【遠回しに言うことは愛が動機？ Is Speaking Indirectly Motivated by Love】

English follows

【御言葉】40 ヨナが三日三晩、大魚の腹の中にいたように、人の子も三日三晩、地の中にいるからです。41 ニネベの人々が、さばきのときにこの時代の人々とともに立って、この時代の人々を罪ありとします。ニネベの人々はヨナの説教で悔い改めたからです。しかし見なさい。ここにヨナにまさるものがあります。マタイの福音書 12章 40〜41節

【観察】イエス様はこの12章で3回も「〜に優る者」と言っている。6節では宮より大いなる者と言い、41節ではヨナよりも優る者と言い、42節ではソロモンよりも優る者と言っている。イエス様は、自分は神殿よりも、預言者よりも、王よりも偉大な神であると言いたかったんだと思う。しかし、自分が神だと直接言ったら、皆が心を閉ざしてしまい、伝えたいことも伝えられなくなってしまう。だから、あえて遠回しに、彼ら自身が気づくような言い方をしたんだと思う。これもイエス様の愛なのでは？

【適用】相手の状態を知り、愛に動機づけられたを言葉を語る。恐れから遠回しに言うのではなく、遠回しに言うのは愛の行為でもある。

【祈り】主よ、私達日本人の文化では相手にハッキリ言うのは失礼であり、遠回しに言うことが良いとされる文化です。それは相手への配慮であることもありますが、人からの拒絶を恐れ、本当のことを言えないことも多いのです。はっきり言うにも、遠回し言うにも、あなたの愛が動機でありますように。🙏

【Scripture】Matthew 12:40-41 NIV[40] For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here.

【Observation】In 12 chapter, Jesus uses the phrase “one greater than” three times. In verse 6, He says He is greater than the temple; in verse 41, He says He is greater than Jonah; and in verse 42, He says He is greater than Solomon. I believe Jesus wanted to say that He is God—greater than the temple, greater than the prophets, and greater than the kings. However, if He had said directly that He was God, everyone would have closed their hearts, and He would not have been able to convey what He wanted to say. That is why I think He deliberately spoke in a roundabout way, using phrasing that would allow them to realize it themselves. Isn’t this also an expression of Jesus’ love?

【Application】Understand the other person’s situation and speak words motivated by love. Speaking indirectly is not out of fear; rather, speaking indirectly is also an act of love.

【Prayer】Lord, in Japanese culture, speaking plainly to others is considered rude, and speaking indirectly is seen as the proper way. While this can be an act of consideration for others, it is often because we fear rejection and are unable to speak the truth. Whether we speak plainly or indirectly, may Your love be our motivation. 🙏