March through Matthew in a Month

Matthew 11

We continue our march through Matthew’s Gospel. May God strengthen our faith on this spiritual journey in His Holy and living Word.

Some Points to Ponder as we read Matthew 11:

1. A Practical Bible Study Tool: Just FYI--a wonderful website I use almost daily on my laptop and/or smartphone that provides easy, accurate and helpful tools for looking up Scripture passages and offers a host of free Bible study and devotional material is: www.Biblegateway.com   

2. Matthew 11:1-8 tells us John the Baptist is in prison, but he has heard much about Jesus. John is trying to verify if Jesus is the promised Messiah. Jesus answers John’s questions by directing John’s disciples to report what mighty signs and miracles Jesus has been doing (as we heard in Matthew 8-9). Jesus points John to the fact that He is the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah 26, 29, 31, 35, 61.

3. Notice Jesus describes to the crowd who John is by using a similar question 3 times in Mt. 11:7, 8, & 9 --”What did you go out into the wilderness to see?” (I had never noticed this triple repetition before--just a personal example of how God gives us new insights every time we study His wonderful Word!) Jesus then answers His threefold question 3 times with additional questions and more information to reveal John is the end of the Old Testament prophets (a new type of Elijah) who uniquely prepared the way of Jesus.

4. Matthew 11:10-14 specifically connects John the Baptist with the fulfillment of two specific predictions of the Prophet Malachi (made around 430 B.C.) in Malachi 3:1 and Malachi 4:5.

5. The Lutheran Study Bible comments about Matthew 11:1-19 provide powerful points for us to ponder:

People commonly experience disappointment because of false or unfulfilled expectations. We hope God will act in a certain way, but He does not. We then wonder why. To guard against false expectations, focus on Jesus and on what He has said and done. He is the fulfillment of all our hopes. “All the promises of God find their Yes in Him (2 Cor. 1:20).       +PRAYER: Lord Jesus, when I struggle with doubts and unfulfilled hopes, remind me of Your words and works that assure me of Your saving love. Amen. (LSBible, p.1602) 

6. In Matthew 11:16-24 Jesus condemns unbelief. Jesus often had very harsh words for those in His day who rejected Him and His message of salvation. We should not be surprised in any generation that many people continue to embrace unbelief and reject Jesus and the Truth of God’s Word.

> NOTE in Matt. 11:23 Jesus addresses the unbelief of His adopted home town (Capernaum) by predicting Capernaum would be brought down to Hades. Hades is a Greek word used here to refer to hell. 

Personal APPLICATION on Matt. 11:28 -- Reflect and ask yourself: What emotional, physical, and/or spiritual burdens are weighing heavy on me in my life? Jesus ultimately took ALL of our burdens upon Himself as He died for us on the cross. Instead of carrying our burdens around in life, we are graciously invited to turn them over to Jesus. What undeserved love Christ has for us! What an awesome invitation and promise of peace Jesus provides us in Matthew 11:28 where He says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”   As we face the challenges of life, we need this Christ-comfort often!

We now read Matthew 11…    

Matthew 11 (ESV)

Messengers from John the Baptist

11 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

    who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;

    we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Woe to Unrepentant Cities

20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”    

7. The Lutheran Study Bible provides concluding comments with clear Law and Gospel about Matthew 11:25-30:

The thing hidden from the wise and understanding is God’s gracious plan of salvation, the message that both Jesus and John the Baptist proclaimed. Jesus’ contemporaries by and large rejected Him, preferring to live under the heavy yoke of the Law as the way to salvation. Jesus invites us to receive the yoke of the Gospel, which guarantees true rest.

+Prayer+ Dearest Jesus, I praise You that when I am yoked to You, no burden is too heavy. Amen.    (LSBible, p.1603)

Pastor Scott Schmieding

Senior Pastor

Immanuel Lutheran Church and School

115 S. Sixth Street

Saint Charles, MO 63301

636.946.2656