Matthew 11
Notes
Transcript
John The Baptist Doubts Matthew 11:1-15
John The Baptist Doubts Matthew 11:1-15
1 When Jesus had finished giving instructions to his twelve disciples, he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.
Jesus went to teach in Galilee
2 Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples 3 and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
JtB imprisoned by Herod. Lonely. Why languish in prison.
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;
Temp lapse of faith. Is he the one prophesized?
4 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news,
Religious cater to rich Messiah to the poor
6 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”
Blessing for who suffered w out being offended
7 As these men were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
ASAP glowing praise for JtB
JtB greatest of prophets; because of forerunner position before Messiah
10 This is the one about whom it is written: See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.
1 “See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to his temple, the Messenger of the covenant you delight in—see, he is coming,” says the Lord of Armies.
John was chosen to announce Jesus coming
11 “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one greater than John the Baptist has appeared, but the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Most important person who had lived up to then
the lowest in KoH is greater than JtB
Contrast between Heavenly and Earthly greatness
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force.
Until now ...signal an eventual change
13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. 15 Let anyone who has ears listen.
5 Look, I am going to send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.
Judgment for wicked and healing for God’s people is coming.
An Unresponsive Generation Matthew 11:16-24
An Unresponsive Generation Matthew 11:16-24
16 “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children: 17 We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t 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, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
They did not respond to John or Jesus
Jesus was and is wisdom personified
He was vindicated in his works and his followers
20 Then he proceeded to denounce the towns where most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago. 22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. 24 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Judgment is worse to those of us that Know versus not knowing
We see it again=degrees of punishment
Starts with rejection and punishment is gauged on privileges spurned and sins indulged
The Son Gives Knowledge and Rest Matthew 11:25-30
The Son Gives Knowledge and Rest Matthew 11:25-30
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure. 27 All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him.
God hides the truth from those that refuse to believe
It starts with the person that rejects
Only the FATHER truly understands all this
Only GOD understands GOD
Jesus is praising God that he is revealing this to fishermen and not “wise” men
The “wise” men of THIS TIME think they already KNOW everything and already have a RELIGIOUS system, that excludes JESUS
Mindset of the ARROGANT ELITE
Gospel to all comes later
To the apostles
He reveals himself after he is raised up, not now, the Jewish people and the chosen of them during this time
This is not about eternal predestination
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Personified wisdom
Easy yoke vs heavy suppressive yoke
True Rest Is Found In Jesus
True Rest Is Found In Jesus
