Matthew 11 | The Indifference Toward The King

Reminder: In Our Last Lesson,

We Experienced The Expectations And Burdens That People Brought To Jesus.

But Jesus Had A Warning And An Invitation.

The Warning: Do Not To Expect Jesus To Be The Type Of King That They Wanted;

The Invitation: To Give Up Burdens And Take Jesus’s Yoke That Is Easy And Light.

Matthew Is Written Primarily To The Jews.

It Had Been 400 Years Of Prophetic Silence.

Many Of God's People Were Waiting.

Many May Have Wondered If God Had Forgotten His Promises. 

Many May Have Wondered If God Had Deserted Them.

But God In Christ, Jesus, Arrives With An Offer Of The Kingdom:

It Was Based On The One Condition:: FAITH:

Faith In A Messiah Who Met Very Few People's Expectations.

Faith In A Kingdom That Advanced Through Peace Rather Than War.

Faith In A God Who Cared For The Whole World Not Just The Jews.

Matthew Speaks Loudly To This Silence:

Thou Not Exactly The Way As Expected.

Or Through The Means As Taught.

BUT He Does Show Up.

Jesus Is Revealed As The King, Israel's Long Awaited Messiah.

Jesus Is Revealed As Immanuel, God With Us:

Now Resurrected And Ascended,

Yet Still With Us To The End Of The Age.

So, In This Chapter, Jesus Begins To Experience Opposition,

To Those He Preached Did Not Receive Him,

The Pharisees And Religious Leaders Began Their Accusations.

His Own Family Members Begin To Turn Against Him.

There Was More Controversial Events That Increasing Challenged His Authority.

There Were Some That Received Him Superficially As They Wanted Temporal Benefits.

They Wanted What He Could Give Them But Did Not Want HIM !!

Jesus Said He Did Not Commit Himself To Those As He Knew Their Hearts.

Jesus Was Revealing A Different Plan Of The Messiah Than The Established Religious Culture Taught.

He Was Not The Type Of Messiah Israel Was Taught:

They Expected One Who Would Defeat The Romans.

They Expected One Who Would Establish His Kingdom On Earth.

They Expected One Who Would Restore Israel As Global Leaders.

So Many In Israel Were Disappointed And Downcast As A Result Of The Crucifixion.

Key Takeaway:

FOLLOWING KING JESUS MEANS UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD THE FATHER IS REVEALED IN JESUS THE SON AND THAT WE MAY PERSONALLY KNOW HIM.

OUTLINE: MATTHEW 11:

SOME WOULD QUESTION THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS:

1 Solving This Problem Of Doubt And True Greatness:

Verses 1-15.

Some Begin To Question Of The Authority Of Jesus.

2 Condemnation Of The Indifferent:

Verses 16-24.

Treating Christ With Criticism And Indifference.

3 Invitation To Rest In The Authority Of Jesus:

Verses 25-30.

Jesus' Personal Invitation 1 And 2.

1 SOLVING THIS PROBLEM OF DOUBT AND TRUE GREATNESS:

VERSES 1-15:

Some Begin To Question Of The Authority Of Jesus.

Jesus Responded With Evidence To John's Doubt:

Lame Can Walk, Blind Can See, Lepers Are Cleanses,

Deaf Can Hear, Dead Are Raised To Life.

Jesus Responded With Affirmation Of John's Noble Character:

The True Identity Of Jesus Was Affirmed For John's Disciples.

Even Though John The Baptist Was Present When Jesus Was Ordained Into Ministry.

Even Though John The Baptist Was Present When Jesus Was Affirmed At His Baptist.

Even Though John The Baptist Heard God The Father And Saw God The Holy Spirit Descend Like A Dove:

He Was In An Intense Time In His Ministry.

He Was Asking For Reassurance That Jesus Was Truly The Awaited One.

Remember Many False Messiah's Were Traveling Around Israel At That Time.

Jesus The True Messiah Was Not Exactly As Expected By The Jews, Including John The Baptizer.

Circumstances Were Such That They Were At Odds With What Is Meant For Jesus To Be The Messiah.

So It Is Reasonable To Doubt.

But Would Have Been Unreasonable.

To Have Disdain For Jesus By Rejection Of His Messianic Claims.

The True Greatness Of John The Baptist Was Affirmed By Jesus.

Jesus Responded With Affirmation Of John's Noble Character:

Jesus Said:  I Tell You The Truth, Of All Who Have Ever Lived ( IMPLIED: Till Now ), None Is Greater Than John The Baptist.

