The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 11 Part 4 Those Who Hear The Gospel Of Christ Are Responsible To God For Truth They Received

The first part of chapter eleven saw Jesus sending His disciples out followed by our Lord also traveling to preach the gospel.

At one village John's disciples came to Jesus with a question as to whether or not He was the Messiah. 

Jesus answered their question by reminding them of His teaching and of His mighty miracles, both proving beyond a reasonable doubt that He is Christ, Israel's Messiah.

We noted that many Jews were hoping for a military type of Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule so that Israel could be a sovereign nation.

Yet, the prophets message was that there would be a suffering Savior, before the Messiah came in power and glory to rule the nations. 

Our Lord then commended the character and ministry of John the Baptist.

Pharisees and scribes rejected John's austere life and rejected Jesus' non austere life. 

Matthew 11:16-19  But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, 17)  And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. 18)  For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19)  The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. 

John was the forerunner of Christ, an Elijah like figure who lived a solitary life. God called him into action as Jesus began His public ministry.

Jesus reminded the multitude that the Pharisees and scribes condemned John for having a devil because he did not eat and drink like they did.

Then, they condemned Jesus for eating and drinking like they did by implying He was a drunkard and glutton.

Christ reproved the inconsistency and fickleness nature of the Jews. He said they were like children - nothing pleased them.

On the one hand, John came like one mourning to them, neither eating nor drinking, living in solitude in harsh conditions.

John's meat was locusts and wild honey and his clothes of rough unsophisticated material. 

God called John to live an austere, mortified life because he preached the gospel of judgment and repentance from sin. 

On the other hand, Jesus Christ, the Son of man came eating and drinking, and so he piped unto them. 

Christ conversed with all sorts of people an though His life was simple it was not austere like John living in the wilderness.

Jesus remained approachable and ready to help those in need.

He often attended feasts with Pharisees or publicans, because He came to seek and save the lost. 

In this manner, Jesus piped the gospel, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of heaven and the need to repent and be born again.

The heart of God is for all to repent and be saved. Preachers, parents and individual believers must do all we can to share the gospel.

1 Corinthians 9:20-22  And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21)  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22)  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 

In this manner Jesus taught Paul to be open to speaking with all sinners whether Jew or Gentile, whether of high status or of low standing. 

Thus, Paul who was a Jew, could readily relate when He preached the gospel to the Jewish people.

Before his conversion to Christ, Paul was a Pharisee, of the most conservative adherence to the law of God.

Therefore, Paul was equipped to teach how Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly for us and then voluntarily died on the cross to bear the curse of the law in our place.

Yet, Paul also had a Roman education and could readily relate to Gentiles who had the law of God written on their conscience.

Like Christ, Paul became all things to all men that he might save some from judgment and eternal condemnation.

All who hear gospel preaching will be held accountable for the truth they received.

Matthew 11:20-22  Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21)  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22)  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 

Jesus began "to upbraid the cities" where He did many mighty miracles and powerfully preached the gospel of the kingdom of heaven.

The word "upbraid" means to revile and cast strong reproach upon something or someone. 

Upbraiding has the idea of "censuring" which is  blaming, finding fault or condemning.

To upbraid a town or village like Jesus did is to make a judicial sentence that condemns.

The principle of judgment is that those who receive much, shall much be required of them.

Luke 12:42-48   And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 43)  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44)  Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45)  But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46)  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47) And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48)  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 

Jesus gave a parable recorded in Luke's gospel to teach us an important truth about how a Christian should determine to live until Christ returns to take us home to heaven. 

Jesus spoke of a wise and faithful man who was made a steward, or manager of a wealthy man's household.

His duty was to make sure that the household ran smoothly, that everyone's needs of food, clothing and shelter were met and that children received education and moral instruction.

A steward also was to make sure his master's assets were well managed so that they continued to grow in his absence.

A Christian who learns God's will from hearing the Word preached or from studying the Bible, and seeks to live in accord with His will, stands to receive a reward when his Master returns.

A professing Christian who mistreats people, becomes a glutton and a drunkard will be severely chastised by his Lord when Christ returns.

Why? Because he knew the will of Christ his Master and refused to live in accord with His will.

Here is the principle Jesus gave in His parable.

"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required."

This is why Jesus upbraided certain towns where He preached the gospel and did mighty miracles.

They received much when Christ preached the good news of repentance for the remission of sins. 

They received much when Jesus healed the sick, made the lame to walk again, gave sight to the blind and raised the dead back to life.

Therefore, they were held accountable for all the good things Jesus gave them and this is why they were to be condemned.

The more God has done to draw men unto Himself, people have less excuse to remain living in iniquity. 

When we reject the gospel God will judge us more harshly at the resurrection of damnation. 

Matthew 11:21-22  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22)  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 

Chorazin's ruins are situated on a hill north of the sea of Galilee near Capernaum. 

Bethsaida was also in close proximity to Chorazin and was the home of Philip, Andrew and Peter.

The phrase "Woe unto thee" is an exclamation of grief in Jesus' heart for sinners in those places who refused to repent and be saved.

Ezekiel 18:31-32  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32)  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. 

Here is the clear will of God declared by the prophet Ezekiel and by the Lord Jesus Christ, as He spoke the words "Woe unto thee."

God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (See 2 Peter 3:9).

Thus, the prophet said cast away your transgressions which means repent and turn from your sins and put your faith in Christ to be saved. 

Those who repent and trust Christ shall be given a new heart and a new spirit from God so that they can live a new life walking with Christ.

God's heart toward sinners? "I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: Wherefore turn yourselves and live!"

God does not want to send sinners to hell when they die but if people refuse to repent and trust Christ, they have consigned themselves to eternal damnation.

The good news of the gospel is that God will save all who repent and call upon His name (See Romans 10:8-13).

Because much was given to those people through Christ preaching the gospel to them and doing the mighty miracles that He did, they would receive strong judgment when Christ returns as Judge and King.

Jesus compared Chorazin and Bethsaida to two ancient cities that refused to repent and suffered judgment from God.

The prophet Ezekiel pronounced destruction against Tyre and Sidon, (See Ezekiel 26, 27, and 28). 

Jesus said that if Ezekiel had done as many miracles in those cities as Christ had in Chorazin and Bethsaida, those inhabitants would have readily repented in sackcloth and ashes, and with the deep sorrow.

Thus, when God manifest in the flesh preached the gospel and did many mighty works, the inhabitants of Chorazin and Bethsaida were held to a higher standard because they received much from God.

Therefore, their future condemnation and judgment shall be more severe.

What does this truth mean to us?

First, it means that each person who grew up in a Christian home has been given much and much shall be required by God of that person.

Do we live our lives for God's glory or for self?

Do we consume our time and resources selfishly or as good stewards of what God entrusts to us?

Do we know God's will and actively seek to live in obedience, by sharing the gospel with lost people?

Second, it means that when we are faithful in witnessing for Christ and sharing His gospel, those with whom we share it are now accountable for the truth of God that they heard.

We must pray for the salvation of their souls because they heard the gospel and will suffer judgment if they refuse to repent and be born again.

Third, we must pray for Christ to pour His strength into us that we might be led, guided and empowered by His Spirit to do the gospel work He has given us to do.

Bob