Astonished & Nothing More (Matt [7]28-29)
Astonished & Nothing More
Text: Matthew 7:28-29
Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)
Date Preached - (06/10/01)
Introduction:
In This day and age, people are looking for the sensational, the amazing, the unbelievable. We have never had more thrill-seekers.
The Guiness book of World Records is filled with many stupendous and incredible feats and expeditions of man.
Close to home Niagara Falls has been a focal point of astonishing things. Men and women going over the falls in a barrel. Walking the tight-rope over the falls. There has even been talk of bringing back the high wire act, and you know there would be fools waiting in line to try it.
Yet people are no closer to being changed.
In fact the demand for incredible and astonishing things has made it’s way into the church.
We now want a good show. Music, drama, the carnival. Preaching?? OK, but it better be entertaining, humorous, intellectual, astounding etc. etc.
The attitude of some toward the preaching seems to be, “Go ahead and impress me!”
Matthew adds two short verses of commentary to the end of Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.
He records the people’s reaction to Christ’s teaching and the reason for their reaction.
The Bible says they were “astonished” at His doctrine (teaching).
They were lit. “beside themselves with amazement and wonder”.
And who could blame them, they had truly never heard anyone speak or teach like Christ.
They were not only amazed at the content, but the manner in which He spake (with authority).
EXPLAIN CONTEXT of following verse……
John 7:46 The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.
The discouraging truth was that these folk were astonished and nothing more. Their lives were not changed. The truth Christ taught found no home in the way they conducted their lives day-by-day.
This is, but one more sad example of those who hear but do not obey the truth.
Matthew 13:54-55 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
APPLICATION: Thoughts concerning our preaching/witness:
1. We cannot speak as Christ spoke.
2. Our goal should not be to astonish or impress.
3. When we fail to see results; we should not be discouraged.
Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
4. We must speak in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
The Bible goes on to say that the reason for the people’s astonishment was the tremendous contrast between the teaching of Christ and that which they were accustomed to from the scribes.
Vs. 29 “Not as the Scribes”!
Let’s stop there and consider this phrase. (This will lead us to and we will come back to the authority of Christ’s teaching in a moment).
How was Christ’s teaching otherwise different from that of the Scribes?
I. He Spoke the Truth
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
The teaching of the Scribes was many times evasive at best and corrupt at worst.
II. He Spoke of the Matters of Greatest Significance
Matters of Life and Death, Eternity, Heaven and Hell.
The Scribes on the other hand, were caught up in trivial matters.
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Let’s stop viewing the Bible as a book of problems, and start viewing it as a book of answers for all the weighty matters of life and death!!
ILLUS: Your house is burning down. What is most important AT THAT TIME?? Your family’s safety, or a plugged toilet? Computer Virus? Etc?
III. He Aroused Curiosity Through His Teaching
He did this through use of vivid and practical illustrations; real life examples and by asking questions and tailoring His comments to the need of His listeners. He spoke to the masses, but His focus was the individual.
Mark 12:37 David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
IV. He Spoke with Love & Compassion
The lack of love of the Scribes and Pharisees was obvious.
Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Matthew 23:13-15 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
V. He Spoke with Authority
This is the final and most important distinction.
Jesus said “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth”
His authority was questioned on several occasions
SEE Matt 21:23-27
He was not accountable to men. Why?
His Authority was that of the Father.
John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
Men’s best is “Thus saith the Lord” But Christ said “I say unto you”.
His Authority came directly from the Scriptures.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
The Scribes borrowed from fallible earthly sources and traditions. One scribe quoting another.
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
CAUTION: Be careful of how you “Cut & Paste”!
Their shallow authority is typified in the words of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
Conclusion: (Review)