Even Though John Was Having A Moment Of Doubt,

Jesus Lifted Him Up And Talked Of His Greatness.

Reasonable Doubt Will Arise Because We Are Only Human.

Reasonable Doubt May Temporarily Disturb Faith In Christ.

Reasonable Doubt Will Not Permanently Destroy Faith In Christ.

Reasonable Doubt Can Be Overcome By The Light Of God's Word.

2 CONDEMNATION OF THE INDIFFERENT:

VERSES 16-24.

Treating Christ With Criticism And Indifference.

Judgment for the Unbelievers.

What Happens If People Of These Towns Totally Reject Jesus ?

Jesus Began To Denounce These Towns.

Especially The Towns Where He Had Performed Many Miracles.

They Had NOT Repented Of Their Sins And Turned To Him.

He Said: Even Sodom Will Be Better Off On Judgment Day.

So, Woes Or Judgment Pronounced On Non-Repentant Towns:

After The Irreverent And Irrational Mocking Of These Critics:

After The Rejection Of His Teaching And His Miracles:

Jesus Decided To Denounce The Indifference Of Those Towns:

To Pronounce Judgment On Them:

Jesus Revealed It Would Be Bad For The Wicked.

Jesus Revealed It Would Be Good For The Weary.

3 INVITATION TO REST IN THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS:

VERSES 25-30.

Jesus Prayed A Prayer Of Thanksgiving.

Jesus Prayed:

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,

Yes, Father, It Pleased You To Do It This Way!

Jesus Made A Personal Invitation 1:

Rest Was Offered To The Weary.

That The Father Was Revealed In The Son:

My Father Has Entrusted Everything To Me.

No One Truly Knows The Son Except The Father,

And No One Truly Knows The Father Except The Son,

AND THOSE TO WHOM THE SON CHOOSES TO REVEAL HIM.

When The Gospel Is Presented A Person Has A Choice:

Either Believe And Receive It And Have Life Transformed.

Or Reject It And Be Cursed To Live Outside His Kingdom.

It Pleased Jesus To Offer The Kingdom To Those Who Had An Open Heart To The Spirit's Work.

Jesus Made A Personal Invitation 2:

That The Father Was Revealed In The Son:

And You May Know Him Who Sent Me.

The Bible Says:

Then Jesus Said:

Come To Me,

All Of You Who Are Weary And Carry Heavy Burdens,

And I Will Give You Rest.

Take My Yoke Upon You.

Let Me Teach You,

Because I Am Humble And Gentle At Heart,

And You Will Find Rest For Your Souls.

For My Yoke Is Easy To Bear,

And The Burden I Give You Is Light.

WHAT A REWARD !!!

TO UNDERSTAND THAT GOD THE FATHER IS REVEALED IN THE SON AND THAT WE MAY KNOW HIM PERSONALLY.

Matthew 10 | The Mission Of The King

 Last Week: Matthew 8-9:

AUTHORITY AND GRACE:

Miracles Of Healing With Grace, The Cost Of Following Jesus.

AUTHORITY AND PEACE:

Miracles Of Calming The Storm, Miracles Of Healing Thru Peace, Calling And Teaching Disciples.

AUTHORITY AND THE UNEXPECTED:

Three Individual Miracles, Call For Harvesters.

Jesus Demonstrated His Divine Authority That Proves His Deity.

TODAY'S OUTLINE: THE KING'S AGENDA. MATTHEW 10.

THE COMMISSIONING OF THE TWELVE.

THE MASTER'S MESSENGERS: VERSES 1-4.

THE MAKING OF THE MESSENGERS OF THE KING:

THE SENDING OF THE DISCIPLES: VERSES 5-23.

THE COMMISSION OF THE KING'S MESSENGER:

THE WORDS AND WORKS OF THE KING'S MESSENGER.

HALLMARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP: VERSES 24-42.

THE KING'S HONESTY TO HIS MESSENGERS:

TODAY'S KEY TAKEAWAY: TO BE AN EFFECTIVE SPIRITUAL LEADER WE MUST IMMULATE JESUS.

THE COMMISSIONING OF THE TWELVE.

1 THE MASTER'S MESSENGERS. VERSES 1-4.

SENDING THE APOSTLES.

THE MAKING OF THE MESSENGERS OF THE KING:

And When He Had Summoned His Twelve Disciples,

The Followers Of The King Are Sent Out By Jesus To Proclaim The Life-Giving Gospel No Matter The Obstacles They Face.

He Gave Them Power:

So That They Were Able To Cast Out Unclean Spirits.

