Invitation from the Messiah (Matthew 11:25-30)
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I told you last week that we would finish Matthew 11 this week, but as I got into the Word this week I realized that it will take us two weeks to finish the last 5 verses of Matthew 11.
So as we start this morning, let’s stand and say our Cornerstone Church Creed.
/// Cornerstone Church Creed
The Bible is the Word of God.
The truth of the Bible will change my life.
Lord open my heart and awaken my mind and give me grace to respond.
Change me for your glory and my joy. Amen.
The Bible tells us that Jesus came into this world, God in the form of man, to save sinners. The words of Paul in 1 Timothy....
1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV)
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
Even Jesus stated what his purpose was...
16 And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.
The reason Jesus took the form of man and came to this earth to die on a cross was because he was trying to bring those from death to life. From people who are lost in their sin to people who are sanctified (set apart) and justified (in right standing) before a perfect God. That was his purpose.
God is giving an invitation to the entire world…all of mankind until the time of Revelation. If you go back to the Old Testament, you will see the Lord speaking through the prophet Isaaih as he extends an invitation...
22 “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’ 24 “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him. 25 In the Lord all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.”
Turn too me and be saved....to him shall come: That is an invitation, and that is the heart of God…a heart of salvation.
Again the prophet Isaiah speaking the words of God, extends an invitation...
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
Again the Lord speaks an invitation…Come, there is nothing to pay, it is free…just come.
But also, in the final age of this world, Revelation 22, we see and invitation...
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
From the Old Testament to the last book of the Bible, God is always inviting people to come. This was the Character of Jehovah God, and we can see it in the character of Jesus Christ as well.
You know the story of the feeding of the multitudes, Jesus told them...
English Standard Version Chapter 6
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
And so, he calls men to come, and to believe. And here is something that I want you to put in your memory, coming and believing are always together. They go together. Remember that because we will talk about that soon.
Look at some of the ways Jesus used the word “come and believe” First he says come and eat for I am bread and then he says come and drink because I am living water. Look at John 7
John 7:37–38 (ESV)
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”
in John 8… he says
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
And then in Chapter 11 of John, Jesus during the time of Lazarus’ death
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Come unto me… he says … for I a life, I am bread, I am water, I am light, I am life. And coming is believing.
(title slide)
Now this morning we are going to focus on the Invitation of the Messiah. At least the first part.
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.”
What a great passage of Scripture. II know that any of you have heard it, maybe even memorized it, but do you fully know what Jesus is offering. If he says “Come to me” in verse 28, what is he offering those who come? He is offering rest. In verse 28 he says he will give it (rest(, and in verse 29 he says that you can receive it (rest). This is what Jesus is offering for everyone who comes to him....rest.
Now our main Scripture this morning is here in Matthew 11, but to understand rest and what he provides to those who come, we need to go to Hebrews Chapter 3. So turn into your Bibles to Hebrews 3.
Now the book of Hebrews was written to a community of Jewish Christian. But it seems that from time to time in the book of Hebrews there are warnings given to people who know the truth of the gospel, but they have not fully given themselves to Christ. Now why would they not give themselves fully to Christ? We need to put our minds in the context of the day. Living in that culture, a Jew, who was a regular worshipper at the synagogue, and followed the Scriptures that we know as the first 5 books of the Old Testament. But remember that many Jewish people in that day did not believe that Jesus he was the Messiah, including the priest, the Pharisees and the Sadducess. So for these people to fully commit to the gospel meant that they could have been kicked out of the synagogue, which was an important way of life in that day. So they were somewhere in between, knowing the gospel was true, but not fully giving their lives into it.
So the writer of Hebrews here is calling them out. You see, in their minds they believed, but they did not follow with their hearts. Mom and I were talking this week and she said …There is a difference in knowing it in yoru mind and knowing it in your heart. And this was the warning that the writer of Hebrews was giving these people.
English Standard Version Chapter 3
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
11 As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ”
Now these verses are from Psalm 95:7-11. And there is that word: rest. Now when the writer of Hebrews is writing this down to that Christian community of Jews, they know exactly what this Scripture is about. Look at a few key words and phrases: harden your hearts, testing in the wilderness, forty years, they shall not enter. What time is this he is pointing to? He is pointing to the time when Moses led God’s chosen people out of Egypt.
