Matthew 11 - February 9^th

Throughout this chapter, both the wickedness of man as well as the wrath and mercy of God are spoken of. Let us consider a few points from this chapter.

Flute and Dirge

Chapter 11 opens up with John the Baptist. As we remember from chapter 3, John came to serve as a forerunner to the Messiah. Christ is the king, and John is his herald. Christ tells us much more about John in this chapter; things such as “he is the Elijah who is to come” (referencing the fact that John is the fulfillment of the prophecy found in Malachi 4:5) and the fact that John is the greatest among men (that is some praise coming from the Lord). 

However, I would like to focus on the point that Jesus made in verses 16-18. What is Jesus saying in these verses? I believe that it is here that he begins to point out the stubbornness and hard-heartedness of the people, a point that he will continue to make in verses 20-24. John was a hard preacher, and he was blunt (think of him as the dirge, if you will). John did not hold back in indicting the people's conscience through his preaching of repentance, but what did the people say about him? That “he has a demon.” You would then believe that perhaps the people would respond better to Jesus’ displays of mercy and grace, even to the greatest of sinners (the flute, if you will). Still, instead, they turn around and condemn Christ as well, calling him a glutton and a drunkard for associating with tax collectors and sinners. 

What does this show? It shows that man is fickle and unsatisfied, always finding a problem with the message of the Gospel. As my reformation study bible says, “People who resist God’s Word can always find an excuse by critiquing God’s messengers.” The men of that generation had both Elijah (John the Baptist) and the Messiah (Christ) among them and yet still were unwilling to repent and be saved. The human heart cannot be saved unless the Spirit of God intercedes and regenerates that heart; otherwise, men will always have an excuse to run from the light.

Woe to You

Continuing on from the former fact that the people of Jesus’ generation had both the forerunner and the King present with them yet still refused to repent, we now see the consequences of that. Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were examples of cities that witnessed the miracles and teachings of Christ and yet refused to repent. Jesus actually says that “it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for you”, indicating that their sin is greater. Why? It is because they had greater revelation. It is one thing to sin in ignorance; yes, you are still guilty and must pay for your crimes, but it is an even more heinous crime to sin against light and knowledge. Luke 12:48 says, “But the one to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” The inferno of God’s wrath burned hot against Sodom because of their sin (as we will see in the days ahead). However, it will burn even hotter for those who had the Gospel told them and yet still persisted in sin, especially those who had the very Son of God in their midst preaching and performing many miracles.

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

In light of the hardness of man, how will anyone be saved? It is by the sovereign will of God!It is not the so-called wise and understanding of this world who posses human intellect and knowledge who will be saved, but rather it will be the little children (those who are inferior in the eyes of man). And how is this so? By the regeneration work of God! It is only to those whom the Son decides who will know the Father. As 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”  God will reveal himself and thus save those whom he chooses. And he offers rest to all those who come to him. Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden is light because he has satisfied the righteous requirement of the Law of God for his people, and thus becomes our true Sabbath rest.