Matthew 11:1-30
Sermon Notes
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Worse Than Sodom
October 2, 2016
Lynchburg, Virginia
EXHORDIUM
In this section we see
the passing of the old and in with the new. John has been arrested and will
soon be killed by Herod. John is now wondering if Jesus really is the Christ.
Various commentators explain John’s sending of these disciples to Jesus as if
it was John’s desire to exhort and encourage them by thus doing. These
commentators do not like to lay any accusation of doubt upon John at this time.
That
seems inconsistent with the text. Jesus is again making a contrast between
belief and unbelief. John has made the good confession about Jesus. He declared
Him the Lamb of God. But now John is in prison and it looks like his days will
end there. John knows that he must decrease and Jesus must increase. But is it
any wonder that John is wavering at this moment? Things look bleak and it is
likely that John did not have a clear understanding of the course that Jesus
would take.
Jesus
upbraids John at this question before He praises him. It is a danger that we
make the good confession for a time but wave when trouble arises. Jesus is
blessing those who do not waver in the midst of trouble. Thus, he chides John
for his wavering but then bolsters him with words of assurance and praise. We
need both.
EXEGESIS
And it came to pass,
when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed
thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
2 Now when John had
heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
John
had been arrested for resisting the political authorities. The king had taken
his brother’s wife and John Baptist had told him that it was against God’s law.
John’s faithfulness cost him his head.
Apparently,
John was able to receive his disciples. It is interesting at this point that
John still has disciples. This point is the point at which Jesus must increase
and John must decrease. John’s disciples must become the disciples of Jesus.
3 And said unto him,
Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Why
would John doubt? He already confessed that Jesus was the Lamb who takes away
the sins of the world. Now, John hears about the good works of Jesus which are
a confirmation to John’s own witness of Jesus.
Perhaps
even John Baptist was somewhat mistaken about the nature of the kingdom? He is
now in prison and not likely to get out. Is Jesus going to save him? Will Jesus
take over the kingdom of Israel? Is Jesus the King to sit on David’s throne?
Herod, who locked John up and will soon cut off his head, is the one sitting on
David’s throne. But not even as free king in Israel. He is a puppet king of the
overlord Romans. Will Jesus dethrone Herod and the Roman occupation?
4 Jesus answered and
said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their
sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead
are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he,
whosoever shall not be offended in me.
Quote
from Old Testament, Is. 35 and 61 about the promised Messiah. This was said to
reassure John, but not without a jibe. Jesus is about to condemn Tyre, Sidon
and Capernaum. His own brothers refused to believe in Him. Now, his cousin is
having doubts, too.
Blessed
is the one who is not offended by knowing Jesus. Are you ashamed of Jesus? Are
you despairing because the kingdoms of this world still act worldly? There is
an antithesis between God’s kingdom and the kingdom of men. It runs right
through every institution and government. Jesus is challenging John, His
disciples, the various cities, the very governments of this earth, to take
sides. Will you be in the kingdom of light or darkness, good or evil, heaven or
hell?
Matt.
11:7 And as they departed, Jesus
began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the
wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed
in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’
houses. 9 But
what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a
prophet.
John
must have been a bit of a spectacle. Jesus asks the crowd what they went out to
see. Did you seek a reed shake by the wind? That would be a frightened man
afraid of the times and the men of the times. John was not shaking reed. Or,
did you go out to see a refined fellow in fine clothes with careful words? John
was no Eunuch. He was a bold man who spoke the word of God without apology.
This is a spectacle and the powerful people came out to see how it would go
with him.
John
was a prophet and more than a prophet. The prophets all spoke of the one who
was to come. They pointed to a distant future. John saw that future with his
own eyes.
10 For this is he,
of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall
prepare thy way before thee.
John
was more than a prophet because he was the forerunner of Christ. He preached
repentance like all the prophets but he was able to point to Jesus in the flesh
and declare the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Jesus
and John fulfill this prophecy from Malachi.
11 Verily I say unto
you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John
the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is
greater than he.
After
taking a brief moment to chastise John Baptist, Jesus then gives him the
highest praise. This is not uncommon for Jesus. Remember when Peter gives the
good confession that Jesus is the Christ, how Jesus praises Him. Flesh and
blood have not revealed this to you but my Father in Heaven. Then immediately
afterwards, Peter tells Jesus not to go to Jerusalem to die for the people. And
Jesus calls Peter Satan. He gives him the highest praise and the most base
rebuke. Peter was not Satan but when he says, No, Lord, he is acting like the
devil.