So That They Were Able To Heal Every Disease And Every Sickness.

They Were Very Ordinary Men:

They Were The Most Extraordinary Mixture.

They Had No Wealth; They Had No Academic Background; They Had No Social Position.

Chosen From The Common People:

Who Did The Ordinary Things,

Who Had No Special Education,

Who Had No Social Advantages.

Jesus Called Them, Chose Them. Appointed Them.

2 THE SENDING OF THE DISCIPLES: VERSES 5-23.

THE COMMISSION OF THE KING'S MESSENGER:

THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE MISSION.

THE WORDS AND WORKS OF THE KING'S MESSENGER.

WHERE TO GO:

START WITH THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.

This Was An Initial Training Period For His Disciples.

The Gospel Was To Be Delivered First To The Jews.

WHAT TO SAY:

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.

THE WORDS OF JESUS ARE TO BE EXTENDED.

They Had To Announce The Attributes Of The Kingdom.

Call People To Repent In Anticipation Of The Coming Messianic Age.

To Respond With Water Baptism.

WHAT TO DO:

MINISTER TO THOSE IN GREAT NEED.

THE WORKS OF JESUS ARE TO BE EXTENDED.

By Virtue Of The Divine Authority Of Jesus Granted To Them.

Heal The Sick,

Raise The Dead,

Cleanse The Leper,

Cast Out Demons.

The Conduct And Challenge For The King's Messengers:

Jesus Gave Some Guidelines:

Freely You Have Received; Freely Give.

The Gift Of The Gospel Is Free.

Do This Freely Without Charge These Miraculous Acts Of Mercy.

At Any Town The Message Is NOT Received,

Shake Off Dust Of Feet And Move On.

The King's Messengers Had Words To Speak And Works To Do.

The Kingdom Of God Is Where God's Will Is Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven.

The Kingdom Of God Is Where Obedience To God's Will Is PERFECT.

Only Jesus Has Been Obedient PERFECTLY To God's Will.

Jesus Explained The Kingdom Of Heaven Had Come To Mankind To Those Who Believe In Him.

NOTE:

God's Will Is Always Accomplished By God.

However, Mankind Does Not Always Perfectly Obey God's Will.

A Checklist For The Disciples:

Loyal Disciples Openly Acknowledge Christ Before The World.

Loyal Disciples Willing Accept Rejection Even From Family.

Loyal Disciples Sacrificially Choose Their Essential Priorities.

HOW TO TRAVEL:

LIGHTLY AND DEPEND ON GOD'S PROVISION FOR THE JOURNEY.

Jesus Described Religious Persecution From The Jewish Courts.

Jesus Described Government Persecution From Secular Courts.

Jesus Described Domestic And Cultural Persecution From Family And Friends.

Jesus Described The Reward If They Endure To The End.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE:

ONLY THE ORIGINAL DISCIPLES HAD UNIQUE APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY. MATTHEW 10:1.

THEN JESUS EXTENDED THIS AUTHORITY TO JUST 70 OTHERS. LUKE 10:1-20.

APOSTLE PAUL INDICATES HE WAS THE LAST AND THE LEAST OF THE APOSTLES. I COR 15:8-9.

NO FUTURE DISCIPLES WERE TO EXPECT SPECIAL APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY AFTER PAUL. 2 COR 12:12.

3 HALLMARKS OF DISCIPLESHIP: VERSES 24-42.

THE KING'S HONESTY TO HIS MESSENGERS:

CHARACTERISTICS OF MISSIONARY APOSTLES.

THE WORLD WILL OFFER A MAN COMFORT, EASE, ADVANCEMENT, THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS WORLDLY AMBITIONS.

JESUS OFFERED HIS MEN HARDSHIP AND DEATH.

The Proof Of History Is That Jesus Was Right.

The Disciples Were To Be Loyal To The King.

The Disciples Were To Wage Spiritual War For The King.

The Cost Would Be Giving Up Everything If Needed.

The Reward Would Be Great For The Messenger Who Endured.

The Reasons For The Persecution Of The King's Messengers:

Persecution Was Based On Conflicts And Lies About Christ and Christianity.

Christians Were Cannibals Because Of Symbolism In Lord's Supper.

Christians Were Threats To The Roman Empire When Serving Jesus As A King.

Difficulty With The Position Of Slaves In The Christian Church And The Roman Empire Of 60,000,000 Slaves.

Abolish Other Religions Because Christian's Serve The ONE TRUE GOD And HIM ONLY.

