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 Sunday, 9 July 2017: Trinity 4/Proper 9 

Matthew 11.16 ‘To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the market-places and calling out to others: 17 ‘“We played the pipe 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, “Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.’

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For 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 to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For 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.’

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 is what you were pleased to do.

 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.’

I wonder of we fail to grasp how radical and extraordinary Jesus was when he was on the earth. In today’s gospel Jesus claims to be on a mission from God, claims to be the only person who knows God, and claims to be the only one who can reveal God to people. I have split this passage into three sections.

Rejection, verses 16-24.

Jesus compares the Jews to spolit children. They rejected John because he was too strict, he didn’t dance to their tune. Jesus was dismissed because he was too liberal. You cannot win with some people. They want things done the way that they expect them to be done. When they are not they will condemn.

“But wisdom is proved right by her actions." This is saying that wisdom, which comes from God, shows what is right by what God’s servants do. It is God to whom we are accountable, not public opinion. Public opinion is inconsistent, two faced, selfish, judgmental, but God’s ways are constant and He is reliable. Today we might say ‘The proof of the pudding is in the eating. This shows that the church should follow God not what is popular

Jesus performed many miracles to demonstrate that God’s kingdom had come. He showed the power that he has to undo the effects of sin, healing the sick, raising the dead, driving out evil spirits. The miracles point to who Jesus is. God and man. Messiah, Saviour.

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. Generally speaking, the miracles left the majority of the Jews unaffected. Sometimes, after performing a miracle, Jesus was asked to perform another to prove that he was the Christ. This apathy was not what Jesus wanted. He wanted people to repent - define, turning and trusting.

This is a warning to Christians who pursue sign and wonders that these things will not necessarily bring people to Christian faith.

The condemnation of these towns by Jesus shows us that there will be a day of judgment. We don’t know when this will be. But we are to be ready when that day comes.

Very few people would consider themselves to be wicked. Most would think of themselves as ‘good’, and be under the impression that all good people go to heaven.

The Bible tells us that no-one is good enough to earn a place in heaven. This passage tells us God will judge people on their response to his revelation to them. For those who have heard about Jesus and not repented this will lead to condemnation and hell, which is everlasting separation from God.

Revelation, verses 25-27.

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.

This is talking of God hiding things from some people. Is this unfair? No, because God doesn’t owe sinners anything. Why does God hide his revelation from some and give it to others? Because of their hearts, their attitude to God.

The wise and learned are not necessarily clever people. They are people who consider themselves to be wise and learned. They are independent, self-sufficient, proud, perhaps thinking that they are good enough for God, they have earned their way into his good books.

In contrast God's children are not literally children but those who have accepted Jesus like children. Remember that Jesus said that anyone had to become like a little child to be a disciple. The qualities that Jesus was talking about were things like humility, trust, dependence on another, being ready to learn. In Jesus’ day little children were regarded as insignificant.

Spiritual understanding is not about intelligence or status but about the child-like acceptance of the gracious, undeserved revelation of God through his son, Jesus.

I have been asked about different religions and if they worship the same God. We note from verse 27 that it is only through Jesus that we can know God the Father. 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. Cf. John 14:6. Exclusive. No other path, therefore, no other religion & not the same God. I am not suggesting should not respect them. But there is no way that we should be sucked into the politically correct way of thinking that all opinions are relative and of equal value.

Indeed, the exclusive claims of the Christian, and also other faiths are either absolutely true and a treasure to be shared, or a worthless lie to be discarded.

Jesus says, in verse 27 that his children are chosen. This is not like being chosen for a football team where you might rely on ability, strength, stamina, or maybe your popularity with those picking the side.

We are chosen through God's undeserved favour. We do not have to earn our way into heaven, because Jesus has already done that through his life and death. The knowledge that we are chosen should bring us immense security, confidence, joy, and gratitude to God. This week and in the future if ever feel low, insecure just say one word to yourself, ‘chosen’.

Invitation, verses 28-30.

The Pharisees had 385 rules & regulations that they lived by & expected others to follow. Jesus criticized them for the burden that they imposed upon people. Jesus is not calling to himself those who feel fit and able to follow a religious life full of rules. He is calling the weary and the burdened.

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."

Jesus had been a carpenter and perhaps had made yokes for cattle. This would involve measuring the team of oxen in the way someone might be measured for a hand-made suit. When they returned after the yoke had been crafted final adjustments would be made, smoothing out the edges and ensuring it was a perfect fit. The Greek word translated ‘easy’ might be rephrased ‘well-fitting’. Jesus yoke for us is made just for us, and it is a yoke for two - we are in partnership with him.

A yoke was designed to make carrying a load easier. Jesus is inviting people to carry his load and learn from him. He is gentle and humble, not harsh and arrogant. One of the burdens that Jesus frees us from is the burden of our sin. Jesus is not saying that following him involves no responsibilities, no load at all. Earlier in 5:20 he had told his disciples that their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees.

