Response and Rest

Last week we closed with Jesus’ little parable, or story, about the children playing in the marketplace. Jesus was comparing the generation to which he was ministering to obstinate children who would not go along with what was happening.

What was happening, of course, was the breaking in of the Kingdom of God, in the person of Jesus Christ, and the New Covenant. John was the forerunner and prophet, and Jesus is the Messiah and Main Event - but many refused to believe, to follow, to accept it.

That story then, really, was a question. Will you get on board with what God is doing? Will you be a tender child of wisdom, or will you be a stubborn and obstinate child, a self-sufficient child?

You see, to this point in Jesus ministry, the opportunities for faith had been rich and abundant - at no other time in history was this much of God’s wonder, power, and grace displayed. The mighty works being done were clear signs of Jesus’ as Messiah, and clear indicators that he was more than just a man - you may look back and think “how could they not believe?” But, the unbelief remained.

For many, Jesus didn’t fit the bill as a political Messiah who would deliver from Roman rule.

For some, Jesus didn’t fit the bill as a strict lawyer and judge.

For many, as John said, though Jesus is the light, they loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

With that little story, we said last week that Jesus pronounced a condemnation in saying “wisdom is justified by her deeds.” That is to say, those with Godly wisdom are shown in that they follow God. But this generation, including the religious leaders, showed that they did not.

Well, Jesus goes on to say more than just that - and he gives a really telling statement about just how much light the people in his day recieved from his presence - just how much of God’s power and majesty and knowledge was on display.

In this passage are some of Jesus’ most comforting and peaceful words, yet also in this passage are Jesus’ most exclusive and sharp words as well. Within the same passage are words of blessing and invitation, but they contrast words of woe and curse, words of concealing and condemnation.

Do you know that each day matters? Each moment matters? Each opportunity, each turn of season and change of state? Each conversation and thought and attitude, do you realize they all matter, they all have implications beyond the moment, hour, beyond the day?

That is the picture Jesus draws in this teaching. Great light leads to great culpability - great responsibility. Which makes his invitation to “come to me” all the more critical. Many were enamored by the miracles, but walked away never having heeded that call to “come to me.” Many were impressed by the feedings and the works, but their awe faded with the passing seasons, it seems.

Do you know that right now counts forever? That’s a big statement - you might say - but the intensity and depth of Jesus’ words here paint that picture, and its a picture I want us to grasp.

The light of the revelation of Jesus Christ is the greatest opportunity that any person ever receives. Many walk away unaffected, unchanged. But what about you?

To the proud and arrogant, Jesus says “woe,” but to the weary and weak, Jesus says “come.” May you heed the call of the gentle and lowly Master.

1. Response - Vs. 20-24

The word “then” is a word Matthew loves to use, and he uses it to show not just what happened next, but wrapped up in the term is purpose - like saying, what Jesus did next was because of what he just did. So we could say, because of the little parable about the children Jesus told, what he says next is important - and it is. He goes on to broaden out what he just said and bring the significance of it into real life.

Three Towns in Galilee

Jesus names three cities - really three villages - near the Sea of Galilee and makes them an example.

Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum.

Going out of order, Capernaum was really Jesus’ “home base.” Jesus called it his own city in Matthew 9. It is the most well-known ministry place of Jesus up to this point in Matthew. It is most likely here that Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, a nobleman’s son in John 4, the centurion’s servent in Matthew 8, a paralyzed man in Matthew 9, cast out an unclean spirit in Mark 1, and raised Jairus’ Daughter and healed the woman with the discharge of blood.

These are selected examples, and nowhere near all the works Jesus did there. This is not to mention his teaching and daily living that took place there as his home base.

Bethsaida we know a little about. On the sea of Galilee. Philip, Andrew, and Peter were from Bethsaida according to John 1.

Chorazin is the least-known place. It was two miles from Capernaum, so right near by.

The fact that we hear so little about these other two cities, yet Jesus himself recognizes them as places where most of his mighty works were done tells us just how much more Jesus did than we have written down.

If just the miracles in Capernaum that we have read and studied about in Matthew 8-9 were done, there would be sufficient evidence to show who Jesus was - but now take that and multiply it out, in different cities, at different times - the works were immense and powerful and potent and evident. There was no what Jesus was doing - everyone knew about it. Everyone heard about it. And, beyond that, Jesus’ disciples had just gone out on a teaching and miracle working endeavor to spread the message of the Kingdom.