Good Shepherds

To Be Effective, All Believes, Being Spiritual Leaders At Many Levels Of Maturity, Are To Imitate Christ's Love And Compassion.

We Look Into The New Testament That All Of Us In A Sense Are Spiritual Leaders.

Jesus Modeled This Principle As One Of The Greatest Leaders That Ever Lived.

He Illustrated It; Modeled It In A Profound Way.

And Following His Sermon On The Mount, He Was Speaking And Teaching.

He Was A Compassionate Shepherd. Matthew 9:35 - 36:

Then Jesus Went To All The Towns And Villages,

Teaching In Their Synagogues,

Preaching The Good News Of The Kingdom,

Healing Every Disease And Every Sickness.

And Notice What Happened:

When He Saw The Crowds, He Felt Compassion For Them,

Because They Were Weary And Worn Out, Like Sheep Without A Shepherd.

ALL THE TOWNS .. Which Was Over 200 In Galilee Alone.

Characteristics Of A Useful Vessel

Seven Characteristics Of The Noble Servant, The Noble Slave, The Noble Vessel.

2 Timothy 2: 14-16:

Christians Have Been Called To Live To This Standard:

1 To Live For Biblical Fidelity,

2 To Engage In Pure Fellowship,

3 To Possess A Clean Heart,

4 To Have A Discerning Mind,

5 To Have A Gentle Manner,

6 To Have A Humble Spirit,

7 To Confront Sin.

1 Biblical Fidelity:

In The Presence Of God And Of Christ Jesus.

Who Is To Judge The Living And The Dead.

Share The Word Correctly.

We Are Mandated To Share The Word Under A Solemn Charge,

Under The Scrutiny Of God And Of Christ.

You Have An Accountability To God,

You Are Visible To God,

You Are Under His Omniscient Eye,

With A View Toward A Future Judgment Of Your Effort.

It's The Positive Charge: To Share The Word.

It's The Negative Charge: Do Not Wrangle About Words Which Are Useless To The Ruin Of The Hearers.

It Is Catastrophic, It Is Devastating, It Is Destructive To Dialogue, Converse Debate With Lies And False Doctrine.

The Abandonment Of Biblical Fidelity, The Abandonment Of Biblical Conviction, The Abandonment

Of Sound Doctrine, The Abandonment Of Clarity, The Abandonment Of Authority, Propositional

Declaration In Favor Of A Dialogue With The Devil, In Favor Of A Conversation .

Churches Affirm Evolution, That's Why Churches Affirm Abortion, That's Why Churches affirm Homosexuality And Homosexual Marriage, And Premarital Sex And Divorce And Unholy Leaders And Pride And Self-Esteem And Corrupt Theology About God, Christ And The Holy Spirit, About Scripture And About The Gospel And Every Bad Theology And Its Consequent Bad Behavior.

It Is Accurately Handling The Word Of Truth.

And You Want To Perfect It In Such A Way That You Can Literally Present It To God And Have His Approval.

By Handling Accurately The Word Of Truth.

It Means To Straighten.

Our Responsibility Is To Cut It Straight.

It Means To Cut A Straight Line, Cut A Straight Road, Cut A Straight Path, Cut A Straight Edge.

We're To Be Craftsmen Cutting The Truth Straight.

Our Responsibility Is Not To Engage In Some Kind Of A Conversation With The Devil And With The Liars And The False Teachers And Those Who Would Destroy The Truth, And Find Some Common Ground With Them.

Our Responsibility Is To Be Diligent So As To Have Become Craftsmen In The Way We Can Handle The Truth.

2 Pure Fellowship:

Therefore If Anyone Cleanses Himself From These,

He Will Be A Vessel For Honor:

Sanctified,

Useful To The Master,

Prepared For Every Good Work.

What Do You Mean By Cleanses?

A Total Cleansing, A Real Purging,

A Complete Removal Of All That Defiles.

Literally Push Away OR Stay Away From Certain People:

Stay Away From People That Introduce Lies.

Stay Away From People That Cause A Loss Of Conviction.

Stay Away From People That Pollute The Truth.

Do Not Sit In The Seat Of A Scoffer.

3 A Clean Heart:

Now Flee From Youthful Lusts.

Mingle With Those That Have A Pure Heart.

Be A Running Man.

A Fugitive From All That Defiles.

A Fugitive From All That Corrupts.

A Fugitive From All That Stains And Blights.

Runs With All His Might From Youthful Lust.

4 A Discerning Mind:

Refuse Foolish And Ignorant Speculations, Knowing They Produce Quarrels.

