Sermon notes for July 6, 2008

Matthew 11:25-30

[25] “Jesus declared” is literally “Jesus answered”

What then is the question? Jesus is answering the age-old problem of people rejecting God’s word by example of John the Baptist and cities around Galilee.

(Recall Jonah 3:5-10) Matthew 12:41 -- The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Trajectory:
1. John the Baptist is the prophet like Elijah [Malachi 4:5] preaching judgement and redemption.
2. John calls for repentance and points the way to Jesus.

• Ignoring the plea for repentance will bring judgement.
• Heeding the plea will bring redemption, safety, rest, mercy.
  

3. Jesus denounces unrepentant cities, as did OT prophets.
4. Jesus declares rest for those who come to him.

“John came leading disciples to fast over Israel’s sin [11.18] but Jesus came celebrating the kingdom like a wedding feast [11.19]” – Keener p 219

[25] Why are these things hidden from the wise?

• As pharoah’s heart was hardened? [Ex 7:13-14] “he would not listen”
• 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 -- For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." [20] Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? [21] For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
• 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 – Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. [14] 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.
  

[25] “little children” = “infants” – applied figuratively in the Greek, referred to the “helpless” in general. – Keener p 220

[27] It is not the wise who reveal God – It is His Son.

[28] “Rest” could also be understood as “relief”

• The discipleship demands of following Jesus are a relief compared with the insatiable demands of the Law.
• We are completely crushed under the Law, while our knees are merely bloodied by following Christ.
  

Matthew 23:4 -- They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.

Matthew 5:20 -- For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

What does Jesus mean by “righteousness”?

[28 - 30] Jesus modeled his words after Ben Sira – Sirach/Ecclesiasticus, with which Jesus’ hearers would be very familiar. [Sirach 51:23-27]

Come to me, you who need instruction…bend your neck to the yoke, be ready to accept discipline; you need not go far to find it. See how little were my labors compared with the great peace I have found. [NEB]

• Yoke symbolizes: Oppression, Service and Obedience to the Law – France 201
• My yoke is “easy” = My yoke is “good” or “kind” -- France p 201
• – not due to lighter demands but because it is based on a relationship with one who is “gentle and lowly in heart”
• “Jesus’ yoke is not lighter because he demands less but because he bears more of the load with us” -- Keener p 222