Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

February 11, 2018

Matthew 11 vs 16 – 30 Revealed, Rejected & Rest

Jesus finished the last section with a call to hear (if you have ears to hear) and their reaction (rejection) is what Jesus warns about beginning at verse sixteen.

{vs. 16-17} Jesus uses a common phrase from the rabbis’ toolkit – “what can I compare” – they would introduce a parable.  Such parables, allegories or moral stories were a powerful way of teaching a truth through natural and instinctive understanding.  It’s as if Jesus said “Now, how can I say this so you’ll understand?”  “This generation” – the people of His day, those standing right there (hopefully having ears to hear)!  Jesus was saying that His own generation was a childish generation.  By childish He meant perverse – difficult, awkward, obstinate, unreasonable and uncooperative.  

The allegory or picture is of children playing in the town courtyard.  It could be either on market day while their parents are busy or when the courts are clear and open.  Either way, it does not matter.  These kids have gathered and being bored, as children often are, they call to each other in order to play a game.  Not a board game or game of dice but a roleplaying game, like children of yesterday who would play cops and robbers (before video games came along and destroyed the imagination.)  Verse seventeen (17) describes the two games offered: 1) a joyful party game with dancing and lively music (probably based on a wedding feast) or 2) a sorrowful game, with sad music and mourning (probably based on a funeral procession).  These two great occasions (marrying and burying) represent the very opposite ends of life’s spectrum.  They were also the major public events in the life of a Jew.  One represents the highest, happiest point in life and the other the inescapable end.  Yet, even though their fellows called to them they would not play either one!

{vs. 18-19} So now, with the scene set, Jesus goes on to the application.  What we see is that God sent two very opposite harbingers of the Kingdom, the solemn Messenger of Messiah and the loving Messiah, Himself. 

· John the Baptist, who we saw last time, came in the spirit of Elijah preaching in the wilderness and demanding repentance!  Those who wanted to see John had to go out to him.  John lived a very acidic lifestyle; he and his disciples carefully followed the law and fasted regularly (a very somber existence).  They saw him like we would view the proverbial long-bearded, wild-eyed sandwich-board-wearing doom crier on the street corner, constantly warning us “THE END IS NEAR”.  John was a loner, a man who did not fit into society.  Jesus tells us that after the crowds came, got their fill and left - the final consensus was that John “had a demon.”  By this they mean that he was at least ‘crazy’ as we would say today or at worst, they meant that he was under satanic influence (deceiving in order to steal, kill and destroy). 

· Jesus, however came as the contrast to John.  He embodied warmth and love, feeding, healing and casting out demons.  He sat and ate (an intimate act) with everyone who sought the truth, even the “worst of society” (He was the friend of tax collectors and sinners.)  He went to where the people were, to towns, synagogues and the temple - He even went to celebrations, like the wedding at Cana!  He put people before strict observance of the Pharisees’ laws and the Pharisees condemned Him for it!  Jesus would be seen as the kind of minister who would go down to skid row, inviting the down and out to come to church.  He would welcome the thieves, murders and prostitutes and those who thought they were righteous did not appreciate it.

Jesus says you just don't want to play (no matter what the game is).  You will not be satisfied.  No matter what God tells you . . . you’ll find fault and choose not to believe.  Childish people who had no openness and no interest . . . just a bitter, critical, contrary spirit.  We have people like that today – tell them about Jesus and they don’t believe, or don’t need that ‘crutch’.  They hear the gospel and ask some unimportant or unrelated question about church practices, angels or history.  Not that they want to know the answer – if you answer them, they usually just come up with another question.  If you invite them to church, they will have an ever-changing list of excuses: the music is too loud, too fast, too slow; that preacher is boring or critical; the people are hypocrites or stuck up; etc., etc.

However, “Wisdom is proved right by her deeds” – the word deeds here can be translated as works, products or actions.  What Jesus is saying in the speech of that day (and scripture) is “the proof is in the pudding!”  The true nature of a thing is established by its outcome or fruit.  What is it that John’s ministry produced? – Repentance, in those that would listen and receive.  What did Jesus’ ministry produce – Salvation (for all who will believe!)  In the end, the truth will justify itself by what it produces.  A person can say they’ve been changed or enlightened – but the fruit their life produces will tell the truth.  Christians should have sinless fruit (they sin less and less), while wickedness is produced in the Godless.  Those who criticize Christ cannot explain it when they see people whose lives have changed.  For example, the medicines advertised on TV, they make big promises but the truth is in the results (improved health, side effects or even sudden death!)