So what does ‘rest’ mean to the Jew of that time? Canaan, the promised land. But the Holy Spirit is telling these people that they are being like those who left Egypt. They believed there was a better land, a better way, but those who were adults at the time of the Exodus never entered into rest, because they turned their backs on God and turned their worship towards a golden calf. In their minds they knew what they should do, but they never fully gave in to the Lord and his promises and they never entered his rest.
Now, this Scripture, coming from the Old Testament, speaks to rest being salvation. In other words he is speaking to non-beleivers here. Those who have not fully given themselves over to Christ. How can I say this?
Look at verse 7, it assumes that they did not hear God’s voice.........Well John 10 John 10:27 (ESV) 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Verse 8, they harden they’re hearts… Ezekial says Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV) 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
verse 10 says they go astray in their heart, and then it says they have not known my ways.
These people that the writer is taking to are not beleivers..... they don’t know God’s voice, they hareden they’re hearts, they go astray in theri hearts, and they don’t know his ways.... THAT IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT FOLLOW GOD.
Then what does he say about these people. Look at verse 11...
Hebrews 3:11 (ESV)
11 As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ”
Unbelief is what keeps people from rest. But for you to enter into salvation (rest) you do so this way:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
When they did not believe, they did not enter rest
Lets keep going, look at Hebrews Chapter 4, verse 1
English Standard Version Chapter 4
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
The writer is saying that rest (salvation) is still available for you. But you need to be careful not to miss the chance.
Hebrews 4:2–3 (ESV)
2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest...
Now skip down to verse 9...
9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.
Here is the key. The Jew believed that he could enter rest by doing what? Works. But the writer here says that if you are going to enter into true rest, your works have to stop.
And we know this. We know that salvation is by faith, not by works.
Before we go back to Matthew 11, I wanted to highlight something for you. In the dictionary there are 5 definitions for the english word rest.
1. to cease from action or motion
2. to be free from anxiety or disturbance
3. to sit or lie fixed or supported
4. to remain confident or trustful
5. something used for support
+++++
when we enter into the rest of God, there is no more trying to earn God’s favor, nothing we can strive to do to gain his mercy.
The pressures of this world are temporary, when we rest in him, this world is placed in their proper perspective.
in his rest we are settled, unmovable, and firm in his salvation.
we enjoy faith without fear knowing that he has secured for us an eternity with him
He alone supplies our needs. We lean on him, depend on him
Jesus came into this world to give rest to all that would come to him. And what did I say was the word that went with come? Believe. For those who believe in Him, there is salvation. Its pretty simple.
In our text this morning, Matthew 11:25-30, there are 5 essential elements for an invitation to come to Christ. 5 essential elements for a genuine invitation to come to Christ. This morning we are only going to get to the first.
So today, as we give an invitation to come (believe) in Jesus Christ, the are essential elements that need to be part of the conversation as you are sharing Christ. Essential elements that need to be understood from a person as they prepare to accept an invitation to salvation. And many times, all of these 5 are not explained, so there can be confusion on the part of the person you are sharing with as they prepare to come to salvation.
Now before we look at the first essential element, let me set the context for you. Let me set the background for you.
Jesus begins:
Matthew 11:25 (ESV)
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;
So, at what time?
There are a few ways that we could see this:
1. At that time could be when he had just finished speaking the words of verse 24, the Woe to the city of Caperneum. So, following those words.
2. At that time could mean that his ministry there in Galilee was coming to a conclusion. He had presented the evidence of who he was and there was no other possible conclusion other than he was who he said he was, the Messiah.
3. or maybe, At that time, was the time that the 12 disciples had come back from being sent out, and what they told him was the same thing he was experiencing, most of the people did not accept him, or them.
It could have been any one the three, but one thing was certain, Jesus was not widely accepted at this point. There were some, but most did not accept him as the coming Messiah. We have altready seen som eof the reactions: doubt, criticism, and indifference.... but in the middle of all of this rejection…Jesus extends an invitation to rest…salvation.
Matthew 11:25 (ESV)
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;
Now as he starts this invitation, he acknowledges who is in control…of everything. He is in control. Even responses that do not follow Christ and those that do, they are under the ultimate sovereignty of God.
