Matthew: Condemnation and Comfort

Listen in as Anthony walks us through Matthew 11:20-30 and we see how Jesus can both condemn and comfort.

Sermon Notes/Quotes:

Text: Matthew 11:20-30

Title: Condemnation & Comfort

 

Reading: Matthew 11:20-30

 

“It is remarkably easy to live life without any reference to God. In the mystery of his will, the Lord does not force himself upon us, neither does he coerce nor demand from us a positive response to his love. He invites us to become truly human, yet it is always that — an invitation. A gift that we choose to receive or reject.” (Dwell)

 

“Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry was one of giving back to undeserving sinners their humanity. We tend to think of the miracles of the gospels as interruptions in the natural order. Yet German theologian Jurgen Moltmann points out that miracles are not an interruption of the natural order but the restoration of the natural order. We are so used to a fallen world that sickness, disease, pain, and death seem natural. In fact, they are the interruption.” (Dane Ortlund) 

 

“When Jesus expels demons and heals the sick, he is driving out of creation the powers of destruction, and is healing and restoring created beings who are hurt and sick. The lordship of God to which the healings witness, restores creation to health. Jesus’ healing's are not supernatural miracles in a natural world. They are the only true “natural” thing in a world that is unnatural, demonized and wounded.” (Jurgen Moltmann)

 

“Doom to you, Chorazin! Doom, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen half of the powerful miracles you have seen, they would have been on their knees in a minute. At Judgment Day they’ll get off easy compared to you. And Capernaum! With all your peacock strutting, you are going to end up in the abyss. If the people of Sodom had had your chances, the city would still be around. At Judgment Day they’ll get off easy compared to you.” (Matthew 11:21-24, The Message)

 

“Jesus’ pronouncement of judgment on the cities in which he performs deeds of Power makes us, contemporary Christians, profoundly uncomfortable. We want a gospel of love that ensures when everything is said and done that everyone and everything is going to be okay. But we are not okay. Like the cities of Israel, we have turned our existence as Christians into a status meant to protect us from recognizing the prophets who would point us to Jesus. Of course we do not like Jesus to pronounce judgment on the cities in which he performs deeds of power, because we do not want to recognize that we too are judged. But the gospel is judgment because otherwise it would not be good news. Only through judgment are we forced to discover forms of life that can free us from our enchantment with sin and death.” (Stanley Hauerwas)

 

“Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.”   (Matthew 11:25-26, The Message)

 

“Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly. “The Father has given me all these things to do and say. This is a unique Father-Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge. No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does. But I’m not keeping it to myself; I’m ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:27-30, The Message)

 

“The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God — that is, every moment to take great pleasure that God is with you.” (Brother Lawrence)

 

Questions:

What am I enchanted with? 

Do I need to repent?

In what new ways can I practice the presence of God?

Am I resting in the unforced rhythms of grace?