GOSPEL OF MATTHEW - FAITH IN WAITING

Matthew 11:1-19 - When God’s Ways Don’t Make Sense

Last week we closed chapter 10 of Matthew where we looked at the crown and the cost.  Jesus reminded us that there is a cost to following Him but the reward is eternal.  Jesus Divides to reveal our true allegiances, He Demands us to refine our devotion to Him and He reminds us that we do, no matter how small, that are done for Him is never wasted.

When we follow Christ closely, when we do things for Him, the target we have on us gets bigger and when the enemy knocks us down and the future feels uncertain.  He calls us to Faith in Waiting, so as we begin to look at this – Let Us Pray!

“Faith in the Waiting: When God’s Ways Confuse Us” Matthew 11:1–19 – 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.”

Big Idea:

Even when we don’t understand God’s ways, we can trust His wisdom, His timing, and His truth — because His Kingdom often moves in ways the world doesn’t expect.

Point 1 – When Doubt Meets Devotion - Faith That Waits in the Dark (vv. 1–6)

Counter-Cultural Illustration: Culture tells us that if God loves us, He’ll make life easy. But Jesus reminds us that faith isn’t about comfort; it’s about confidence in God’s character even when circumstances seem unfair. In a world that values instant gratification, faith calls us to wait and trust.

Illustration: Imagine being in a dark tunnel on a train — you can’t see the light yet, but you trust the track and the engineer. John the Baptist, sitting in Herod’s prison, couldn’t see what Jesus was doing, but faith kept him steady on the track.

Key Idea: J.D. Greear said Faith is not the absence of doubt but the decision to trust Jesus in uncertainty.

John – imprisoned – was he doubting because he knew he would probably die in prison at the hand of Herod or was he doubting because he thought if Jesus was the Messiah that Jesus would have brought judgment on the religious leaders or the exile the Romans occupying army or even free him from prison (Isaiah 42 &61)

John asks – are you the one?

Do we do the same with God – when He acts in a way that is not aligned with our thoughts and beliefs?

Are we waiting for God to act our way – answer prayer our way?  Or do we look to Him in the middle of the darkness to lead us back into the light His way?

Jesus doesn’t admonish John – he tells John’s disciples – go and tell him what hear and see –

         Blindness – healed (Isaiah 29, 35, 42)

         Lameness – healed (Isaiah 35)

         Lepers – Cleaned –

Deafness – Healed (Isaiah 29, 35, 42)

Dead – Raised (Isaiah 26)

Poor Receive the Word (Isaiah 42, 61)

Blessed is he not offended by me – we will start to see an escalation of opposition to Jesus and His ministry – Ch11 implicit opposition and ch 12 explicit opposition as we progress forward with Matthew

This would have been an encouragement to John – prophecy is being fulfilled – he is not in opposition to Jesus but still whole heartedly seeking God – even in the darkness of prison.

Should not minimize John’s doubts – intimate enough with Jesus to ask (Fr Bill and me)

Supporting Scriptures:

Isaiah 55:8–9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.”

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (explain this – not a contradiction to the quote – faith is not the absence of doubt but the decision to trust Jesus in uncertainity)

Psalm 27:14 – “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. How do you respond when God doesn’t act the way you expect?

2. What can we learn from John’s example of sending his questions directly to Jesus?

3. How can doubt become a doorway to deeper faith?

Point 2 – When Greatness Looks Different (vv. 7–15)

Counter-Cultural Illustration: Culture says greatness is about visibility — followers, fame, and success. But in God’s Kingdom, greatness is found in humility, obedience, and service. While society crowns celebrities, God crowns the steadfast.

Illustration: A reed sways in the wind because it bends to every breeze — but John stood firm like an oak tree, rooted in conviction. Jesus called him more than a prophet, not because of fame but because of faithfulness.

Key Idea: True greatness is measured by obedience, not popularity.