If There's Anything To Think About, If There's Anything Praise Worthy, Think On These Things,

Philippians 4:8. "What Ever Is Good And Holy And Just..."

Avoid Strange Doctrines, Myths, Endless Genealogies, Fruitless Discussions, Battle Over Words,

Unbiblical Assertions, Worldly Fables, Different Doctrine, Controversial Questions,

Disputes About Words, Unholy, Empty Babble, Opposing Arguments Of False Science.

The Spirit Is Coming With Truth Through Preaching.

But Exam Everything Carefully.

Hold Fast To What Is Good And Reject What Is Evil.

You Have To Be Discerning.

You Don't Want To Get Caught Up With What Only Produces Quarrels Rather Than Conviction.

5 A Gentle Manner:

Jesus Had A Gentleness In Demeanor With Dealing With Those In Error:

Never Harsh, Never Abusive,

Never Overbearing, Never Unkind, Easy To Approach, Easy To Speak To, Sensitive, Tender.

Don't Turn On Your Audience.

Don't Become Bitter And Caustic And Abusive.

6 A Humble Spirit:

Humility Means A Mild, Gentle, Softness, Meekness.

Meekness That Has Been Defined As Power Under Control.

7 Willing To Confront Error:

Correcting Those Who Are In Opposition.

You've Got To Be Willing To Correct.

Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort.

First Timothy 3 Says: The Word Given By Inspiration Of God Is Profitable For Instruction And Correction.

Be Humble But Be Willing To Confront Error.

Instruct In A Corrective Way.

Matthew 8-9 | The Authority Of The King

Matthew Chapters 8-9.

Last 2 Weeks:

RIGHTEOUSNESS: GET RIGHT WITH GOD:

AND ATTITUDE, DISCIPLESHIP, THE SCRIPTURES, MORALITY.

AND GIVING, PRAYING, FASTING, MONEY, ANXIETY, JUDGING OTHERS, SALVATION.

Now Matthew 8-9:

Outline: MATTHEW BEGINS TO OFFER PROOF OF THE KING'S AUTHORITY:

I. AUTHORITY AND GRACE (8:1-22).

A. Healing And Grace.

B. Cost Of Following.

II. AUTHORITY AND PEACE (8:23-9:17).

A. Calming The Storm.

B. Healing And Peace.

C. Calling And Teaching.

III. AUTHORITY AND THE UNEXPECTED (9:18-38).

A. Three Individual Miracles.

B. Call For Harvesters.

KEY TAKEAWAY: JESUS DEMONSTRATES AUTHORITY THAT PROVES HE IS DEITY.

I. AUTHORITY AND GRACE (8:1-22).

A. Healing And Grace.

We Learn That This Demonstrates His Love In Action.

Authority Over Sickness:

The Leper: Compassion Beyond The Law.

A Leper Was In Effect A Living Dead Man.

Jesus Demonstrated His Love Was Greater Than The Most Banned Disease Of The Rabbis By Jewish Law.

The Paralytic: The Passport Of Faith.

The Centurion Was Being Tested In His Faith.

Jesus Demonstrated His Love To A Gentile Was Greater Than The Most Banned People To the Rabbis By Jewish Tradition.

The Fever: A Miracle In A Cottage On The Sabbath.

Peter's Mother-In-Law Was Sick With Fever.

In Gospel Of Mark There Was No Crowd Around But Jesus Wanted Her Well For Ministry.

Jesus Demonstrated His Love Was Greater Than The Rabbis Interpretation Of The Sabbath Law.

B. Cost Of Following.

We Learn That It Is A Miracle That Any Scribe Should Wish To Follow Him.

Authority Over Men: Count The Cost.

A Scribe Came To Him And Said: I Will Follow You Wherever You May Be Going.

Jesus Said To Him: The Fox And The Birds Have Homes. The Son Of Man Has Nowhere Where He May Lay His Head.

It Is As If Jesus Said To This Man: Before You Follow Me Count The Cost.

Jesus Stood For The Destruction To The Legalism On Which Scribal Religion Was Built.

A Miracle Of The Impact Of The Personality Of Jesus Christ On Men.

II. AUTHORITY AND PEACE (8:23-9:17).

A. Calming The Storm.

We Learn That Only God Has Authority Over Nature.

Authority Over Nature: Calm During The Storm.

Jesus And His Disciples Were On A Boat.

A Storm Arose On The Sea So That The Boat Was Hidden By The Waves.

Jesus Was Sleeping And They Awakened Him.

The Disciples Said: Save Us For We Are Perishing.

Jesus Said: Why Are You Such Cowards, You Whose Faith Is Little?

