The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 11 Part 2 Resolute Faith In Troubled Times

Always remember Jesus' words and reflect upon His mighty works whenever fear or doubts come.

Matthew 11:1-6  And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. 2  Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3  And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4  Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6  And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 

This chapter began with Jesus sending forth His disciples to preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven in surrounding towns and villages.

Then Jesus also departed to peach and teach the gospel and in the process he encountered two of John's disciples.

We looked at the specific question that John had his disciples as Jesus and noted that they were like most Jews of that day, looking for a warrior Messiah.

However, Jesus came first as the suffering Messiah of Isaiah 53 to take away the sins of all humanity for all time.

Jesus answered their question by telling them to remember the words of Christ and the works of Christ.

This is good counsel for Christians today, whenever we are plagued by doubts or fears.

Remember Jesus' Words and remember His works.

A reed shaken by the wind pictures a double minded man who is unstable and vacillating. 

Matthew 11:7  And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 

Jesus then turned to the multitude and began to instruct them about the character of John the Baptist.

The multitude heard the exchange between Jesus and the disciples of John.

Pharisees and scribes were among those who were gathered around Jesus.

Our Lord took this opportunity to testify about the character of John and his ministry. 

He wanted to make sure Pharisees, scribes and common people knew John was not wavering in his faith in Christ. 

Jesus also rebuked those who responded to John's preaching as His forerunner but failed to respond to Christ whom John pointed them to.

The question "What went ye out into the wilderness to see?" was used by Jesus to show the Pharisees and scribes their inconsistent behavior.

On one hand, they acknowledged John Baptist as a teacher sent from God but then they did not believe on the Christ that John pointed out to them. 

Jesus highlighted the moral excellency of John’s character as proof that their confidence in him was not misplaced

Jesus' argument is that they should have believed in Him, whom John the Baptist proclaimed as being the Son of God.

Jesus asked if the people saw John as "A reed shaken with the wind" and this connects with conditions at that point in time.

The region of where John preached was flooded annually by the Jordan river and produced great quantities of reeds or cattails. 

Such plants were of a light and fragile nature, easily shaken by the wind. 

Therefore, Jesus used a reed shaken by the wind as a metaphor for a man whose character and beliefs changed from day to day. 

These plants trembled and waved with the smallest breeze and they pictured a man who was wavering, or double minded.

A reed shaken by the wind suggests a man who vacillates between two opinions, unable to make up his mind and commit.

The fact that John sent two disciples to Jesus with this specific question might have cause many people to suppose that he was wavering like a reed.

Christ asked the Jews if they ever observed any wavering in John's ministry.

As we noted previously, John declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God who would take away our sins and the Son of God.

Thus, Jesus commended John for his steadiness of faith.

John the Baptist was convinced of this truth concerning Jesus Christ and he continued to believe and assert it.

Earlier in studying Matthew's gospel we saw the connection of John the Baptist's ministry as Christ's forerunner as foretold in the prophecy of Malachi.

Malachi 3:1  Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Malachi prophesied that God would send a "messenger" or forerunner before He came to prepare Israel for Jehovah's arrival.

Isaiah prophesied about a virgin born child who whose name is Immanuel, god with us!

Isaiah 7:14-16  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15  Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16  For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.

It helps to connect this prophecy with Isaiah's prophecies concerning Messiah.

We must keep in mind that both a suffering and a victorious Messiah were foretold by God's prophets.

Thus, Isaiah said that Messiah would be miraculously born of a virgin.

He said that Messiah's name would be called "Immanuel" which literally means "God with us."

Isaiah also foretold that the divine child would grow up eating butter and honey, a picture of a bountiful food supply. 

As the Messiah, Jesus was born in a land flowing with milk and honey, and in a time of general peace. 

This phrase points at the place and the time when the Messiah should be born. 

It also expresses the truth of Christ's humanity and the manner in which He was raised because Joseph and Mary took their responsibility of raising the virgin born Christ child very seriously.

We have two brief Holy Spirit inspired records of Jesus' childhood.

First, in accord with the law of Moses, Joseph and Mary after her purification, presented Jesus to be circumcised and set apart for the LORD as God commanded for each firstborn male (See Leviticus 12:3-4; Luke 2:22-24).

Every first-born male child among the Jews was regarded as “holy” to the Lord (See Exodus 13:2). 

The phrase “holy unto the Lord” meant that unto the firstborn male child belonged the office of priests. 

It was their privilege to be set apart to the service of God, to offer sacrifice, and to perform the duties of religion.

