Matt. 11:20-30

Judgment for the Unbelievers

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.

23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”

Jesus’ Prayer of Thanksgiving

25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you.

23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.”

Jesus had traveled through this entire area that was north of the Sea of Galilea. He did his three fold ministry of preaching, teaching and healing. Yet there was still people who didn’t really get it. They missed it completely. Perhaps their hearts were hard or they chose to not believe it. You see someone healed and you can still choose not to believe that there are incredible things at play.

Jesus compares two Jewish cities (Korazin and Bethsaida) with two leading cities of Phoenicia (Tyre and Sidon). Even the cit y that is filled with people who oppose Yahweh and His people would get the gospel sooner than the religious people can understand it.

Being religious for the sake of religion or tradition will blind us from experience the very presence of God.

It is easy to miss all the ways that God is showing up because He is not showing up the way we want Him to.

Capernaum was the a place where there was so many revelation and responses but in those accounts were so many stories of opposition and rejection of Jesus and what He was doing there. He compares this place that experienced great restoration with an ancient city that experienced great destruction. Sodom and Gomorrah were burnt down because of their sins. They were kinda the poster child for sin. But even they would repent if they saw what Jesus did.

Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum are worst off than the worst cities in the region or even in their ancient history because they saw the work of Christ and still rejected the truth.

Jesus’ anger was not from a place of hatred or temper. He was speaking as a person who is wrought with sorrow and sadness of the fact that they just do not get it.

The sin of privilege. The sin of indifference. The sin of doing nothing.

The people in these cities had the PRIVILEGE of witnessing the preaching, teaching and miracles of Jesus yet they did not repent. They were INDIFFERENT to what He was doing. They did not murder Him or arrest Him. They simply ignored it. There are so many nations who do not persecute Christians. They simply ignore the church all together. Their last sin was doing NOTHING with the precious gift they were given.

It is not far-fetched to think that even the worst of the worst would repent when they encounter Jesus than the people who think they already know Jesus.

Sitting in a garage does not make you a car. Sitting in a church does not make you a Christ-follower.

So what does?

New Living Translation Chapter 11

25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

25 At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

Those who think they are wise in the world will miss the things of the Spirit.

Spiritual maturity is having child-like faith. Not child-like faith through the lens of our negative experience with people. These two verses are perfect examples of how Kingdom culture is so different than world culture. In the world, adults are the wise ones and children are not. But in fact children can teach us a lot about life and faith.

27 “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

The intimacy revealed between the Father and the Son in the word to “know”. There is a difference between knowing about God and knowing Him intimately.

The intimacy of knowing God lives in your heart and it overflows into your life. Knowing about Him lives in your head.

The supernatural result of knowing God intimately is to have the truth of who He is overflow into every part of your life. Especially the parts that no one sees.

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

The invitation to come to Jesus counterbalances the previous verse about Him revealing Himself to whoever He wishes. The action to come to Jesus acknowledges our need for Him.

The burdens that people feel crushed by are rarely the ones that are from God. The crushing burdens are from His people.

The Jewish people were burdened with their religious duties and laws that they missed the very move of God. Jesus wants to take these burdens because they do not bring life.

“I will...” is a promise statement give you rest. Rest is a promise yet we are being crushed by religious burdens that are not of God.

Take my yoke = be my disciples and the next clause to learn from Him will give rest for our souls. To take His yoke is to a choice to enter into submission. To trust the one who gives the yoke. And it is not a burden that He does not know.

It is our choice whether or not we will take His yoke.

My yoke is easy = literally use and serviceable. The service of Christ does impose yoke but it is useful and gentle. We should find joy in service. But easy also meant “well-fitting”. The use and service of the kingdom work will fit the person God made you to be.

What heavy burdens are you carrying? And are they from God?

Jesus is burning with righteous anger towards the religious and pious who completely missed the miracles and experiences. The people who we think should not receive salvation or understand it will get it before we do.

Matt. 11:20-30

Matthew Series: Seek & Find