He Rebuked The Winds And The Sea And There Was A Great Calm.

The Men Were Amazed: What Kind Of Man Is This That The Winds And The Sea Obey Him?

Nature Is Under The Authority Of King Jesus.

Jesus Always Brings Calm To The Storms Of Life.

B. Healing And Peace.

We Learn That Only God Has Authority Over Demonic Activity.

Authority Over Demons: The Demonic World.

The Idea Of Demon-Possession Is Common In The Gospels.

The Territory Of The Gad-arenes: Two Demon-Possessed Men Met Jesus.

The Devils Recognized Jesus As The Son Of God.

The Devils Urged Jesus To Cast Them Into The Nearby Herd Of Pigs.

The Pig Herders Saw, Fled Into Town, Told The Account.

The Ancient World Believed Unquestioningly And Intensely In Evil Spirits.

We Learn That Only God Can Forgive Sin.

Authority To Forgive Sin: Get Right With God.

Which Is Easier To Say: Your Sins Are Forgiven OR To Say: Rise And Walk?

Jesus Said: To Let You Understand That The Son Of Man Has Authority On Earth To Forgive Sins.

Then He Said To The Paralyzed Man: Rise; Lift Your Bed And Go To Your House.

In Palestine During This Time: It Was A Universal Belief That All Sickness Was The Result Of Sin.

And That No Sickness Could Ever Be Cured Until Sin Was Forgiven.

C. Calling And Teaching (9:9-17).

We Learn That Only God Can See The Heart Of A Person.

Authority over men: The Man That All Men Hated.

Matthew The Tax Collector And The Disciple Writing This Text.

He Was Hated By The Jews And Considered A Traitor By Them.

When Jesus Called Matthew He Called A Man Whom All Men Hated.

Jesus Had The Power To See In A Man, Not Only What He Was, But Also What He Could Be.

III. AUTHORITY AND THE UNEXPECTED (9:18-38).

A. Three Individual Miracles: With Unexpected Response:

We Learn That Only God Can Truly Love His Enemies.

Authority over death, Illness, Blindness: Responded With Love Even Though Their Understanding Of Him Was Not Correct.

One: The Jewish Ruler Had A Daughter That Died.

The Ruler Came To Jesus From A Very Inadequate Motive.

He Did Not Come To Jesus As A Result Of An Outflow Of The Love Of His Heart.

This Man Came To Jesus Simply Because Desperation Drove Him There.

Two: The Woman With The Issue Of Blood Crept Up Behind Jesus In The Crowd And Touched The Hem Of His Cloak.

To Touch The Edge Of Jesus' Cloak Is The Same Kind Of Thing As To Look For Healing Power In The Relics And The Handkerchiefs Of Saints.

The Lady That This Woman Came To Jesus With What She Would Call A Very Inadequate Faith.

She Came With What Seems Much More Like Superstition Than Faith.

Three: The Two Blind Men Came To Jesus, Crying Out: Have Pity On Us, You Son Of David.

Son Of David Was Not A Title That Jesus Desired.

Son Of David Was The Kind Of Title That A Jewish Nationalist Might Use.

So Many Of The Jews Were Waiting For A Great Leader Of The Line Of David.

Who Would Be The Conquering General Who Would Lead Them To Military And Political Triumph Over Their Roman Masters.

So These Blind Men Came To Jesus With A Very Inadequate Conception Of Who He Was.

They Saw In Him No More Than The Conquering Hero Of David's Line.

Here Is An Astonishing Thing.

The Ruler Came To Jesus With An Inadequate Motive;

The Woman Came To Jesus With An Inadequate Faith;

The Blind Men Came To Jesus With An Inadequate Conception Of Who He Was,

With An Inadequate Theology Jesus Still Found Love And Power For Their Needs.

Here We See A Tremendous Thing.

It Does Not Matter How We Come To Christ, If Only We Come.

No Matter How Inadequately And How Imperfectly We Come His Love And His Arms Are Open To Receive Us.

B. Call For Harvesters.

We Learn That Only God Can Draw Mankind To Himself.

Authority to command men: Threefold Work.

1. Jesus Was The Herald.

The Herald Is The Man Who Brings A Message From The King.

Jesus Was The One Who Brought A Message From God.

2. Jesus Was Teacher.

It Is Not Enough To Proclaim The Christian Certainties.

We Must Also Be Able To Show The Significance Of These Certainties For Life And For Living.

The Importance And The Problem Of This Lie In The Fact That We Teach Christianity, Not By Talking About It, But By Living It.

