Pasteurized Jesus

This Sunday's reading from Matthew 11:16-19,25-30 contains a curious deletion: verses 20-24. 

16 ‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another,17 “We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;   we wailed, and you did not mourn.”18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He has a demon”; 19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.’ 

25 At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

So why did most sleepy eyed Sunday morning churchgoers miss verses 20-24? Let's read them and see,

20 Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. 21‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven?   No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.’ 

Did Jesus really say that? How you answer that will define your brand of Christianity. 

The real Jesus is tough. He comes down hard on those who reject him.

The pasteurized version of Jesus that most churchgoers heard about this Sunday morning is far more dangerous to the world than the real Jesus.