Prophets were not wealthy, did not dress in fine clothes, did not have prominent positions

Jesus quotes Malachi 3:1 and then Malachi 4:5

John is the greatest in a long line of prophets – no prophets before him are greater – he is like a SUPERPROPHET –

John – outside of K of H ushering it in – he who is least in the K of H as great as John – those that turn from their sin and accept the kingdom of God are on the same level of John

John was like Elijah and called back people who abandoned God for Baal –

Like King Ahab rejected Elijah – the religious leaders rejected John

Like Elijah calling the people back to worship God after the pillar or fire - John called the people back as the Messiah was coming – repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand – he had the spirit and power of Elijah

John the Baptist until now – The K of H has suffered violence and violent people attack it – people opposed John – opposed Jesus after the Passover – Pharisees opposed both –

Let him with eat let him hear – the urgency and importance of who John was according to the prophets and the importance of the message – do something with it

         What are you doing with the Word of God in your life?

Supporting Scriptures:

Micah 6:8 – “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?”

Matthew 23:11 – “The greatest among you shall be your servant.”

John 3:30 – “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. How does our culture’s definition of success differ from Jesus’ definition of greatness?

2. In what areas of your life might God be calling you to humility instead of recognition?

3. How can we honor those who quietly serve with faithfulness in the Kingdom?

Point 3 – When the Music Doesn’t Match (vv. 16–19)

Counter-Cultural Illustration: The world says, “Do what feels right; make your own truth.” But Jesus says, “Follow My truth.” Culture demands God conform to us — Jesus calls us to conform to Him. The Kingdom’s song isn’t about pleasing the crowd; it’s about harmonizing with Heaven.

Illustration: Children in the marketplace wanted others to play their game — “We played the flute, but you didn’t dance; we sang a dirge, but you didn’t mourn.” Jesus uses this image to show that people rejected both John’s message of repentance and His own message of grace and restoration.

Key Idea: Wisdom is proven by our response to God — not by the crowd’s opinion.

Unbelievers – those who reject the Gospel were like children who at weddings would not participate in the wedding game or at a funeral and not engage in funeral mourning ceremonies.

John’s message – like a funeral dirge – repent be broken and sorrowful you’re your sin and seek forgiveness before the K of G arrives

Jesus’ message – like a wedding dance – joyful come all to the wedding feast

John has a demon – look at his wild crazy lifestyle, clothes, food

Jesus – a drunkard and indulging in sin – look who he eats with and associates with

The religious refused to hear God’s voice in either His prophet nor His Son

We can do the same – (Be indulged like pharisees accused Jesus) we can also take forgiveness and freedom and indulge in what life offers because we are saved or we can go the opposite (be a Pharisee) and never associate with unbelievers

Like Craig Blomberg said, “We either prefer grace without moral absolutes or law without the opportunity to live responsibly, free from strangling regulations.”

Faith that dances to God’s tune is transformational and full of His wisdom

Supporting Scriptures:

Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Proverbs 9:10 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”

James 3:17 – “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits…”

Open-Ended Questions:

1. What “tunes” does culture play that pressure you to compromise your faith?

2. How do you stay faithful when following Jesus makes you unpopular?

3. What does it mean for wisdom to be “proved right by her deeds” in your life?

Closing Idea:

When faith feels shaken, when greatness feels unseen, and when the world won’t listen — Jesus still invites us to trust, to serve, and to dance to His rhythm. His wisdom may seem upside-down to the world, but it’s always right-side-up in eternity.

Final Summary:

Matthew 11:1–19 reveals that even the strongest believers can wrestle with doubt — yet Jesus meets those questions with compassion and truth. John the Baptist’s imprisonment reminds us that faith sometimes requires waiting in the dark. Jesus redefines greatness — not by what we achieve but by how we serve. And when the world refuses to listen, wisdom calls us to live faithfully, knowing that the fruit of our obedience will speak louder than any argument.

The Kingdom of God doesn’t fit neatly into worldly categories. It confuses the proud, comforts the humble, and calls all who hear to a deeper, unshakable trust in Christ.

Let us be people of faith who wait patiently, walk humbly, and live boldly — proving by our lives that wisdom is indeed justified by her children.

Let us Pray!