3. Jesus Was Healer.

The Gospel Which Jesus Brought Did Not Stop At Words.

It Was Translated Into Deeds.

Jesus Spent Far More Time Healing The Sick, And Feeding The Hungry, And Comforting The Sorrowing Than He Did Merely Talking About God.

He Turned The Words Of Christian Truth Into The Deeds Of Christian Love.

THE KING'S COMPASSION: COMPASSION FROM GOD.

When he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion to the depths of his being, for they were bewildered and dejected, like sheep who have no shepherd.

(i) He was moved to compassion by the world's pain.

He was moved with compassion for the sick, the blind, the grip of demons.

(ii) He was moved to compassion by the world's sorrow.

He was filled with a great desire to wipe the tear from every eye.

(iii) He was moved to compassion by the world's hunger.

The sight of the tired and hungry crowds was a call upon his power.

(iv) He was moved to compassion by the world's loneliness.

The sight of a leper, banished from the society of his fellow-men, living a life which was a living death of loneliness and universal abandonment, called forth his pity and his power.

(v) He was moved to compassion by the world's bewilderment.

The common people were desperately longing for God.

The pillars of orthodox religion of his day, had nothing to offer them.

Matthew | The Message Of The King Part TWO

Matthew Chapters 5-7.

Previously:

The Lineage Of The King.

The Baptizer and The Baptism Of The King.

The Attack And Testing Of The King.

The Beginning Of Calling Disciples.

Beatitudes And The Witness Of The Kingdom.

Righteousness And Joy: Beatitudes.

Righteousness And Discipleship: Salt and Light.

Righteousness And The Scriptures: Fulfill the Law.

Righteousness And Morality: Love Your Enemies, etc.

TODAY'S OUTLINE:

JESUS DEFINES RIGHTEOUSNESS IN LIGHT OF THE INWARD PARTICIPATION IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

RIGHTEOUSNESS:

AND PRACTICAL RELIGION 6:1-18.

AND MUNDANE THINGS 6:19-24.

AND HUMAN RELATIONS AND SALVATION 7:1-39.

KEY TAKEAWAY: THE KINGDOM OF GOD CALLS FOR AUTHENTIC FAITH AND NOT EXTERNAL SHOWS.

Righteousness: Is One Of The Primary Themes And Key Words Of The Sermon On The Mount.

External Righteousness Of The Pharisees Is Displayed In External Religious Acts Like Public Prayer And Fasting.

External Righteousness Shows Up In Judging Others Harshly And Not Accurately Judging One’s Self.

THE INWARD PARTICIPATION IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

This Is Done Through Prayer, Faith, Service, And Following Jesus’s Words.

1. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PRACTICAL RELIGION:

THE KINGDOM LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD:

HAVE YOU EVER DONE THE RIGHT THING

FROM THE WRONG MOTIVE?

IN YOUR GIVING:

HOW NOT TO GIVE AND THE MOTIVES OF GIVING:

This Indicates That God Will See Even The Most Covert Actions.

God Will Ensure They Are Properly Rewarded, Because It's Not Whether One Gives Alms BUT HOW.

This Is From A Jewish Teaching: One Who Gives Charity In Secret Is Greater Than Moses.

IN YOUR PRAYING:
HOW NOT TO PRAY AND HOW DID JESUS TEACH US TO PRAY:

In The Sermon On The Mount Jesus Cautions:

Against Pretentious Prayer.

Offers The Lord’s Prayer As A Pattern For His Disciples.

This Model Prayer, Which Combines Praise And Petition.

In A Simple, Personal, And Spontaneous Form.

Is Itself Rooted In Jewish Teaching.

An Exhortation To Be Persistent In Prayer.

To Pray Without Ceasing. To Be In An Attitude Of Prayer.

Prayer Promises Justice For The Disadvantaged And Oppressed.

The Disciple's Prayer:

(1) Prayer Is To Begin With Worship.

God Is Addressed As Our Father In Heaven.

So, Worship Is The Essence Of All Prayer.

(2) Reverence Is An Element Of Prayer.

For God’s Name Is To Be Revered (Honored).

(3) The Desire For God’s Kingdom To Come.

Based On The Assurance That God Will Fulfill All His Covenant Promises To His People.

(4) Prayer Is To Include The Request That His Will Be Accomplished.

Both Fully And Willingly.

(5) Petition For Personal Needs Such As Daily Food.

(6) Requests Regarding Spiritual Needs, Such As Forgiveness.

It Assumes One Has Already Been Forgiven.

(7) Believers Recognize Their Spiritual Weakness.