These three towns recieved a intense laser-beam of light from God shining directly into their eyes, as it were. The God-Man himself came down, dwelled there, healed, taught, raised the dead, cast out demons - all the signs promised focused in on these little towns.

And what is the lesson Jesus is teaching? What is the example He is making? They did not repent.

Jesus wasn’t looking for fame or approval in his ministry - he was looking for repentance. Repentance is that key disposition of guilt, ought, and need before God - a change of mind and disposition toward God that leads to a change in ones entire life.

The works of Jesus were to be signs for the people, just like they were to be for John. Signs for the people who saw them, received them, witnessed them. But they didn’t repent - they didn’t follow the signs - the message was “repent, for the kingdom is here!” And the signs said “The Messiah is here!” But the response was nothing - indifference at best, rejection at least.

Now, this sweeping condemnation doesn’t rule out individual repentance - individual response. Consider that Andrew, Peter, and Philip came from bethsaida, Matthew came from Capernaum - so some did repent and follow.

But, just as sweeping condemnation doesn’t rule out individual repentance, it also doesn’t make individual unbelief any less condemning. Jesus was after people - individuals - and by and large, they refused to listen.

Three Cities of History

The main illustration of Jesus’ lesson is one of comparison. A comparison of these three towns in Galilee to three foreign cities in Israel’s history.

The pronouncement is “woe!” Which is a statement of horror, disaster, grief. There is a sense of compassion and empathy - warning and compassion.

Jesus looks back on the history of his people - the Jewish people - and points out three cities of history that they would have known and recognized. Three cities that would be burned into their minds from listening to the scriptures and the accounts of their forefathers.

What Jesus says about these places is remarkable - if they would have been given the opportunity that this generation had, they would have repented. And, Jesus knows this because He is their Maker.

Tyre and Sidon were important ancient cities, Port cities on the mediterranean, some of the most significant cities of the Phonecian territory - to Israel, though, they were images of Pagan unbelief and arrogance, the pride of warfare and destruction.

Isaiah 23 gives us an Oracle about Tyre and Sidon - it is an oracle of shame and dishonor.

In Ezekiel 26, there is a prophecy against the city of Tyre in which the Lord says - “I am against you...”

In Amos 1, there is a prophecy of a judgment of fire against the city of Tyre.

And What of Sodom? We read about Sodom in Genesis 18-19 - it was and is regarded as one of the most wicked cities in history. It is still used as a descriptor and a byword for particularly heinous immorality.

Abraham’s Nephew Lot had moved to that region because it was well-watered, well-suited for raising Cattle. But God had purposed to destroy it.

And do you remember the conversation that Abraham had with the Lord? Abraham bargained a little bit - he said, if there are 50 righteous men, will you destroy the city? And God said, if there are 50 righteous men, I will not destroy it. Then Abraham backed off his number a bit - what about 45, Lord? God said, If I find 45, I will not destroy it.

What about 20? Yes, for 20 I will save it.

What about 10? For the sake of 10, I will not destroy it.

Well - we know the fate of Sodom. It was, indeed, destroyed in fire and brimstone, and is forever burned into our minds as a city of wickedness and destruction.

Which makes Jesus’ words all the more potent.

Matthew 11:21–24 ESV

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

These words would have been shocking! More tolerable for Tyre and Sidon? But the prophets spoke out so boldly against them!

More tolerable for Sodom? Sodom is the picture of wickedness! How can this be?

The Light that Left them Excuseless

Jesus makes it very clear - had the works that were done in Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum been done in Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, then those people would have had more of a heart of repentance and faith than the people in Jesus’ own cities.

The works were to be signs - just like Jesus told John, when he sent his disciples back to him saying, “remind John of the works that you had seen.” They were signs of the Messiah, signs of the New Covenant, Signs that God Himself was on the scene. But the signs were missed at best, and ignored as insignificant at worse.

Jesus highlights something very important for our understanding in verse 23

Matthew 11:23 ESV

And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Of Capernaum, Jesus’ own city, Jesus indicts them for their pride - for their arrogance. And he uses a quote from Isaiah 14 to illustrate it.

Isaiah 14:13–15 ESV

You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

This was a word against the King of Babylon - again, another wicked and unbelieving figure - who had exalted himself in his own mind to be the highest of all, even above the Most High God. That is idolatry to the greatest extent - to raise oneself above God in your thinking.

And this is what Jesus pronounces about Capernaum - that in their pride, they had raised themselves up above the Most High.

