One or the other

With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone – Proverbs 25.15

Isn’t it nice to know you don’t have to yell or get all stressed for someone to be convinced?  It’s almost like the harder you try the less persuasive you’ll be.  As if backing off and relaxing frees the way for persuasion to happen.

So when Jesus cleared the temple and called the Pharisees whitewashed tombs and broods of vipers, does that mean he wasn’t trying to persuade?  That there’s a time for persuasion and another time for anger and judgment?

If you were trying to persuade, you’d want to remember the difference.