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Intro:
Mt11 20-
In this passage, we’ll learn about judgment, salvation and the invitation Jesus gives.
The passage divides neatly into these 3 themes.
I. Jesus’ Judgment v20-24.
A. There will be a judgment
First we want to look at Jesus’ Judgment.
There are going to be 5 things we’re going to look at.
Here Jesus passed judgment on people in 3 cities where most of His miracles were performed because they didn’t repent and believe in him (v20).
The 1st thing we look at is obvious but may be overlooked.
And that is, there will be a judgment.
And it is not because of bad things they have done.
It is because of their unbelief.
When we think of ourselves, we usually think that we’re believers and therefore this judgment has nothing to do with us.
But how do you know that you’ve believed?
If your life has never changed, you’re not born again and you can’t say that you’ve believed.
When you’re leading someone to Christ, perhaps even your own children, this is what you want to look for.
B. There are degrees of judgment for unbelievers
The 2nd thing we want to observe here is that there are degrees of judgment for unbelievers.
In v22, Jesus says that it is more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you, i.e.
Chorazin and Bethsaida.
Tyre and Sidon are 2 ancient Phoenician cities that are described in the OT as Israel’s enemies and denounced for their Baal worship.
Tyre and Sidon, though they are Baal worshippers, didn’t have the privilege as Chorazin and Bethsaida to witness the many miracles of Jesus and thus to know the Messiah.
On Judgment Day, Tyre and Sidon, their judgment will be less severe than Chorazin and Bethsaida.
Likewise, the judgment of Capernaum, Jesus’ base of missions and adopted hometown, will be more severe than the city of Sodom in the day of Judgment.
In other words, the more revelation you have, you’ll have more severe judgment if you refused to believe in Jesus.
When it comes to our children especially, they’ve been coming to church from very young and if they never come to Christ, their judgment will be horrible.
Thus we must all the more pray for them if they refuse to believe in Christ.
We must not forget that salvation is of the Lord.
There is no way we can force our children to believe.
We can show our love to them, shelter them from worldliness but God has to work in their hearts before they can be saved.
And really, the only hope we have is to appeal to God’s mercy for them in prayer.
C. The most serious sin is unbelief
The 3rd thing we observe is that the most serious sin is unbelief.
In v24, we know that Sodom was so wicked that God had to destroy the city with fire with no warning through a prophet.
Yet it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for Capernaum in the day of Judgment.
Why?
There is nothing wicked about Capernaum that was recorded in the Scriptures.
The only thing recorded is what Jesus just said in .
That is, they repented not of unbelief.
Why is unbelief such a terrible sin in God’s eyes?
Now there is a big difference between doubting and unbelief.
John the Baptist doubted because he had a hard time rationalizing that the Messiah Jesus is not coming to judge the world.
The last time we saw that in the OT, the 2 comings of Christ were put side by side as if it is only 1 coming.
But unbelief is when you’ve all the evidence that Christ is the Messiah because of His miracles and yet you choose not to belief.
That is unbelief, very different from doubt.
In fact, every Christian today still has some doubts about God depending on his knowledge and walk with God.
But every Christian believe in God and their hearts have been transformed.
Unbelief is worse than murder, adultery, stealing because it is the sin that rejects God.
Murderers, adulterers and thieves do not necessarily reject God.
In fact, there are many such people who actually accepted Christ when they heard the Gospel in prison.
Pastor Yeow has a prison ministry in Changi prison and he told us the no. of conversions he personally witnessed.
Pastor Yeow has a prison ministry in Changi prison and he told us the no. of conversions he personally witnessed.
D. Judgment includes what people should have done ,
The 4th thing we want to see is that judgment includes what people should have done.
Sodom was a wicked city but if it had saw Christ’s works, it would have repented.
Capernaum, though not a wicked city, ought to believe in Christ since they’ve the opportunity to see many of Christ’s works.
But Capernaum didn’t do what she should have done - i.e. believe in Christ.
E. God does not owe salvation to anyone (why God didn’t work miracles in 3 cities)
5th-ly, we want to see that God does not owe salvation to anyone.
Why didn’t God give more revelation of Himself to Tyre, Sidon and Sodom as He did for Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum?
God knew that if He did so, Tyre, Sidon and Sodom would have repented.
So why didn’t He do it?
The theological conclusion is that He doesn’t owe salvation to anyone.
And this is what says.
We don’t know why God doesn’t want to save everybody which He could if He wanted to.
We only know that He is not obligated to and He has reasons not revealed to us not to save everyone.
Perhaps if He saves everyone, then we won’t see God’s salvation as His grace but rather His obligation.
II.
Jesus’ Salvation v25-27
A. Based on specific revelation of the Son
Now we come to see Jesus’ salvation.
1st-ly, His salvation is based on specific revelation of the Son.
In v25, “these things” refers to the revelation about Jesus as the Messiah since the context condemns those who saw Jesus’ miracles and yet rejected Him.
The “wise and prudent” is not referring to those with education anymore than the babes refers to age or size.
The contrast is between those who are self-sufficient and deem themselves wise and those who are dependent and love to be taught.
If you think you know everything already, then you are the “wise and prudent.”
But if you think that you still have much to learn, then you are the “babes.”
In other words, it is the difference between proud and humble.
B. According to God’s discretion
Here it is implied that Jesus’ salvation is a result of God’s election.
God decides to choose whom He will according to His own discretion.
We’ve seen this in earlier.
The high up and the successful in society usually thinks that they deserve God’s salvation.
But God’s election has nothing to do one’s works.
This is what (concerning Esau and Jacob) says.
C. According to the Son’s revelation
Jesus’ salvation is not only based on God’s discretion when He elected some to salvation but it is also based on whom the Son chooses to reveal God to.
Salvation is the work of the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Here the Holy Spirit is not mentioned but He is very involved in the regeneration and sanctification of saints.
Since Jesus’ miracles didn’t reveal God to the 3 cities that He is condemning in this passage, Jesus’ miracles alone are not a revelation of God.
The scribes and Pharisees saw many of Jesus’ miracles and yet they planned to kill Him.
Hence miracles alone doesn’t reveal God though it should cause people to think seriously about His claims.
Jesus’ revelation of God is based on whom He chooses to do so.
He said this in .
This places Jesus on equal footing with God.
God chooses and Jesus chooses before a soul can get saved.
In fact, is a Christological verse that speaks of Him being equal with God.
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III.
Jesus’ Invitation v28-30
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