Today: [Luke 7] Jesus Deals with Offense and Manipulation: In chapter 7 of Luke Jesus is confronted, and disrespected by John the Baptist, and blasphemed by Simon the Pharisee. Even in the aftermath of raising the dead to life and performing many miracles, the people around Jesus are unceasing in their manipulation and demand upon him with no demonstration of humility. In studying this chapter, we learn something about God's way of handling controlling people, and also about the need for coming to God not in pompous religious expectation, but instead in the deep humility that always brings a positive response from the hand of heaven.