More to the point, people will try to explain away hard parts like "Love your enemies." "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me." "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Of course this also applies to parts of the Bible that speak of some of the more controversial topics, such as homosexuality, lust, divorce - for some reason the sexual stuff raises more eyebrows than the passages condemning slander, malicious intent, drunkenness, witchcraft, gossip, etc.
People will try to explain it all away by saying that that was the way it was back then, but not now. Or, the Greek really says [blank]. The excuses are sundry.
The natural tendency is to argue back, shove it down people's throats, or just ignore it and let people say whatever they want for the sake of peace. All of these, in my opinion, are problematic. If the Spirit allows you, I would suggest stating this very humbly: "If it doesn't say what it says, why does it say it?" or "What if it IS actually saying this?". This may help break people's tendency to propose excuses. Or you might share a time where Scripture challenged you and you yourself had to conform, rather than you conforming it to your liking. Remember that you yourself are still conforming yourself to God's will, and you are still struggling to obey.
As you read through as a people, and continue to ask the question - "What does this want me to do?"... you will see that God is calling some of the people to salvation. This is an exciting time wherein people are really beginning to grasp the goodness and great love of God. They are feeling healing. They are sensing their life is renewing and has a purpose. They begin to see the confusion clearing in their lives. And a grand, daunting choice of whether or not to commit is standing in front of them.
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