As I was looking through Youtube to find something to watch I came across this video called "The Top 9 Most Inconvenient Verses In The Bible" by Truth Surge. What the video demonstrated was that those who do not possess the Spirit of God do not understand the things of the Spirit (see 1 Cor 2:14). In this article I will do my best to explain the bible verses that the host of the video claims are inconvenient. The video starts the number at 9 and counts down to one therefore I will for this post I will follow the same format.
We begin at numbers 9 and 8 of the countdown, the inconvenient verses in question is Mat 5:22 and Luk 24:25. For the verse in Matthew If you look at the contexts of the passage it could very well be referring to calling one's brother a fool. To call a Christian a fool is bearing false witness because a fool hath said in his heart there is no God (Psa 14:1), therefore you would be lying. All unrepentant liars will end up in the Lake of Fire (Rev 21:8), thus the passage makes since from that angle. We see from 1Cor 15:36 that it may not be a sin to use the word Fool in every instance because even Paul used it on those that denied the resurrection. On the other hand I don't think it is wise for us to use the word Fool considering our speech needs to be always with grace (Col 4:6), plus we don't know the hearts of men. Paul however was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, therefore it was God saying it through Paul.
The reason why Jesus is exempt from his command in Luk 24:25 is because he is God and knows what's in people's hearts, therefore he wouldn't be bearing false witness when calling someone a fool. Consider Mark 2:8 and Luke 5:22.
Now we come to numbers 7 and 6 in the count down, the verses in question Mat 5:44 and Joh 2:15. I for one just don't see anything inconvenient about Mat 5:44. I am in full agreement with loving your enemies for it's one of the distinguishing differences between Christians and non believers. The spanish inquisition as an example of Christians not loving their enemies is a poor choice. The bible is clear that their are fake Christians out there (false brethren, wolves in sheep's clothing, etc). To lump real Christian's in with people like that is a guilt by association fallacy and should be disregarded.
The host of the video then seems to imply that Jesus wasn't loving his enemies in Joh 2:15 when he drove out those that sold in the temple. In case you don't know Jesus was justified whether he was loving his enemies or not. On one hand he could have been chastising them out of love (Pro 13:24, Heb 12:5-6), on the other hand if he was just executing wrath then he was right to do so as vengeance belongs to him (Rom 12:19). FYI he was fulfilling prophecy (Psa 69:9, Joh 2:17).
Number 5 on the countdown covers 1 Joh 3:6 and 1 Joh 3:9 which seem to imply that christians never sin. I can understand why these verses may shock or confuse new converts or the lost, after all we witness people sinning all the time; we even see christians sin sometimes. However there is an obvious difference between Christians and Non Christians in this issue. Christian's are grieved when they sin and repent and with the help of the Holy Spirit can and do overcome their sin. Some Christians are able to stop a certain sin right away, for others it might take some time; but it is the responsibility of all christians to pick up their cross and die to self and live for God (Luk 9:23, 2Cor 5:15).
In 1 Joh 3:9 in reference where it says he cannot sin a good illustration would be to look at it this way; If I say I cannot murder someone, it doesn't mean I'm not physically able to. It's simply too morally reprehensible for me to bear and I cannot do it.
Number 4 in the countdown is quite easy to address. The host of the video uses Mat 10:5-6 and Mat 15:24 to suggest that all gentiles cannot be saved because Jesus came only to the Israelites. Well we Christians no better don't we. It is sheer folly to say the book of Acts and the epistles of Paul are wrong because they offer salvation to the gentiles. Why's that? It's simple. Before the cross Christ came to his own but they received him not (John 1:11), therefore when he rose again salvation was offered to the gentiles (Rom 11:11).
Next we come to number 3. The verse is Mat 21:22. This verse tells us that whatever we ask for in prayer we will get. What this guy doesn't realize is point # 1 there are conditions for prayer, i.e. not regard iniquity in your heart (Psa 66:18) and asking according to his will not your own (1 Joh 5:14). Point #2 it doesn't say when you will receive it. If you are asking to cure the world of illness or world peace those prayers will be answered when Christ remakes the world.
Number 2 is John 14:12. The host scoffs at the idea that we believers do greater works than Jesus did in his earthly ministry. What did Jesus do in his earthly ministry? Heal the sick, cure the blind, raise the dead. These were all great but temporary miracles. Those people all still died. However Jesus know uses us as instruments of his body to preach the gospel and offer eternal life to all those who repent and trust in Christ alone for their salvation. This truly is the most important work one can do in this life.
Also it could mean greater in number of works because Jesus only had a short time on earth as a man before he ascended to heaven.
The final "inconvenient verse" for Christians is Mat 5:17-18. The claim is because of these two verses we Christians must keep all of the OT law to be saved. Jesus claimed not one jot or tittle will pass from the law until all be fulfilled. The host of the video then goes into Israel's dietary laws and stoning gays and disobedient children. Those were civic laws for Israel, God never intended us to keep those ones. We keep the laws that are reiterated in the NT, Love God and Love thy Neighbor (his moral law). Also some of the laws had to do with the purification of the Aaronic priesthood, we are under the Melchizedek priesthood (Heb 7:11-12). Some of those laws in the OT were for the temple, but our bodies are the temple now (1 Cor 6:19). Some OT laws were for payment for sin, but Christ made the final sacrifice for sin (Heb 9:28). Those laws cannot apply to us because of the changes God made.
So in conclusion we see that these inconvenient bible passages are not inconvenient at all if you just have the proper understanding of scripture.
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