Matthew - Week 31

Comparisons 

READ 

Matthew 11:16-17 

16 “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, 17 ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t mourn.’” 

God had sent John the Baptist as the forerunner of Jesus who was the promised Messiah-King. His many miracles showed Him to be qualified as this Messiah. The nation of Israel rejected Him, however, and only complained instead of turning to Him in repentance. Nothing that was done would satisfy them or convince them that Jesus was the promised Messiah-King. 

REFLECT 

Think of those who had God’s special revelation of His Son’s presence and yet these people were unimpressed and rejected Him. 

RESPOND 

Some wish they were living in Bible times when Jesus lived on earth. Think of all those who had contact with Him but still rejected Him. Read John 20:24-29 to see what Jesus said when Thomas believed in Him.  

Two Extremes 

READ 

Matthew 11:18-19 

18  “For John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.” 

Jesus said the generation living then would never be satisfied. They thought John the Baptist was at one extreme and Jesus was at another. They criticized Jesus for being “a friend of tax collectors and other sinners.” Jesus used the friendship to win them to Himself. His model reveals evangelism has its greatest impact when it is based on a relationship. 

REFLECT 

Are you using your friendship with others as a basis of them being drawn to Jesus through you? 

RESPOND 

With a friend, read John 4:19-26 to see the interaction between Jesus and the Samaritan woman. His conversation established a relationship so what He said about Himself would have greater impact. 

Harsh Judgments 

READ 

Matthew 11:20-22 

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.” 

Jesus never ministered in Tyre and Sidon, but had He done in those cities what He had done in these cities in Galilee, He said those cities would have repented and turned to God. Indicating that Tyre and Sidon, who had never seen Jesus do miracles, would be better off in the judgment day to come than those cities in Galilee indicates there will be degrees of judgment for unbelievers in eternity.  

REFLECT 

How does this passage relate to you? Have you had more light than others? Do you realize this indicates greater responsibility?  

RESPOND 

With a friend, read Revelation 20:11-15 to see that unbelievers will be judged according to their works, which indicates there will be different degrees of punishment for them. 

Worse than Sodom 

READ 

Matthew 11:23-24 

23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” 

Genesis 19:1-13 records the evil of those in Sodom. Even with this sinfulness, Jesus told those in His home town of Capernaum that those in Sodom would be better off in the judgment than those who had personally witnessed His ministry and did not believe in Him. 

REFLECT 

Even though you have not had opportunity to personally witness the miracles of Jesus, you have eyewitness reports of them in the Bible. Does this not make the ones who know the reports of these eyewitnesses even more responsible? 

RESPOND 

Meditate on this passage of Scripture and how it applies to people today. Pray for others who have access to the Bible to take its truths more seriously. 

The Wise and the Childlike 

READ 

Matthew 11:25-26 

25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!” 

Those who knew Jesus personally thought they were “wise and clever.” In their supposed wisdom, however, they rejected Jesus. This was also true of those in Judea where Jesus had performed miracles. Many Jewish people believed in Him but not the Jewish leadership. The wise and clever rejected Him but many of the common people believed in Him.  

REFLECT 

Do you sometimes think you need academic degrees to know the Bible and Jesus better? That has never been a requirement. 

RESPOND 

Compare with this passage what is said in 1 Corinthians 3:18-20. Read also Proverbs 1:1-7 to see what true knowledge is.