Motley Crew Bible Group
February 3, 2010
Matthew 11
The Questions
Matthew 11:20-24
1. If a person cannot change their mind then they cannot repent. True or False and why or why not?
2. Did you catch what Jesus was doing to these cities? Can Jesus do that?
3. What do we know about Tyre and Sidon ?
4. What does sackcloth and ashes represent?
Matthew 11:25-30
5. Does this mean it is not good to be wise and learned?
6. So how do we know the Father?
7. How do we come to Jesus if we are already exhausted?
8. What is Jesus’ yoke?
9. What does it mean to have soul rest?
10. What is the yoke that we carry?
11. What do we not want to swap with Jesus?
12. Will you swap with Jesus?
Motley Crew Bible Group
February 3, 2010
Matthew 11
Some Suggested Answers
Read Matthew 11:20-24 (NIV)
20Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.[a] If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
Footnotes:
Matthew 11:23 Greek Hades
In the OT, Hades was known as Sheol. It is the place where the unrighteous will reside (Luke 10:15; 16:23; Rev 20:13-14). The NET Bible.
1. If a person cannot change their mind then they cannot repent. True or False and why or why not?
One must be able to recognize they have sinned in order to change their mind or repent. I John 1:8-10. Repent = metanoia = to make 180 degree change and head in the opposite direction – namely to God.
2. Did you catch what Jesus was doing to these cities? Can Jesus do that?
Denouncing them. Yes Jesus can do this and he does so with a broken heart because he doesn’t want anyone to reject Him He wants all men to come to the knowledge of the Truth and be saved. Matthew 23:37 ("O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”)
“Tyre and Sidon--ancient and celebrated commercial cities, on the northeastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, lying north of Palestine, and the latter the northernmost. As their wealth and prosperity engendered luxury and its concomitant evils—irreligion and moral degeneracy—their overthrow was repeatedly foretold in ancient prophecy, and once and again fulfilled by victorious enemies. Yet they were rebuilt, and at this time were in a flourishing condition.” Jamieson, Fausset & Brown.
“Tyre and Sidon are two other notorious OT cities (Isa 23; Jer 25:22; 47:4). The remark is a severe rebuke, in effect: 'Even the sinners of the old era would have responded to the proclamation of the kingdom, unlike you! ' ” The NET Bible.
“The allusion to Sodom, the most wicked of OT cities from Gen 19:1-29, shows that to reject the current message is even more serious, and will result in more severe punishment, than the worst sins of the old era. The phrase region of Sodom is in emphatic position in the Greek text.” The NET Bible.
3. What do we know about Tyre and Sidon ?
These are in Lebanon today. They were pagan cities in the Old Testament. Bob Gillig said when he was a soldier there in 1958 the battle for the government was between the Muslims and the Christians and that close to the majority of the people were Christian.
4. What does sackcloth and ashes represent?
Sackcloth is the material that sack is made of and ashes are a sign of mourning and repentance. Jonah 3:1-5:
Jonah Goes to Nineveh
1
Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time:
2
"Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message
I give you."
3
Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh
was a very important city—a visit required three days.
4
On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty
more days and Nineveh will be overturned."
5
The
Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from
the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
Sackcloth: A symbol of mourning (1 Kings 20:31-32; Job 16:15, Isa 15:3; and others). Worn by Jacob when it was reported to him that Joseph had been devoured by Wild beasts (Gen 37:34). Kevin Green, ed., Zondervan's All-In-One Bible Reference Guide, (Grand Rapids, MI: 2008), p. 549.
Ashes are an ancient sign of repentance. A contemporary example is the smearing of ashes on the forehead on Ash Wednesday by some Christian denominations.
Read Matthew 11:25-30 (NIV)
25 At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
27 "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
5. Does this mean it is not good to be wise and learned?
No – but it calls for us to have child-like faith. Matthew 18:1-4 and Matthew 19:13-15
Matthew 18:1-4. The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4T herefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:13-15. The Little Children and Jesus
13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
The persons from whom these things were hid, are "the wise and prudent"; in things worldly, natural, and civil; men of great parts and learning, of a large compass of knowledge, having a considerable share of sagacity, penetration, and wisdom; or, at least, who were wise and prudent in their own conceits, as were the Scribes and Pharisees, and the schools of Hillell and Shammai, the two famous doctors of that day.... John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
Yet, these were the ones who failed to see the Messiahship of Jesus, that was revealed, rather, those who were simple, but open to the revealed Truth of Christ.
6. So how do we know the Father?
Through the Son.
John 3:35: “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.”
ohn 14:6: “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
7. How do we come to Jesus if we are already exhausted?
Simply give it all to Him. And if we are too exhausted or sinful he will come to us. Jesus still makes house calls.
8. What is Jesus’ yoke?
Grace, mercy and peace.
A yoke is a wooden bar or frame that joins two animals like oxen or horses so that they can pull a wagon, plow, etc. together. Here it is used figuratively of the restrictions that a teacher or rabbi would place on his followers. The NET Bible.
As a carpenter, Jesus would be familiar with yokes, which are used in the OT to describe Israel's subjection to foreign oppression. In the time of Jesus, it is a metaphor for the law in Judaism. Archeological Bible, p. 1579.
