of God and one foot in the kingdom of me. I can follow Jesus on Sundays…and then follow my own path the rest of the week.

But Jesus doesn't allow for that middle ground! He basically says it's impossible. I cannot serve two masters. The word “serve” here means complete allegiance and undivided loyalty.

And Jesus specifically calls out money as the competing master, but I think that this principle applies to anything that demands my ultimate allegiance.

It’s a both-and faith. I tell myself I can pursue wealth…and pursue God. Build my kingdom…and build His kingdom.

But when I'm really honest with myself (which doesn’t always happen), I can see the cracks. I see it when I'm faced with a decision that pits financial gain against obedience to God, and I have to wrestle with which master I’m going to serve.

Jesus says eventually, inevitably, I’ll love one master and hate the other. There's no sustainable middle ground.

When it comes to the competing masters in my life, it all comes down to trust. Do I trust God to provide for me as He sees fit, or do I trust my own efforts?

It’s more often than not that I choose my own masters and try to fit God into whatever space is left over. That means I give God my leftovers. My leftover time, my leftover resources.

I let my own ambitions dictate my priorities and then hope God will bless them anyway.

I believe we are being called to examine who truly has our allegiance. A divided loyalty is actually no loyalty at all. Halfhearted devotion to God is just a polite form of rejection.

And I need to make this hard decision every single day of my life. Who will I serve? Because I can’t serve both.

I hope that you can see that the point is not to wallow in where we are challenged. These teachings are a sign that something is right. It means that the Word of God is doing what it's meant to do, piercing through our defenses and calling us to change.

And I'm grateful for them.