Do you know that word, sovereignty? Do you know what it means? It means that he is always in control. He know everything. Nothing happens without him allowing it. The good, the bad… it knows about it and allows for it to happen for HIS purpose and HIS will....sovereignty.
So as Jesus begins to speak in invitation for salvation, he acknowledges that whatever happen, if the come and believe, or they don’t, it is because of HIS will. This is a lesson for all of us as we share the Gospel with other people. We are not i n control of the decision they make. The Bible never said we should go and get people saved, but the Bible did say to go and we a witness. And yes, some will come, and some will not, but you have no control over that. Only the Holy Spirit does....
John 16:7–11 (ESV)
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
So as Jesus begins to present this invitation, he recognizes that nothing will happen that is outside the knowledge and control of Almighty God. In fact, do you remember his words in the garden? Not my will, but yours. He is ultimatly placing his trust fir how the invitation will be recieved based on the will of the Father.
Then Jesus continues....
Matthew 11:25 (ESV)
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;
Jesus is saying I am thankful to you God that people do not get saved because they are intelligent or smart. He states I am thankful that no one is refused to enter because they are dim. Now is he saying this because he doesn’t want people who are smart or intelligent to be in heaven? Does he want everyone in heave to be dim or only children? No.
So what has he hidden (there in verse 25)?
Acts 1:3 (ESV)
3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
He presented himself alive (after his resurrection) to them (his disciples) for forty days speaking of what (the kingdom of God).
This is what was hidden to some…the Kingdom of God. That is all that he taled about. The Kingdom was coming and was almost there. He talked about before the cross, after the cross, and after the resurrection… he was all about the Kingdom of God… eternal, spiritual truth. So why could the intelligent not understand? Because human reasoning has no place with faith.
No man can discover salvation by intelligence. No man enter into the Kingdom because of his earthly intelligence…THOUGH HIS HUMAN MIND. And when people think they are too smart to be;eive in something that cannot touch or see, God, will close their eyes and hide them from the truth that would save their souls.
Humilty is the first essential element unto salvation. Knowing that if you don’t make a decision to follow Christ YOU ....HAVE…NO…HOPE.
And Jesus describes this humilty as the example of a little child who doesn’t know everything, but has a heart that is open to hear as the Holy Spirit draws them and convicts them.
As we continue to move through Matthew, we will get to the place where Jesus will be asked who is the greatest.....
3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.
God doesn’t turn away the intelligent because they are smart, he is the one who gave them that ability, but when pride enters into a person and they turn away from the truth of the gospel because they try to reason it out in through own mind, the God will hide the truth from them.
So then who are the little children? When we think of little children, what do we think of? For example. baby Chioma. Can Chioma pick her food at he window in the evening? Can she climb up in her chair? Can she dress herself? Chioma is dependent on other people to help her right now. And that is what Jesus is talking about.
You have to come to a place where you abandon all that you are. So it’s not a comparison of the intelligent of the dim, the educated or the uneducated.... it is a comparison of those who humbly accept the truth of the gospel and those who pridefully turn away. The humble will see their need for a Savior, the emptiness that lives within that they cannot fill themselves.
You see, most of the people that heard the words of Jesus we basing their goodness on their own works related Jewish system of laws. They didn't need saving, they could save themselves.
Humility is the first step in accepting an invitation to rest (Salvation)
4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
Do you know why many people who are intelligent, or have a lot of money, or are famous don’t follow an invitation to rest? Pride. Why do I need this Jesus? I have money, I have intellignce, I am famous...WHY?
When Mom went to India, the rich people there never wanted Jesus because they believed he was the poor mans god. They would think I have all I need, what more can he give me?
Humility is the first essential element to salvation. Next week we will see the other four, but let me close with these words from Isaiah:
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Those who find rest will not be the prideful…they will not be the ones who depend own their own ways and their own thinking, it will be those who have bowed before Jesus in humilty. But look closer at what he says...
to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
The Greek word for revive is the same word used for rest.
So the Lord, as he speaks through the prophet Isaiah is saying....
I will give rest to the lowly and heart to the heart that is humble.
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