This is also believed to be a reference to the “heavy loads” the Pharisees placed “on other people's shoulders” by insisting on a legalistic interpretation of the law. TNIV Study Bible, p. 1628.
Christ exhorts such persons who come to him for rest and happiness, to profess their faith in him, to embrace the doctrines of the Gospel, to submit to his ordinances, and to walk according to [His] “laws,” … and always to be doing the will and work of their Lord. And this he calls "his yoke," in distinction from the yoke of the law of Moses, and of the traditions of the elders. John Gill's Exposition of the Bible.
9. What does it mean to have soul rest?
When a loved one dies and you have perfect peace and are even able to hear the news in the middle of the night – say a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus and go back to sleep. One of our members Genene Strom had that experience last night at the news of her mother’s death.
Gladys Corba, the mother of Paul, passed to the Church Eternal on Feb. 3, 2010. As was the case with Genene, the Corbas are saddened, but rejoice in her passage, and the reunion with her late husband, Bud. In her email, Patti wrote:
“Just wanted to let you know we received word this morning that Paul's mom made it to Heaven about 11:00 last night. While we are sad about her passing, we are rejoicing with her that she is with Jesus and reunited with her beloved Bud! Her visitation is planned for Friday evening, February 19; funeral on Saturday; interment in Clayton, Illinois on Monday.”
10. What is the yoke that we carry?
Sin, death, despair, depression, anxiety, worry…
The convinced sinner is heavy-laden with guilt and terror; and the tempted and afflicted believer has labours and burdens. Christ invites all to come to him for rest to their souls. He alone gives this invitation; men come to him, when, feeling their guilt and misery, and believing his love and power to help, they seek him in fervent prayer. Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light. If you abandon His yoke, His burden, you must bear your own guilt, you have no rest for your soul, you have no assurance that He will guide and lead you, you have no assurance of eternal election, you are not on the way to heaven. Harold F. Buls, Adapted from Exegetical Notes, Series A Matthew-John Sundays After Pentecost Gospel Texts (Concordia Theological Seminary Press: Ft Wayne IN, 1981), pp. 22-24.
Romans 8:22-23: We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
However!
Romans 8:38-39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
11. What do we not want to swap with Jesus?
Fear of losing control, fear it will not work out the way we want, fear of the unknown, fear we will not get our way.
12. Will you swap with Jesus?
Can’t answer this one for you.
For Additional Study:
Online Resources
Book of Concord in PDF Format, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod <http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/TrigBOC.pdf> (2MB file)
These texts are in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely. The source of these translations is Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1921).
A number of other Lutheran texts can be found in the Belief and Practice section of the website of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=112
John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. <http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/gill/matthew11.htm>
Matthew
Henry's Complete
Commentary.
http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/mh/matthew11.htm
Matthew
Henry's Concise
Commentary
<http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/mhc/matthew11.htm>
Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. <http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/jfb/matthew11.htm>
B.
W. Johnson's Bible
Commentary
<http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/matthew/johnson/matthew11.htm
>
Greek
Interlinear Bible,
http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/Greek_Index.htm
Based
on NA26/27. A word-by-word translation of the Greek New Testament.
The NET Bible. <http://bible.org/netbible/> A completely new translation of the Bible with 60,932 translators’ notes. It was completed by more than 25 scholars – experts in the original biblical languages – who worked directly from the best currently available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Excellent notes, citing both the Greek and Hebrew, as needed. Greek and Hebrew fonts available without cost.
Harold H. Buls - Sermon Notes <http://www.pericope.org/buls-notes/index.html> and a second collection, Sermon Notes of Dr. Harold H. Buls <http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/wittenberg-bul.html>. Adapted from Exegetical Notes, Series A, Festival Season Sundays, Gospel Texts, by Harold H. Buls, Concordia Theological Seminary Press: Ft Wayne IN, 1980, pp.9-12.
W. Robertson Nicoll, The Greek Expositor's Testament. Vol. 1. (New York: George H. Doran Co., ca. 1910). Five volumes containing excellent notes on the Greek text and summaries of commentators. Available at Google Books (www.books.google.com) and the Internet Archive (www.archive.org; easier to find here than at Google Books).
Other
Additional
Resources:
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/SPLC/Motley%20Crew%20Research%20Resources.html
Other Resources
Barker, Kenneth L., ed., TNIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006)
Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions. Readers Edition. (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2006)
Davies, Benjamin, ed., Baker's Pocket Harmony of the Gospels (Baker Book House, 1975). Formerly printed as Harmony of the Four Gospels.
Green, Jay P., ed., The Interlinear Greek-English New Testament. Vol. IV. Second Edition. (Hendrickson Publishers, 1985)
Green, Kevin, ed., Zondervan's All-In-One Bible Reference Guide, (Grand Rapids, MI: 2008)
Halley, Henry H., Halley's Bible Handbook. New Revised Edition (24th Edition). (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1965)
The Lutheran Study Bible (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2009).
Nave, Orville J., ed., Nave's Topical Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1979)
New Bible Dictionary. Second Edition. (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1962)
NIV Archeological Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005)
Strong, James, ed., The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990)