Audacious Criticisms & Unexpected Responses

Criticism is a very difficult thing, and it is often hard to handle with a proper attitude. I’m quite certain that we have all been the subject of criticism at one time or another. As a preacher it is quite possible that I am even more of a subject than others are. It used to be a common quip that people would eat roast preacher for lunch on Sunday afternoons. Most of us have also been numbered among the criticizers from time to time ourselves. It is so easy to criticize one another’s actions, motives, accomplishments, etc.

While there is a time and place for criticism, especially the constructive kind, we must be very careful that we do not branch from constructive criticism into outright slander and gossip.

In our passage this morning we will see that the Jews were bringing criticism against both John the Baptist and Jesus the Nazarene. We will look at their criticism, Jesus’ response to their criticism, and then Christ’s invitation to come and believe in Him.

Before we delve into the text I want to remind you of the setting. After Jesus sent the twelve apostles out on their training exercise He Himself went out to teach and preach in their cities.

Matthew 11:1 NASB95

When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.

As He was doing so certain disciples of the John the Baptist came to Him with a question that they asked on behalf of John, who at that time was in prison.

Matthew 11:3 NASB95

and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”

Jesus used the Scriptures to reply to their inquiry; this was so that they as well as John would recognize that Jesus was the One of whom Isaiah the prophet had spoken of so long ago.

As they were they were leaving to return to John with their report, Jesus began to teach about John and his place in redemptive history. John was more than a prophet in that he was both a prophet and the fulfillment of prophecy. He was the one of whom the prophets had written would come to prepare the way for Messiah. He was the fulfillment of the coming of Elijah, for he came in the spirit and the power of Elijah.

Malachi 4:5 NASB95

“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

Luke 1:17 NASB95

“It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Let’s read the text together: Matthew 11:16-30.

Criticisms of the Jews

Most of us have been in a position to hear children whine about this or that. As both a parent and a teacher I have heard enough whining to last a lifetime. As an elementary school music teacher I would have to take my turn on recess duty — watching over the children as they played on the playground. There were times when it seemed the line of students waiting to bring their complaints to me was a mile long. One of the common complaints, both as a parent and a teacher, was that other children were NOT going along with the way such and such wanted to play a game. That seems to be the idea that Jesus was using as He compared this generation to children on the playground. It was common thing back then for children to gather to play while their parents were shopping in the market. One of the games they would play was a mock wedding. But when others didn’t join in the celebration they would complain. Another activity that was common was a mock funeral, complete with a funeral dirge and all. Again, when others didn’t join in with a mock mourning for the pretend dead, they would complain.

Notice what Jesus had to say in regarding their complaints about John.

Criticism of John’s austerity — John was demon possessed

It would seem that the over all attitude of the people of Israel is that John the Baptist was a madman; that he was bonkers; that he was demon possessed. Whenever inexplicable things are taking place people try to explain away the unexplainable. It would seem that due to the austerity of John’s nomadic and disciplined lifestyle the average person (especially the religious leaders of Israel) did not give any credence to this man’s message. “This man could not possibly be sent from God since he keeps rebuking our ‘spiritual leaders.’” John and his disciples were known for their strict, Pharisaic-like, adherence to the spiritual disciplines of fasting and prayer. Of course their practice of the disciplines was probably a righteous practice — seeking the approval of God and not man. As opposed to the Pharisees who practiced these same thing for the sake of man’s approval.

Matthew 6:16–18 NASB95

“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Throughout all of the history of Israel the people had similar responses to prophets sent from God. This morning in my daily reading I came across this statement.

Hosea 9:7 NIV84

The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired man a maniac.

Now notice their complaint against Jesus in .

Criticism of Jesus lack of austerity — Jesus was a glutenous drunk with sinful associations

I find it quite ironic that the people criticized Jesus for not doing the very things that caused them to criticize John the Baptist.

Understand that these were false charges for the most part. They referred to Jesus as a gluttonous man because He and His followers did not fast. John’s disciples had questioned Him about this very thing in .

Matthew 9:14–15 NASB95

Then the disciples of John came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Just because a person does not practice a religious fast does not mean that they are a glutton. The purpose of fasting is not for weight loss! It is to show humility before God because of our propensity to sin, or as an act of seeking God’s will.

As for the charge that Jesus was a drunk, that is pure slander. It was totally untrue! He never drank to the point of inebriation.

However, the charge that He associated with sinners was true. In reply to the Pharisees questioning Him about His association with sinners Jesus said:

Matthew 9:13 NKJV

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

John MacArthur, in his commentary on Matthew (pg. 262) pointed out that:

John the Baptist and Jesus were enemies of traditional religion, with its elevation of human wisdom and disregard for divine. Because John and Jesus could not be reasoned down they would be shouted down; and if no truth could be found against them, falsehood would be eagerly used.

Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds, Jesus said. Corrupt human wisdom produces corrupt human deeds, such as the false accusations against John and Jesus. On the other hand, the righteous, divinely empowered wisdom of John and Jesus produced righteous deeds that resulted in repentance, forgiven sin, and redeemed lives.

Let’s turn our attention now to Jesus’ response to these charges. Look at .

Response of Jesus

In response to the critical claims by the Jews Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miraculous works occurred. Look at .