Asking Him To Make A Way Of Escape From Temptation.

IN YOUR FASTING:

HOW NOT TO FAST AND WHAT IS TRUE FASTING:

So that you are not seen by men to be fasting but by your Father who is in secret.

Your Heavenly Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Fasting is intentionally denying the flesh in order to gain a response from the Holy Spirit.

It means renouncing the natural in order to invoke the supernatural.

Fasting Is Saying No To Yourself And Yes To God.

2. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND MUNDANE THINGS:

THE KINGDOM LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD CONTINUED:

Jesus teaches that Christians must have their minds set on something greater:

Jesus Talks About Money And Anxiety.

The Strategy Of The Evil World System:

To Have You Think The Things Of The World 

Can Provide Our Greatest Needs.

MONEY Promises To Buy Whatever We Want:

BUT: YOU CANNOT BUY HEAVEN FROM THE ONE TRUE GOD.

Jesus Talks Specifically About The Enslaving LOVE For Money And Treasure.

Jesus Used A Specific Term Mammon: Personified As A Rival To God For Loyalty Of His Followers. WEALTH MONEY MAMMON.

Jesus Asks Us—Whom Will We Obey—God Or Money?

It Is Impossible To Serve The LOVE OF MONEY 

While Serving THE LOVE OF THE ONE TRUE GOD.

Jesus Considers The Love Of Riches As An Idol, Master, Or God Of The Human Heart.

That Is In Direct Conflict With Worship Of The True God.

TREASURES: THE TRUE TREASURE IS TREASURE THAT IS STORED UP IN HEAVEN.

ANXIETY Is Concerned With Fears About Daily Needs Not Being Met.

It Also Could Mean Not Measuring Up In Some Way.

But A Citizen Of The Kingdom, Jesus Tells Us To Turn To God In Faith When Anxiety Arises.

Worry And Its Cure And Its Folly Is A State Of Mind (A Mindset).

It May Range From Genuine Concern To Obsessions From A Distorted Perspective Of Life.

Jesus Did Not Prohibit Genuine Concern About Food Or Shelter.

But He Did Teach That We Should Keep Things In Their Proper Perspective.

We Should Make God’s Kingdom Our First Priority.

Everything Else Will Fall In Line When We Do.

3. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HUMAN RELATIONS AND SALVATION:

JUDGMENT IS GOD’S BUSINESS:

When WE Judge: It's About Measuring Up In Some External Way.

But Jesus Does Not Require Us To Measure Up To Anything.

The Very Reason Jesus Came To Earth 

Was Because Humans Could Not Achieve What The Law Required.

No One Can Measure Up To The Righteous Standard Of God:

Except Jesus Who Was Fully God And Fully Man.

He Came To Live The Perfect Righteous Life,

Yet Take The Place Of Sinners On The Cross So That We Might Be Saved.

Out Of Joy And The Beauty Of What God Has Done: The Requirements Of The Kingdom Become The Desires Of Our Hearts.

We Seek The Kingdom And His Righteousness.

WHY? A Response To The Righteous King Who Died For Us.

WE LIVE BY KNOWING AND FOLLOWING HIS WORD.

WHAT ABOUT HUMAN RELATIONS CONCERNING JUDGMENT ?

The Error Of Judgment.

We Should Judge But Not For The Purpose Of Condemnation.

We Should Judge Those Who Teach To Verify That The Teaching Is True To What Jesus Taught.

We Should Understand When It Is Right To Judge And When It Is Wrong To Judge.

Christians Are To Judge Others Constructively With Humility And Gentleness (Gal. 6:1).

We Are Forbidden To Judge Hypocritically: Intolerance Of Another Person's Sin While Blind To Our Own Sin.

Instructions On Proper Exercise Of Judgment Include:

(1) The Call To Judge Reputed Christians By Their Fruit.

(2) Christians Should Arbitrate Between Fellow Believers Who Have A Dispute NOT Thru Civil Court.

(3) Instructions Regarding Church Cases (1 Cor ).

SALVATION IS GOD'S BUSINESS:

A Warning To Be A Part Of The Kingdom.

To Be A Part Of The Kingdom A Person:

Must Obey The Command To Believe In Jesus.

Cry Out To Him For Salvation.

Reminder: He Saves Us. We Don't Save Ourselves.

The Story Of The Wise And Foolish Builder Is Warning Us To Choose To Build Our Lives On The Truth—On Jesus.

Superficial Discipleship Will Fall Away In Storms But Those Who Follow Christ As Lord Will Be Firm In Him.