{vs. 20-24} “Woe to you!”  This unrepentant reaction to God’s revelation will cause their destruction.  Three cities were villages of Galilee, selected as a sampling for this promise of judgement: Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum.  This curse (yes, woe means curse) is not about the cities, roads and buildings – but about the people!  Jesus chose Capernaum as His new base of operations – He came and went from these cities regularly – they saw His face, heard His voice and were witnesses to the miracles (mighty works in the Greek).  You know that we don’t even have a full record of the things Jesus did among them - John 21:25 tells us that the whole world would not be able to contain the accounts if they were to be written down!  They literally saw the power of God among them; and verse twenty (20) tells us they did not repent!  Many of us think that if we heard Jesus or saw the miracles we would have real faith, but it’s no guarantee.  Remember Lazarus and the rich man? (Luke 16:19-31)  “'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'”  These cities were not centers of fornication, thievery or other sin (they’re not Corinth or Las Vegas!) and it’s not about what they were doing!  It’s all about what they did not do – repent!  Jesus shocks those listening by comparing them to vile cities: Tyre and Sidon – Phoenician seaports, known for their corruption and Sodom and Gomorrah – cities so evil that God rained fire down to completely obliterate them!  Jesus says you (comfortable, confident Jews) who will not hear God’s message are much worse and will be much worse off in the day of judgement!  There are degrees of punishment in Hell and it does not matter where you start (good, evil or somewhere in the middle – in God’s eyes all have sinned and fallen short) – the only thing that matters is how you respond to His revelation!

{vs. 25-26} God desires those who will humbly come to Him, those with a heart filled with love, gratitude and an honest appraisal of themselves.  To ensure this, God made His invitation, His gospel invisible to those who are self-confident, those who trust in themselves and believe that they can reach God through good works  or by the merit of who their parents/ancestors were.  God has designed the Kingdom so that only those who come to Jesus with childlike faith, who put their full trust and reliance on Him can enter in!  Sadly, that is why those who will not enter in cannot even find the door (the Way).

{vs. 27} This continues the thought, “all things” is all things about the Kingdom, spiritual things.  These are hidden in Christ and no one knows or can learn of them unless He (Jesus) reveals them to him.  Basically, we (none of us – not prophet, priest, saint, etc.) can know God . . . except that He (Jesus) reveals Himself to us.  God cannot be found! The natural man cannot perceive these spiritual things – they are foolishness to him (1 Corinthians 2:14).  However, while our best efforts are useless – God is looking down on us with mercy and He promises to reveal Himself.  Every one of us has a general revelation – that which is seen in creation and especially the hole left in our own hearts but for those who long for more – He will give more.  “… If you seek me with all your heart you will find Me.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)

{vs. 28-30} Jesus is humble – this is a God quality, although the most glorious and worthy person to ever walk this Earth, though all of history – Jesus is humble in heart (true to the very center of who He is).  Jesus (God) is not asking us to be something that He is not willing to do, to be Himself!  Here is the reward, for those who put their trust in Him – no matter how weary and burdened you are - - - Jesus will give you rest!  One word is not enough to describe our haggard state – we are both weary (tired in spirit and soul, weak or exhausted) and burdened (weighed down with heavy requirements – like performance of the Law). 

This is how we come to Christ – not fresh and content but weak and buried under a load impossible to carry.  Really, this is how we all are, but there are so many (the majority) of us who will not be saved only because we are in denial!  Like the Jews of that day, there are so many in philosophies, cults and yes, even churches who are confident that they are ‘good with God’ or the universe or whatever!  The only confidence we can have is in Jesus Christ!  All others are false hope and deception.  Those who come to Him receive rest; they can cease from their working to try to achieve or to be worthy.  Does that mean we kick back in a pew or on the couch at home? No!  Now, we can do for God because we love Him and want to please Him – not to achieve!  God’s rest is not just a vacation – it’s a state of being.  It is also how He describes entering the Promised Land and Heaven.  This rest is no longer having to work but rather it is spending time with Him!  Jesus tells us come to Me – My yoke is easy because in Jesus we are already secure, the victory is won.  That yoke is not the center of an egg but rather the wooden and leather harness made to join to animals together (like plow oxen).  When properly made a yoke is light (comfortable and natural) and not rubbing or chafing.  When you come to Me (says Jesus) you will be freed from the burden, freed from the work and you will never regret being tied to Me!