This is about where you start from. The Pharisees were self-righteous and lived lives according to rules because they thought that they could please God this way.

Christians have accepted Jesus’ invitation to follow him. Our lives are to be lived in the glorious knowledge that we are chosen by God to be his followers. God can use us to introduce other people to Jesus. We just need to pray and rely upon His Spirit.

We know that God loves us and wants the best for us so we can joyfully do his will. Not to earn his favour... but because we have received his favour and are now free to love and obey him.

Let us go through life, following God's ways not the world around us.

Let us thank God for choosing us to be his children.

Let us go forward with Jesus at our side, sharing our load with Him, learning from Him, and resting in Him.

_____________________________

7/7/02 6 p.m. Trinity 6/Proper 9 : Matthew 11:16-30

Less than half the UK population believe Jesus was the son of God, according to a recent survey ( commissioned by the Catholic newspaper The Tablet and The Daily Telegraph newspaper, in December 1999. )

The survey revealed that 45% of those questioned believed Jesus was the Son of God, down from 71% in 1957. It also showed that 14% did not know who Jesus was, although 65% had faith in God. But only 28% of them believed in the traditional understanding of a "personal God". Thirty seven per cent in the survey of 1,015 people by Opinion Research Business saw God as a "spirit or life force".

Of course, this survey does not include what people understood by the phrase ' son of God'.

Throughout this passage that the central theme is the revelation of God, God disclosing himself in Jesus, to human beings and their varying response to this. In this passage we have the three 'R's'. Rejection; Reception; and Rewards.

Before today's reading John the Baptist, in prison, asked if Jesus was the Christ. Jesus replies indirectly quoting from Isaiah including Chapter 61.

Jesus then tells the crowd of the greatness and the humility of John. That he is the Elijah they are expecting before the Messiah/Christ and that they should therefore listen and respond. Then he continues from verse 16.

16 "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:

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, `Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

Rejection;

Jesus compares the Jews to children. They rejected John because he was too strict, he didn't dance to their tune. Jesus was dismissed because he was too liberal. You cannot win with some people. They want things done the way that they expect them to be done. When they are not they will condemn.

"But wisdom is proved right by her actions." This is saying that wisdom, which comes from God, shows what is right by what God's servants do. It is God to whom we are accountable, not public opinion. Public opinion is inconsistent, two faced, selfish, judgmental, but God's ways are constant and his is reliable. Today we might say 'The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

The actions of John the Baptist would be proved right by the role he had in preparing the way for Jesus. The actions of Jesus his teaching, his death and his miracles, would be proved right by his resurrection and ascension.

This could be summarized in the motto, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating".

We as Christians should realize that what we do should not be influenced by others opinion of us, but what God is calling us to do.

The next section is not in the lectionary reading today, although I do not think we should, therefore ignore it. Perhaps the reason it is left out is because it refers to judgment.

20 Then 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. 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."

Jesus performed many miracles to demonstrate that God's kingdom had come. He showed the power that he has to undo the effects of sin, healing the sick, raising the dead, driving out evil spirits. The miracles point to who Jesus is. God and man. Messiah, Saviour.

Generally speaking, the miracles left the majority of the Jews unaffected. Sometimes after performing a miracle Jesus was asked to perform another to prove that he was the Christ. This apathy was not what Jesus wanted. He wanted people to repent - define, turning and trusting. This is a warning to Christians who pursue sign and wonders that these things will not necessarily bring people to Christian faith.

This condemnation of these towns by Jesus shows us a number of things.

There will be a day of judgement. We don't know when this will be. But we are not expected to know that, just to be ready when that day comes.

A lady died and entered Heaven's pearly gates.
Lady: Where am I? Am I where I think I am? Is this heaven? Did I really make it to heaven?
St Peter: Yes mam you did this is heaven.
Lady: What do I have to do to get in?
St Peter: Well ma'am all you have to do is spell a word.
Lady: What word?
St Peter: It doesn't really matter ma'am, you pick the word.
Lady: In that case I guess it would be appropriate that I spell the word love. L-O-V-E.
St Peter: Very good ma'am you may enter. Would be so kind as to do me a favour?
Lady: What would that be?
St Peter: Would you sit in my chair and watch the gates while I go off to the bathroom?
Lady: Why, yes, I can do that.
A few minutes later the lady saw a man walking up the path towards the pearly gates. She realised as he approached closer it was her husband of some 40 years.
Lady: Why Harvey, what are you doing here?
Harvey: Well Gladys, when I left your funeral I was so distraught, not knowing what I'd ever do without you that I was beside myself and wasn't paying attention to my driving. I ran head on into an on coming truck, and here I am to spend the rest of eternity with you. What do I have to do to get in?
Lady: Simple just spell a word.
Harvey: What word?
Lady: Czechoslovakia
This reflects a common misunderstanding that people enter heaven because of something they have done, for example being good. Very few people would consider themselves as wicked. Most would think of themselves as 'good', and be under the impression that all good people go to heaven. The Bible tells us that no-one is good enough to earn a place in heaven. This passage tells us God will judge people on their response to his revelation to them. For those who have heard about Jesus and not repented this will lead to condemnation and hell, which is everlasting separation from God.

