A Study of Matthew: Don't Hate the Messenger
Notes
Transcript
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”
And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,
and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,
“ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Last week, we looked at Matthew 10. Jesus has gathered his 12 disciples and given them their first actual ministry assignment. He authorizes them with power over every kind of disease and affliction, including the power to cast out demons. He gives them clear instruction for their first time without him—who to go to, what to teach, and even how to handle rejection. It’s a clear message to us that when God gives us a job to do, he doesn’t leave us empty handed. As the popular saying goes, God equips those he calls, and he calls us all.
Today, we move on to the first part of Chapter 11. Jesus has sent out the disciples, now his apostles or “sent ones.” But he is not sitting back while his boys are on assignment; no, he is going out too. He continues to teach, doing the work of his father in heaven.
In the meantime, John the Baptist is in prison for pointing out the sinful life of king Herod. John’s disciples continue to visit him, bringing him reports from the outside. Of course, he is hearing the news about Jesus. So he sends his disciples to talk to Jesus and ask him if he really is the Christ, the Messiah.
This is a moment that always confused me. I mean, Jesus came to John to be baptized. John was there when the Holy Spirit appeared like a dove. He heard God’s voice proclaim, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Why, then, is he sending his people to ask Jesus if he really is the Messiah?
Have you ever been shocked to see someone you always thought to be a strong Christian begin to struggle with their faith? How could that happen? Well, it’s happening to John the Baptist in this passage. Yes, the same John who leapt in his mother’s womb when pregnant Mary showed up, because even as a fetus, he could sense the presence of his Lord.
But things aren’t going so well for John right now. He was arrested for doing the right thing, preaching the Gospel and holding the Jewish leaders accountable. He had called out Herod, the supposed king of Judea, for stealing his brother’s wife—a wife who also happened to be a close blood relative! And while his disciples are telling him about Jesus’ work, we have to remember that, back in chapter 9, some of John’s disciples show up asking why Jesus doesn’t make his disciples fast. Fasting is an important part of Jewish religious practices. So maybe John’s disciples went back to him telling about how Jesus isn’t really following Jewish tradition, and he’s confused. So he sends his guys out to ask Jesus point blank—ARE YOU THE MESSIAH?
We can get out of shape about how John would even have to ask, but let’s look at Jesus’ response.
And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Jesus simply tells John’s disciples to report to their leader what they have seen him do. Everything Jesus lists is specifically mentioned in Old Testament prophecy concerning the Messiah.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
What we see here is Jesus responding to John’s disciples by saying, “Look what I’m doing. Does it look like the kinds of things the Messiah is supposed to do?” I mean, Jesus’ very actions identify him as the Savior!
But I also want you to note something else. Jesus does not scold John for having questions. Jesus is not angry or disappointed in John. In fact, look at what Jesus does next:
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
Remember that John’s disciples came up to Jesus while he was preaching to the crowds. So there were people who overheard the conversation, and who no doubt decided to criticize John. After all, a godly man wouldn’t be in jail, right?
But Jesus applauds the work and character of John. Jesus calls John “more than a prophet.” Jesus calls John the final prophet who came in the same spirit as Elijah.
Jesus continues by pointing out the blindness of the Jewish people. When John was the big name preacher, crowds would go to hear him. Many got baptized, but only a few genuinely turned to God. Now Jesus is here, preaching the kingdom AND doing miracles that demonstrate how he is from God. And STILL the people do not recognize him. They are more concerned with the spectacle of Jesus’ miracles. They are impressed with his teaching, but few actually take it to heart and are transformed by it.
John followed the strict code of the Nazirite, which was an Israelite consecrated to the service of God, under vows to abstain from alcohol, let the hair grow, and avoid becoming ceremonially unclean. The angel Gabriel had told John’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, that John was consecrated even before birth. When people heard John’s message, they felt conviction, but dismissed that conviction by pointing out how odd John was.
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’
Jesus was not under the Nazirite vow. He didn’t have to eat a strict diet beyond that of an ordinary Jew. He was allowed to drink alcohol. We can discuss the theological implications of that another time. But Jesus himself said,
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
The point of his statement is this: when we hear things we don’t like, we will find reasons to reject it. We will try to pick at the statement, the claim to truth, to show its flaws. But when we can’ find a strong argument, we will try to tear down the person who said the thing.
The people felt justified in rejecting John’s preaching because he was just a weirdo, a crazy person who wears clothes made of camel’s hair. which was the cheapest material available. If he were alive today, John would probably be dressed in whatever he could find in dumpster behind Goodwill. Not to mention the fact that John’s diet mainly consisted of locusts and honey. Locusts are known to be a great source of protein, but I think we would all look at somebody funny if they showed up with a cricket leg stuck in their teeth!
Jesus, on the other hand, lived basically like an ordinary guy. He wasn’t doing all those weird things his cousin did. But that message about repenting and preparing for God’s kingdom still made lots of folks uncomfortable, especially the religious leaders. So they try to tear down Jesus based on who he associates with. “A truly Godly man would never associate with known sinners.”
When we hear the word of the Lord preached to us, how do we react? There’s nothing wrong with checking it out, making sure that what was spoken actually lines up with scripture. But do we just listen and then walk out forgetting what we heard? That’s dangerous, especially if what we heard really is from the Lord!
I truly believe we are in the last days, and we have to be ready for when Jesus comes back. God is speaking to each of us. I prepare each sermon with prayer that I am speaking God’s word for this moment. But he is also speaking to us outside of this building. Are we listening? Or do we hold back because we are afraid of what Jesus will expect of us? Do we find a reason to dismiss what we heard? Do we get mad at the messenger?
We are all called to be God’s messengers. Not everyone will accept the message we have to share. They will look for reasons to reject it. But we have to do our best not to give them reasons to reject it. And what I mean by that is that we simply need to live our lives honestly. Be vulnerable with others, unafraid to let them see your weaknesses, but also letting them see you give those weaknesses to Jesus.
The most important witness we have is showing the transformation power of Jesus in our lives. So keep letting the word of God get into your heart and mind. Let that word work in you. Let the Spirit of God transform you. When you receive a word, don’t be quick to dismiss it, even if it comes from a source you don’t like. Weigh it in accordance with scripture. Pray about it. God is speaking to us. we need to be paying attention.