The second account of Jesus as a twelve year old boy was when His family traveled to Jerusalem to keep the feast of Passover as the law of Moses commanded them to do.

Joseph and Mary gathered their belongings when the feast was over and began the long journey back to their hometown.

However, Jesus remained in Jerusalem for three days in the temple having discourse with scribes and rabbis.

His parents sought Jesus and when the found Him they expressed parental concern for his safety, but Jesus said He must be about His Father's business (See Luke 2:41-52).

This shows that Mary and Joseph gave Jesus a strong moral upbringing that conformed to the scriptures.

It also shows that Jesus learned how to refuse the evil and pursue the good.

No doubt, Jesus' parents remembered what the Lord told them about the birth of their son (See Luke 1:26-38; 2:1-21).

Messiah would be a child who would grow to have an eternal kingdom of righteousness. 

Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

After prophesying about a holy child being born by a virgin, Isaiah foretold about the Messiah and King who would rule the nations.

This same virgin born child was given four more names that tell us of His righteous character.

Messiah would have an eternal kingdom with no end and it would increase in its authority and ability to ensure universal peace.

Thus, the prophet gave us two pictures of Christ: one as a humble but holy child and the other as universal, irresistible Sovereign Ruler. 

John the Baptist's ministry was to prepare Israel for the coming of their Messiah.

Malachi 4:5-6  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. 

Malachi foretold that the prophet Elijah would come before the great day of final judgment.

His duty was to turn the hearts of children to their fathers, meaning he would ensure that the family order established by God was maintained.

Children must be trained up in the way that they should go (See Proverbs 22:6).

Their hearts must be taught to obey their parents and authorities over them as God commanded (See Exodus 20:12).

Children must learn proper obedience in the home and parents must nurture them in the things of God, so that a child learns obeying a parent is their duty and it leads them to obey God. 

John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah preparing Israel to receive Messiah. 

Matthew 3:1-6  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3  For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4  And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5  Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 

Thus, Matthew tells us about John the Baptist who suddenly appeared in the wilderness areas surrounding Jerusalem. 

John came in the spirit of Elijah, wearing a rough garment of camel hair, wearing a leather belt and eating food that was available in the wilderness. 

Luke 1:17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

John the Baptist's mission was like that of Elijah, to prepare the people for Messiah. 

John spurned the comforts of life and came humbly, relying on God to preach the gospel.

Matthew 11:8  But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 

Jesus used a second comparison to show the moral excellency of John the Baptist.

He asked the people if they went into the wilderness to see a man "clothed in soft raiment."

"Soft raiment" was an symbol of riches, splendor, opulence and morally weak character. 

Jesus showed that John was a man not like Pharisees, scribes or kings who enjoyed the comforts of life.

Rather, John was coarse in his appearance, hardy in his character, firm in his virtue, suited to endure trials and qualified to be the forerunner of the toiling and suffering Messiah.

Therefore, a second excellency in John was his sober and upright life. 

A preacher of the Gospel should have none of the worldly fashions or mannerisms.

No preacher of the gospel can expect people to hear and receive the truth when he is living a life of conformity to the corrupt culture.

John the Baptist was far more than a morally upright man or prophet. 

Matthew 11:9-11  But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11  Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 

After testifying of the moral uprightness of John, said that the people were right to regard the Baptist as a prophet.

Yet, Jesus said John was more than a prophet. Ht was the Messiah's messenger as the prophets foretold.

Jesus made it clear that John was a special man, anointed by God for his specific ministry of pointing people to Christ, the Messiah.

This section of Matthew's gospel teaches us that we must not seek worldly pleasure instead of laying up heavenly treasures.

Christians must learn to live a life of contentment with whatever God has provided for us, whether much or little.

John had very little in the eyes of the world, yet he had a great privilege to preach the gospel of repentance to a people who needed to hear it.

Jesus warned us not to vacillate in our love and service for God.

We either love and serve God, or we love and serve ourselves. We cannot serve two masters.

We must live by faith and have complete confidence in what God says to us in His wonderful Word.

We must not be those who try to have one foot in the world and one foot in the kingdom of God.

We must live a life that conforms to scripture so that we can let our light shine and be the salt a decaying culture needs.

Soft raiment and a life of luxury or self indulgence is not what God calls His children to.

He calls us to take up our cross and follow hard after Christ.

Will we follow Jesus today?

Will we love God first and foremost?

Will we serve God and share the gospel of Christ with others?

I pray that each one of us will determine to say "Yes" to following Christ and living for God's glory.

Bob