Sometimes people say, 'What about those who have never heard about Jesus ? '

Jesus says that even Sodom would have repented in response to him. We see from this that Jesus knows how people would have responded to him if they had the opportunity. We know that God knows everything about us and that he looks at our heart, not our outward appearance. Therefore we can trust that God knows enough about people to judge them, even if they have never heard of Jesus.

Jesus had been talking about people who reject him and who are , therefore, condemned by God. He now goes on to talk about those who do repent.

( Rejection; ) Reception;

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.

Earlier I referred to revelation, yet this is talking of God hiding things from some people. Is this unfair ? No, because God doesn't owe sinners anything.

Why does God hide his revelation from some and give it to others ? Because of their hearts, their attitude to God.

The wise and learned are not necessarily clever people. They are people who consider themselves to be wise and learned, independent, self-sufficient, proud, perhaps thinking that they are good enough for God, they have earned their way into his good books.

In contrast the children are not literally children. Remember that Jesus said that anyone had to become like a little child to be a disciple. The qualities that Jesus was talking about were things like humility, trust, dependence on another, being ready to learn. In Jesus' day little children were regarded as insignificant.

Spiritual understanding is not about intelligence or status but about the child-like acceptance of the gracious, undeserved revelation of God through his son, Jesus.

I have been asked about different religions and if they worship the same God. We note from verse 27 that it is only through Jesus that we can know God the Father. John 14:6. Exclusive. No other path, therefore, no other religion & not the same God. Not suggesting should not respect them. But there is no way that we should be sucked into the politically correct way of thinking that all opinions are relative and of equal value. Indeed, the exclusive claims of the Christian, and also other faiths are either absolutely true and a treasure to be shared, or a worthless lie to be discarded.

Jesus says, in verse 27 that his children are chosen. This is not like being chosen for a football team where you might rely on ability, strength, stamina, or maybe your popularity with those picking the side.

We are chosen. We do not have to earn our way into heaven, because Jesus has already done that through his life and death. The knowledge that we are chosen should bring us immense security, confidence, joy, and gratitude to God.

This week and in the future if ever feel low, insecure just say one word to yourself, 'chosen'. Do it now !

D.L. Moody : The elect are the whosoever wills, the non-elect are the whosoever won'ts.

( Rejection; Reception; ) and Rewards.

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."

The Pharisees had 385 rules & regulations that they lived by & expected others to follow. Jesus criticised them for the burden that they imposed upon people. Jesus is not calling to himself those who feel fit and able to follow a religious life full of rules. He is calling the weary and the burdened.

A yoke was designed to make carrying a load easier. Jesus is calling people to carry his load and learn from him. He is gentle and humble, not harsh and arrogant.

Jesus is not saying that following him involves no responsibilities, no load. Earlier in 5:20 he had told his disciples that their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees.

This is about where you start from. The Pharisees were self-righteous and lived lives according to rules because they thought that they could please God this way.

We have been reminded that following Jesus involves becoming like a child. Realising that we cannot earn God's approval, but that Jesus has done that for us, and that he has chosen us to follow him.

So our lives are to be lived in the glorious knowledge that we are chosen by God to be his followers. We know that God loves us and wants the best for us so we can joyfully do his will. Not to earn his favour... but because we have received his favour and are now free to love and obey him.

Unfortunately there are people who would call themselves 'Christian' but live lives that do not show that they rely upon Jesus. Their gratitude and worship is sporadic, they have even thrown away the light yoke that Jesus has given them. We must remember that Jesus said that, on the day of judgement many will call him 'Lord' and point to deeds done in his name, but Jesus will say that he never knew them.

Evangelist Gypsy Smith told the story of a group of gypsies who were forced to cross a swollen stream, a great number of men were drowned. One young man made a desperate attempt to save his mother who kept clinging to him. Several times he pushed her away, saying, "Let go, Mother, and I can save you." But she would not heed him and was lost. At the funeral, the son stood by his mother's grave and said over and over, "How hard I tried to save you, Mother, but you wouldn't let me!" These are the tragic words that we shall hear Jesus Christ say to many in eternity one day, "How hard I tried to save you, but you wouldn't let me. Your will was the great hindrance."

Jesus yoke is easy and burden light because he has given to his children the motivation to do his will in gratitude for what he has done for them. Christians have also received his Holy Spirit who gives the power to live and serve God. Let us go out in the power of the Holy Spirit tonight with the joy and security of knowing that we are chosen by Jesus, and the determination to serve, worship and obey him.