They had received the light - the true light of Jesus’ works, his teaching, his ministry. The light came into the world - John 3 tells us - but the men loved darkness rather than light. And for this, there was condemnation.

John 3:19 ESV

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

This is the greatest condemnation one can ever receive, the condemnation of ignoring and rejecting the light. That is why, for these Jewish cities which were full of religious people, their condemnation is worse than Tyre, Sidon, and Even that wicked Sodom.

The faithlessness and unbelief of these towns was worse, in Jesus estimation, than the outright wickedness of those three condemned cities. What does that tell us about the importance of belief, of responding to the light?

It tells us a few things

Having religious heritage does not equate a right standing before God. These cities in Galilee were cities where most of the people could trace their lineage back to Abraham himself - yet, their heritage would bode them no benefit on the judgment day.

Being interested in religious things does not earn you right standing before God - not doubt, Jesus’ miracles were astonishing and intriguing for thousands, but in the final analysis, there was no faith - no following - no repentance for most of the people.

Unbelief is a sin - and it is a sin that is forgivable - but it requires that one respond to the light that has been given to them.

Friends, we live in an age and in a culture where we are surrounded by light and opportunities for belief. We live in a nation where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached freely and openly. Within our own county there are scores of churches you could attend that share the light and Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What have you done with the light of Jesus Christ that you have received? You see the culpability of recieving it - and furthermore, the Scriptures tell us that all men are without excuse, because even Creation cries out and proclaims that there is an Almighty Creator. I urge you to consider these things -consider where you stand with the Lord. Have you come to Him?

2. Rest - Vs. 25-30

And that is the opportune question - and it is the question, or really the imperative - that Jesus gives in the next section.

And Jesus is really multi-tasking here. He has a prayer of praise to the Father, He does some teaching about Himself and His relationship to the Father, and then he brings that great and sweet invitation to those who have ears to hear.

Prayer to the Father

We find a parallel to this in Luke 10.

Matthew 11:25–26 ESV

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Notice how Jesus addresses Him - Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth.

There is a recognition of both Parental love and care, but also supreme authority. Jesus has already taught us to pray like this in the Sermon on the Mount - to approach God as our Father, the most endearing form of relationship - yet, here, even His own unique Son also recognizes his authority.

And in this case, it is Authority to hide and reveal.

These things - immediately, the works/signs that Jesus did - the greater context, Jesus’ message and Messiahship - the Gospel itself.

We learn from the mouth of Jesus Himself that it is part of God’s gracious will to hide and reveal his truth as he sees fit. We do well to be reminded of this - that if any of us recieve and respond to the light of the truth, it is because of the Grace and goodness of God and God alone. We can take no credit for our coming to faith, for our repentance, for our following.

We come as poor in spirit, meek, hungry, and cast down - but by God’s Grace, we are blessed.

By God’s gracious will, he has flipped the script on how things usually operate.

The “wise and understanding” are, in this case, the self-sufficient. They are those who see Jesus, his works, his message, his Gospel, and they say - “I don’t need it.”

Are you in that place? Are you in the place of looking at what God has done, and saying, I don’t need it? That was the condemnation against Capernaum, wasn’t it? They lifted themselves up in their thinking above God Himself - of course, they never would have said that - but in looking at God’s son and saying, “I don’t need Him!” That is exactly what they were doing.

1 Corinthians 1:18–21 ESV

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.

Earthly wisdom says “I don’t need God! I don’t need His righteousness!” And that is the person, the attitude, from which God hides his wonderful truth.

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

James quotes from the proverbs there - and it is an astonishing quote. God opposes the proud. Not, God ignores the proud. Not, God doesn’t prefer the proud - rather, God opposes - actively - the proud.

It is the same case in Jesus’ words here - both are action words - God hides - action - these things from the wise and understanding, and he reveals - action - them to babes.

Now, lest we get too caught up in God’s hiding work - may we not miss the grace and wonder of his revealing work.

Every person who follows the Lord is a person who has come to Him as a little baby - not just in age, but in disposition. This is God’s grace - that when we are at our lowest, when we are at the end of ourselves, when we know we have no understanding, no wisdom, no righteousness, not ability, God’s grace swoops in with the light of the truth - it floods and illuminates our soul like never before - it is a miracle of grace that we cannot comprehend, we couldn’t conjure it up, produce it ourselves - but God has wrought a mighty work - a work of his gracious will.