Cities Denounced

Chorazin & Bethsaida

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 11

Chorazin

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Chorazin

CHORAZIN (Cōʹ rä zĭn) One of the cities Jesus censured because of the unbelief of its inhabitants (Matt. 11:21). It was located in Galilee. It has been identified with modern Khirbet Kerazeh, ruins located about two miles north of the site of Capernaum. Chorazin is mentioned in the Talmud as a place famous for its wheat. In the time of Jesus it must have been an important place, but by the second half of the third century A.D. it had ceased to be inhabited.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Bethsaida

BETHSAIDA (Bĕth sāʹ ĭ dȧ) Place-name meaning “house of fish.” The home of Andrew, Peter, and Philip (John 1:44; 12:21), located on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee. This town was rebuilt under Philip the tetrarch, one of the sons of Herod the Great, who named it Julius in honor of the Emperor Augustus’ daughter. Near here Jesus fed the 5,000 (Luke 9:10) and healed a blind man (Mark 8:22).

Compared to Tyre & Sidon

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Sidon and Tyre

SIDON AND TYRE (Sīʹ dŏn, Tīr) Phoenician cities located on the coastal plain between the mountains of Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Sidon and Tyre

About 870 B.C. Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of the Phoenician king, bringing Baal worship to Israel’s court. Ezekiel 28 characterizes the king of Tyre as the ultimate example of pride.

Notice that Jesus stated that “Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.” This is a reference to the White Throne Judgment in which all unbelievers who have ever lived will be judged. This text indicates that there will be degrees of judgment. There will be certain places in the Lake of Fire that will be worse than others (although they will all be unthinkably horrific).

The reason for this strict judgment is because these folks had seen the miraculous work of God firsthand, and yet they had rejected Jesus as their Messiah. The Gospel writers were very selective as it relates to the choosing of which miracles they would highlight in their various accounts. Their selection had to do with their purpose. For Matthew, his purpose was to show to Israel than Jesus truly was the Messiah. Notice what John had to say regarding his selection miraculous signs to highlight:

John 20:30–31 NASB95

Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Capernaum

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Capernaum

In the NT, Capernaum was chosen as the base of operations by Jesus when He began His ministry. Teaching in the synagogue (Mark 1:21) and private homes (Mark 2:1) was basic to His work there, but the miracles performed there appear to have precipitated the controversy and opposition.

Compared to Sodom

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Sodom and Gomorrah

Sodom and Gomorrah were renowned for their wickedness (Gen. 18:20). Despite Abraham’s successful plea (18:22–32) not even 10 righteous men could be found in Sodom, and the cities were judged by the Lord, then destroyed by “brimstone and fire” (19:24; HCSB, NIV, “burning sulfur”).

The unnatural lusts of the men of Sodom (Gen. 19:4–8; Jude 7) have given us the modern term “sodomy,” but the city was guilty of a full spectrum of sins including pride, oppression of the poor, haughtiness, and “abominable things” (Ezek. 16:49–50).

The Sin of Indifference

Let’s think for a moment about the sin of indifference. The sad truth of the matter is that indifference may be the most common and yet underrated sin that there is. Jesus said:

Luke 12:48b NASB95

but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Luke 12:48b NASB95

but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Luke 12:48 NASB95

but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.

Though there are many who outright reject Jesus and His claims; many who reject the fact that there is a God to whom they are accountable, there are many more who are indifferent to the message of the gospel. Atheist are those who reject any notion of God and are antagonistic to the message of the gospel. Agnostics are seen as being more indifferent than antagonistic.

In the case of these cities that Jesus denounced, they had the privilege that we would love to have — they saw Jesus with their own eyes. And yet they did not see Him with the eyes of faith. The writer of Hebrews, writing to Jewish folks who were riding the fence in regards to Jesus’ claims to be their Christ, said this (quoting ):

Hebrews 3:7–11 NASB95

Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, Where your fathers tried Me by testing Me, And saw My works for forty years. “Therefore I was angry with this generation, And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, And they did not know My ways’; As I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

Unfortunately the sin of indifference is not limited to non-believers. There are plenty of times when believers demonstrate an indifference to the things of God.

How do believers show indifference to the things of God?

By reading the Bible without internalizing its message

By listening to the teaching of the Word but not applying it to ourselves

By turning a blind eye to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ

As we close today look quickly with me at — this is Jesus’ invitation to the unbelieving Jews to enter into His rest.

Christ’s Invitation

Notice that Jesus began this section with worship and adoration of the Father.

Worship & Adoration

Praise for God’s Plan

Hidden from the wise

Revealed to infants

Acknowledgement of God giving authority to Jesus

The Son is only revealed to those whom the Father chooses to reveal Him too

Come & Believe

Are you wearied by the heavy burden of your sin? Are you walking around like Christian in Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, seeking relief for your heavy burden? If so, come to Christ and believe. Exchange your heavy yoke that is burdening your soul for the yoke of Christ, which is easy to bear. Learn of Jesus through the study of the Bible — both here at church and in the privacy of your own home.

In March of 1980 my h.s. buddy, Rob Sundelious, and I were traveling to school in a car that I was driving. I lost control of that car and we were involved in a horrendous car accident. You have heard me speak of that in the past. About two months later Rob and I wrote our very first song which is loosely based on this invitation of Christ’s. It is titled HIS PLEA. After we pray I will attempt to sing it for you as we prepare for the celebration of the Lord’s Table.

Let’s pray.