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Gospel of Matthew Chapter 11 The Big Question

by Paul George  
6/13/2008 / Bible Studies


Matthew 11:16-24

Jesus closes the vindication of John with the question "But to what shall I compare this generation?" Before Jesus asked the question concerning "this generation" Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15 WEB). This statement by Jesus implies the need to pay attention to what Jesus has said and is about to say. In Matthew 13:13 Jesus told the disciples why He was speaking to the people in parables, "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don't see, and hearing, they don't hear, neither do they understand." The same can be applied to the people Jesus is speaking to in Matthew 11:7. It can be applied to the twenty-first century church.

In the church today there are many who have heard what John said concerning the kingdom of heaven. They have heard the teachings of Jesus. They have heard about the miracles He performed that proved He was the Messiah. They have heard the Gospel message. In spite of what they have heard there is disillusionment and doubt in the church. Unlike John who was not a reed shaken by the wind this present generation is like a reed shaken by they wind, both the generation Jesus was speaking to and those in the church who are inconsistent in what they believe.

Note the question, "what shall I compare this generation," interesting question. Jesus is implying He could not compare this generation's disobedience and rejection of the truth with the previous generation. While there is a relationship between the disobedience and rejection of the truth in pervious generations the level of disobedience and rejection of the truth has risen to a new level with the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus. The level of disobedience and rejection of the truth will rise to a new level with each succeeding generation to the end of time.

Note how Jesus answers the question, first, he compares His and John's generation to children sitting in the market place and calling out to other children, "We played the flute for you, and you didn't dance. We mourned for you, and you didn't lament" (Matthew 11:16-17 WEB). This parable implies the attitude of the people concerning Jesus and John. They have rejected both Jesus and John. John did not meet their expectations of the forerunner of the Messiah and Jesus did not meet their expectations of the Messiah. John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners'" (Matthew 11:18-19 WEB).

Jesus said, "But wisdom is justified by her children" (Matthew 11:19 WEB). Who are the children of wisdom? The children of wisdom are those who have the ability to judge correctly and to follow the best course of action based on knowledge and understanding. The children of wisdom are those who have heard the call to repent and have repented. They are those who have received both John and Jesus.

There are those in our generation who accept Jesus as a prophet or teacher of moral values but will not accept Him as the Word that was with God in the beginning. The sad thing there are professing Christians who deny what the Apostle John wrote in his Gospel that the Word was with God in the beginning and the Word was God and all things came into being through Him. In this claim by John he is saying that Jesus was not only God, He was the Creator of all things and He came and dwelt upon this earth. He did not come as a spirit being but as John tells us in his Gospel, He became flesh.

In the second part of His answer to the question, "to what shall I compare this generation" Jesus compares the people in the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum with the people in Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom.

Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom had come under the judgment of God in the past (Isaiah 23; Ezekiel 26-28; Joel 3.4; Amos 6.9-10; Zechariah 9:2-4; Genesis 18). But Jesus declares that their guilt was nowhere near that of the towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida because they had not seen the miracles of Jesus. Jesus said, "If the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you" (Matthew 11:21-22 - WEB). This was a warning to the inhabitants of Chorazin and Bethsaida who may have been in the crowds Jesus was speaking to; on the Day of Judgment, those who have the opportunity not only to see the mighty works of Jesus but to also hear about them will be found guilty of a greater crime than those who have not had the opportunity to see and hear of the mighty works of Jesus.

Note what Jesus said about Capernaum, "You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you (Matthew 11:23-24 WEB).

Note how Jesus sets apart the judgment upon Capernaum from that upon Chorazin and Bethsaida. The people in Capernaum are guiltier than the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida. After being rejected by the people of His hometown, Nazareth, Jesus made Capernaum the center of His ministry. It was in Capernaum many of the miracles of Jesus were performed (Matthew 8:5-13; Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 8:14-15; John 4:46-51).

Jesus claims that had the people in Sodom had the opportunity of hearing the kind of teaching and seeing the kind of miracles that Capernaum had. They would not have rejected Jesus as the people in Capernaum have rejected Him. This is a warning to all people that pride themselves on being better than others, even though it is simply because their circumstances in life have made it easier for them they are no better than those who behave far worse because their circumstances in life are more difficult.

In this judgment of Capernaum Jesus is not claiming Capernaum is worse than Sodom. Jesus is revealing to the people that there is no sin greater than that of rejecting the life and light that is in Jesus. When the light is rejected it ends in blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12.31).

In this present generation, just as it was in the generation of Jesus' day it is important the people understand a day of judgment awaits all men when all will be called to give an accounting of the deeds they have done in this life. It is also important we remember God is sovereign in the working out of His plan of salvation. Regardless of the events of the world and the claim by many we are entering into a new age when the world will become fit for the return of Jesus to establish His kingdom. The facts are revealed in the news media every day. What Jesus said about the events that will occur prior to His return is occurring. What the Apostle said about the last days is being fulfilled (2 Timothy 3:1-7). While there has always been evil men and imposters who have through deceit made their way into the churches we are seeing an increase. There is hardly a day goes by when we do not read or hear of pastors and teachers abusing children.

Today, there are pastors and teachers who are preaching and teaching sound doctrine, something a great number of church members do not want to hear. What happens when they dare stand before a congregation or a class and preach and teach sound doctrine? The answer, they are given the bums rush; they are tossed out the church door by the seat of the pants and the back of their necks. One of these days Jesus is going to ask those who toss out His chosen why they abused His chosen.

As to the idea someone would believe in Jesus if they witnessed a miracle, don't believe it. The people in Capernaum didn't believe in Jesus when He proved miracles while on the earth, what makes you think someone is going to believe some miracle now that He is in heaven. One of the great deceptions facing people today is the signs and wonders that are alleged to come through the workings of the Holy Spirit. We need to be aware; there are spirits that are working in the world today who are capable of deceiving through the use of signs and wonders.

This is one of the reasons why the Apostle John tells us we are to test all spirits. There are spirits that are indwelling men and women that do not come from the Lord. The spirits that come from the Lord are on a mission of not only physically healing but spiritual healing. Those who are not from the Lord are on a mission of destruction.

In these days persecution of Christians is increasing all over the world and will soon make its way into the United States. While it is often denied persecution of Christians does not exist in the United States there is a persecution existing in the United States that does not include murder. The form of persecution in the United States is the taking away of the rights of the true believers in Christ. The taking away of these rights is supported by the lawmakers and judges in this nation.

What we need to day is more of that old time religion that was good for Paul and Silas; that was good for our father and mothers. It is that old time religion, rather a belief in the faith that has been handed down through the preaching and teachings of the faithful that will get us into heaven.

Jesus closes His teaching to the people with a prayer and invitation.

Retired pastor,Church of the Nazarene

Author of web site Exploring God's Word

www.thewordofgodonline.net

New American Standard Bible

King James Version

The World English Bible

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