Disrespect comes in many forms. We’re big on manners in the south. Watch your tone! Don’t take that tone with me! Being called a smart mouth is never a compliment. Our words have a literal meaning but they can also be interpreted differently when spoken in jest or with an emotional tone. We can communicate displeasure with a smile on our faces just as easily as we can communicate joy with tears in our eyes.
Jesus often made a distinction when he interacted with His followers, with the crowds, the religious leaders, and those who came to Him seeking a miracle or a sign. He spoke to them differently under similar circumstances, sometimes even answering their thoughts when they hadn’t spoken them aloud. (Matthew 9:4, 12:25, Luke 9:47) Jesus, as God incarnate, was filled with the Holy Spirit without limitation, therefore He always answered perfectly. (John 3:34)
When He cleansed the temple, even in His anger, He did not sin. (Mark 11:17, Hebrews 4:14-15) When the religious leaders repeatedly tried to trip Him up, He stymied them with a question on one occasion and lambasted them on another. (Mark 11:29-33, Matthew 23) After He was transfigured, Jesus addressed first the crowd, then His disciples, a desperate father, and a demon in a single encounter. (Mark 9:14-29) We would do well to read scripture, particularly when we see Jesus speaking, addressing, confronting, or teaching, with an eye not only to His literal words, but to His tone. Everything about what He said and how He said it was God-ordained and Spirit-inspired.
”God has breathed life into all Scripture.
It is useful for teaching us what is true.
It is useful for correcting our mistakes.
It is useful for making our lives whole again.
It is useful for training us to do what is right.
By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.“
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/2ti.3.16-17.NIRV
“His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.
To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.
But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
That is why I use these parables, ‘For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.’
This fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes— so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.
I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.“
Matthew 13:10-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.13.10-17.NLT
”“For the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks from the natural realm.
But the One who comes from above is above everything and speaks of the highest realm of all!
His message is about what he has seen and experienced, even though people don’t accept it.
Yet those who embrace his message know in their hearts that it’s the truth.“
John 3:31-33 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.3.31-33.TPT
“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.””
Matthew 13:9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.13.9.NLT
”Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord.“
Proverbs 20:12 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.20.12.NLT
”Lovers of God have been given eyes to see and ears to hear from God.“
Proverbs 20:12 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/pro.20.12.TPT
“He returned to Nazareth, his hometown.
When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”
Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas. All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?”
And they were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.
Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.”
And so he did only a few miracles there because of their unbelief.”
Matthew 13:54-58 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.13.54-58.NLT
Father God, thank You for the gift of Your Holy Spirit to all who receive by faith Your great salvation accomplished in the death and resurrection of Your one and only Son, Jesus. I confess that I have bought into the lie that I am not being Christlike if I stand firm under conviction of Your Spirit or if I find myself in disagreement or conflict with anyone. Yet I see Jesus boldly and passionately “speaking the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15) I pray with the apostle Paul that whenever I speak, the right words will be given to me. Then I can be bold as I tell the mystery of the Good News.” (Ephesians 6:19)
“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord.
So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.”
Ephesians 5:8-10 NLT
A Fitting Reply 