The Kingdom Question: Who is the King?

Have you ever been disappointed by God? Maybe

Passage

Matthew 11:1–19 ESV

1 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 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. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 7 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? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 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. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 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.”

I. Is Jesus Messiah?

Blind People see

Isaiah 29:18 ESV

18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of a book, and out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see.

Lame People Walk

Isaiah 35:6 ESV

6 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;

Deaf People Hear

Isaiah 35:5 ESV

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

Dead People are Raised

Isaiah 26:19 ESV

19 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.

Poor People hear the Good News Isa 61:1

Isaiah 61:1 ESV

1 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;

11:6 If John focuses on these words and works of Jesus, he will not take offense at Jesus but will be blessed.6 Taking offense, literally, “stumbling” (σκανδαλίζω, skandalizō), refers to a serious loss of faith, spiritual defeat, or apostasy (cf. 5:29–30; 13:21, 41, 57; 15:12; 16:23; 17:27; 18:6–9; 24:10; 26:31, 33). This language both comforts and warns. It comforts by encouraging John to reflect on Jesus’s messianic works, and it warns that he must not allow doubt to defeat him. John’s imprisonment and the delay in the judgment he predicted (3:10–12) are outweighed by Jesus’s miraculous works.

II. John’s Significance

Matthew 11:12 “12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”

“It is best to understand this difficult passage according to the second view, as teaching the difficult truth that John in prison is learning: the kingdom will not immediately judge God’s enemies but will itself be oppressed by them for a time until God vindicates himself and his people.” -

“the kingdom will not immediately judge God’s enemies but will itself be oppressed by them for a time until God vindicates himself and his people.” -David Turner

Malachi 4:5 “5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.”

III. Current Lack of Repentance

IV. How about you?

Do You Reject instruction or Repent when you hear something that you disagree with from God’s Word?

Are you encouraged or discouraged by the fact that God does not promise to immediately vindicate Himself and his people?