John
Baptist has the same temptation. He is a most extraordinary man. He has been
faithful, even to the point of blood. And yet, John Baptist doubts whether
Jesus is the Christ. Doubt and fear are great enemies of faith. Furthermore,
when doubt and fear the driving forces in one’s decision, faith is directly
assaulted. Faith grows weak or may even flee. Jesus gives John reassurance and
from this is confident that John will remain faithful.
Momentary
doubt or weakness of faith is not inconsistent with fidelity to the Lord Jesus.
Peter’s denials were egregious. May the Lord grant us grace to never utter such
denials of Jesus. But when Jesus looks upon Peter, Peter is broken in
repentance and later strengthened in the power of the Holy Spirit. While God
wants us to be men and women of great faith, brokenness is the necessary
component to such faith. Only then will a man or woman understand their great
need for a great Savior.
12 And from the days of
John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the
violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied
until John. 14 And
if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to
hear, let him hear.
This
passage has been variously explained. It is commonly understood to mean that
Christians strive for heaven, taking heaven by storm. It is with great force of
action to enter into heaven.
I
have never been able to wrap my mind around that definition. It seems out of
accord with the text which is about to pronounce woes on the unbelieving cities
and citizens. The violent are those opposed to Christ and His Kingdom. They
might even be men who seize the churches power by force, laying claim to the
kingdom of heaven. However, Jesus is making the point that this is not the way
to enter heaven. Not by force but by faith.
Matt.
11:16 But whereunto shall I liken
this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling
unto their fellows, 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye
have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
This
is a childish generation, one that cannot see the truth directly in front of
them. They always do the inappropriate thing. When it is time to dance, they
mourn. When it is time to mourn, they dance.
Their
time of rejoicing is upon them. The Christ has arrived. The crowds line the
streets and welcome Jesus crying, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He
who comes in the name of the Lord.”
But
the call for rejoicing is not heeded, not in Chorazin or Bethsaida, not in
Capernaum, not in Jerusalem. The wedding song is called for but the chief
players prefer a dirge.
18 For John came neither
eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and
they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and
sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
Unbelief
will find any excuse to resist God’s ministers.
An unbeliever says that God’s ministers are too austere, too
fundamental, too legalistic. Or, if the minister is kind and broad minded and
liberally free, then they accuse of him of riotous sin, a glutton and a
drunkard. Unbelief resists God’s men not for their particularities but for
their bold proclamation of the truth.
But
time will tell. Wisdom is justified of her children. This proverb works in
reverse. Foolishness is revealed of her children. The wise in heart will be
revealed in time and so, too, will fools.
20 Then began he to
upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they
repented not: 21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee,
Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say unto you, It
shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for
you. 23 And thou, Capernaum,
which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty
works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have
remained until this day. 24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
This
is a horrendous indictment of the unbelieving cities of Israel. He tells them
that they are worse than Sodom. Such a charge could be made to many of our
cities. The Lord has blessed this nation beyond belief. And yet, many if not
most of the men and women in our country reject Jesus. And this rejection is
not mere ignorance. Many know who He claims to be or even Who He really is, and
yet they refuse Him anyway. This is worse than Sodomy, worse than rape, worse
than all the vile sins in a heap.
EXHORTATION
Matt. 11:25
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord
of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
27 All things are delivered
unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither
knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son
will reveal him.
Are you among the self-proclaimed wise and
prudent? Or, are you a wee little babe. Given Jesus’s words here, you would be
wise and prudent to take the humble route.
We cannot know God unless Jesus reveals Him to
us. We are wholly reliant upon His grace and mercy.
28 Come unto me, all
ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you,
and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto
your souls. 30 For
my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Some people act as if they need rest from Jesus.
Jesus is a burden to them. His ways constrict. But this is a lie. Jesus is the
rest. His ways are not burdensome.
For those of you who have been Christians a long
time, you have seen this puzzling fact. The way of the sinner is hard. The way
of the Christian is excessively easier and better. And yet men, women and
children love their sin. It seems hard to give up earthly vices. It seems hard
to deny oneself pleasure. But if you do not apply Christian discipline to your
life, you find that things go from bad to worse.
Why not open your eyes? Why not see the truth?
Why not take the yoke of Christ?
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