Teaching to the Listeners

And that work is done through Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. We learn of that relationship and that work here.

Matthew 11:27 ESV

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

Jesus started his prayer by highlighting the authority of the Father - and here, he tells that this authority has been “handed over” or given. This is much like what Jesus will say at the End of Matthew before he ascends - all authority on heaven and earth is given to me.

We learn two things -

Only the Father Truly knows the Son

Only the Son Truly knows the Father

They are in a category by themselves - exclusive, mutual knowledge. From before time, eternity past, the Godhead has dwelt in love and perfect unity - in knowledge and full relation. This is the mystery of the Trinity - One God, Three persons, distinct in operation, but equal in power and glory.

But Jesus is saying - I know the Father! I Know him truly and deeply! All the wisdom and joys and glories and power and plans and mysteries and treasures and designs and majestic sweetness is fully encapsulated in Jesus knowledge.

But - and here is where that grace breaks in - Jesus, in His authority, reveals the Godhead to everyone he chooses to reveal Him to.

There it is - the same grace and sovereignty that we saw in the Father, now we see it in the Son. The Authority and grace to transfer that knowledge - which is more than just head knowledge, it is relationship, intimate knowledge - to everyone he chooses.

This is God’s grace - have you recieved the knowledge of God through Jesus Christ? Then it is because of His work - rejoice in that! We are blind, but receive sight by grace. We are dead, but receive life by grace. We are natural born, but receive new-birth by Grace - the gracious will of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Invitation to the Hearers

And his sweetness, tenderness, and graciousness is extended in these final verses.

He turns from teaching, to pleading. In a way that only Jesus could do, after telling everyone that it is His gracious prerogative to reveal himself to whoever he will, he reaches out with this invitation - Come to Me.

All who labor and are heavy burdened.

The heavy burden I believe Jesus is speaking of, is the burden of the Lawyers and the religious teachers of that day.

Luke 11:42–46 ESV

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.” One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you insult us also.” And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

Matthew 23:1–8 ESV

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

The weary and the heavy burdened were the “people of the earth.” They were the common people. The people that had heavy loads of Pharisaical religion heaped upon their shoulders. They are the tax collectors, the sinners, the ones who knew they were in need of righteousness, that they were insufficient - but they could find no help, no rest, no relief in the Religion of that day. A strict, mostly man-made moral code that neglected justice, mercy, and God’s love.

You see, each person in existence looks for some way to be freed from their guilt - from their existential burden.

We don’t live in Jesus day, with the Pharisees and Lawyers, but we do face certain pressures in our day to “justify ourselves.”

Accomplishment

comparison

trying not to offend/political correctness

moving to an acceptable social or moral position

increased self-image

belongings

approval/applause of peers or family

Whatever system a person may seek to justify themselves, to rid themselves of guilt and this existential burden, they are all insufficient - because they all lack the Grace of Christ

Christ - who says, “Come to me”

Come to me, take my yoke, and learn from me.

It is a call of Grace.

It is a call of change - Christ’s yoke, which is a call to be his servant, is a different yoke - a light one - not the yoke of culture, not the yoke of legalistic religion - but the yoke of love and grace

It is a call of discipleship - learn from me.

We see here a Christ who is gentle and lowly - a compassionate savior. And remember, this is the Son of God - the one who reveals the Father to us - which tells us, this is our God! A compassionate God.

The savior who comes to lay down his life, the shepherd who gives everything for His sheep - the friend of tax collectors and sinners. the teacher who calls fishermen rather than academics. The Lord who does not arrogantly rule, but lovingly leads. The Maker who doesn’t despise his creation but enters in to redeem it.

This is our gentle and lowly savior - and he calls out to those of you -those of us who are weak, and burdened by the systems of the world, by our own sin and heaviness - by our own lack of strength and says come to me - you will find rest for your souls.

So I ask you - will you remain like the cities that Jesus condemned, the cities that ignored his light? I ask you - do you hear his call to come to Him? Is He calling you? I cannot answer that for you in this moment - but I would love the opportunity to speak more about it to you.

Are you a person who has always known these things but for some reason they have always seemed insignificant? Perhaps you are considering Jesus in a new light - perhaps He is calling you in His grace to come to Him.

And Christian - those who have known and followed. Know, too, that we are responsible for the light that we have received. Part of this call is to learn from Christ and to follow Him. May we not veer off the path of his yoke and back into the path of our own systems. Only in Him do we find Rest.