The Gospel According to Matthew
Matthew 11
Introduction: Today we are going to try to go through Matthew 11. Yes we are going to try to study the entire chapter. The reason here is because it all goes together. Today I want us to read the scriptures not only for what it says, but I want us to look at how Jesus is reacting. How He handles the situation. His tone. etc. So lets get started.
READ: Matthew 11
Jesus and John the Baptist
11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.[a]
2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[d] and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
So where does this doubt come from? Who is John? What do we know about him? So why does he send this question to Jesus?
Johns expectations, of who Jesus was, what he would do caused the doubt. What are our expectations of Jesus?
Is that something we should be careful with? What is the response from Jesus? How does He speak of John?
Woe on Unrepentant Towns
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[e] For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Doesn't Jesus seem to be a bit annoyed? Here the man who goes before him to proclaim who Jesus is has just questioned him, and then he is thinking about all these towns where he has gone into them and healed everyone, taken care of all of there needs and they doubt Him and turn from Him too. He is getting upset. Frustrated.
What towns does He say would have remained faithful if they had experienced Jesus? What kind of towns were these? What kind of towns were the others?
So the towns where they should have believed easily. The "holy" towns rejected Him and then he says that if He had gone to the "heathen" town they would remain true. This must have stung just a bit for those hearing, don't you think? We need to be careful that we do not assume we have it all because we are "HIS" church or community.
From the beginning of this chapter it is as if you can hear Jesus getting more and more upset, disappointed, frustrated. Can you hear that? Now there is a shift coming. This next section is quite different.
The Father Revealed in the Son
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
So Jesus who undoubtedly is tired, been working hard to heal and transform lives all in an effort to get those He comes in contact with to know His father, is questioned by John because He isn't freeing him, is rejected by those He did free, and yet He then turns His attention to Praising his Father. He verbalizes the truth that they are one. He takes a moment to verbalize the truth and then turns and invites all to a rest.
What should we learn from this? When we are serving those who don't appreciate it, when we are doubted, or when we see those around us, even leaders, or healed by Him, not believing? What should are response be?
Or even more generally, how can we deal with frustration?
Turn and praise God? Turn our eyes on Him and what He has done for us? Does this apply for us?
Here is the beauty of this passage for me. After being doubted, after getting frustrated about the entire towns that have received him, been healed by him and then rejected him. After all that, Jesus turns and praises His father and the very next thing he says is such a beautiful invitation. An invitation to have Him and what that will bring.
Come to Him and you will have more than healing, you will have rest for your soul.
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