Matthew 11 starting at verse 20. Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in
which most of his miracles had been performed because they did not repent.
Woe to you, Charizm, 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 Sackloff and Ashes. But I tell you it would be more bearable for Tyre
and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 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. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of
judgment than for you. Good morning everyone. Oh come on. Good morning everyone.
Oh there you go. That's much better. Thanks a lot. I feel welcome now. No, it's good to be
with you this morning as we get into God's Word actually continuing on
through the study that you guys are doing in Matthew. Recently my younger sister
Melissa recounted a childhood event and by the way I do not remember this event
but I believe her that she is remembering properly. One day while
out riding our bikes I was rubbing the front of my wheel into the back of her
wheel of her bike. In other words I was banging into her and and when I did that
it would make a little buzzing sound which she absolutely hated which being
the older brother I absolutely loved it all the more because it was a great time
just to tease her. That was my fun in life was to tease her. In case you haven't
guessed it I regularly liked to tease my sister. My sister got me back though.
This one day she did the same to me. In other words she was behind me and she
bumped into my tire trying to make the buzzing sound only I panicked. I fell off
I hit my head and my bike tire got mangled in the process. Well there's more
to the story but the thing that struck me as my sister was reminding me or
telling me what had happened was how often I was mean to my younger sister.
I forgot a lot of the mean things that I did to her but this story brought back
memories of the times that I was really cruel to my sister. You see I can easily
tell you all the good things that I've done and I can tell you all the bad
things that other people have done to me but I easily forget the cruel ways that
I treat others and the cruel ways then become normal and then I forget that I
need to change at all because things are just normal anymore even in my cruelty.
In his day Jesus denounced the key towns where he performed miracles and he
compared them to the notorious cities from Old Testament history and in all
those places in the Old Testament and in Jesus' day so everything every town
that he mentions in this passage sin had become a normal way of life. The key
towns they saw Jesus they heard his teaching. His teaching was repent for
the kingdom of heaven is near that was his message. They needed to change their
ways they needed to repent but they did not listen. They knew that Sodom and
Tyre and Sidon they knew that those cities were notorious that they were
cruel sinners but like me they had forgotten their own sinfulness their
own cruelty their own rebellion against God. Jesus' message and his miracles
prove that he's God he is God and he's calling us to repent of our ways and to
follow him in his ways. You see God gave one message Jesus did many miracles and
there's only one response to all that he has taught and done. Let's look at that
first point where God gave one message. It's good for us to understand that
Jesus and John had the same message so we're gonna go back and look through a
little bit of Matthew kind of leading up to this passage so that we get a full
picture of what's going on here. Matthew establishes Jesus identity early in the
gospel so in Matthew chapter 1 verse 21 and verse 23 it tells us who Jesus is.
Jesus he is his name itself means the Lord saves and then you have the name
Emmanuel given to us in chapter 1 verse 23. Emmanuel which means God with us. So
Jesus names these two names of Jesus they fulfill scripture they indicate
Jesus importance and they tell us the purpose of his life and of his work.
Matthew tells us that Jesus is God and he has come to save. In addition earlier
before Jesus comes on the scene John was sent by God to prepare the way for
Jesus arrival and for Jesus work and so people saw John like the prophet Elijah
because John dressed like the prophet Elijah he wore a garment of camel's hair
not the softest of clothing he wore a leather belt around his waist he ate
locusts and wild honey yum but he looked like Elijah that reminded them of all
that the Old Testament prophets had said and John came and his sermon was clear.
So from Matthew chapter 3 verse 2 you can follow me through if you're quick on
your Bibles or quick on your apps or whatever.
Chapter 3 verse 2 John's message is this repent for the kingdom of heaven has
come near. All those who came out to see John in the wilderness heard John they
confess their sin they were baptized by him in the Jordan and so verse 5 tells
us those facts then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the
Jordan were going out to him they were baptized by him in the River Jordan
confessing their sins. John's message was simple his work to baptize
repentant people was simple and Matthew mentions no miracles done by John his
ministry was simple in fact John says himself about his own ministry and
verse 11 of chapter 3 I baptize with water for repentance a very simple thing
but after me comes one who is more powerful than I he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit. John's message and work did not upstage Jesus it spotlighted
Jesus that he is Emmanuel and he is coming so when Jesus comes to the stage
the message that he preached accompanying by the miracles that he did out
shone John. What message did Jesus Emmanuel preach what did he proclaim
well it tells us in chapter 4 verse 17 from that time on Jesus began to preach
saying repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John and Jesus had the same
message that's important. Jesus message was accompanied by miracles and people
who saw and heard Jesus they should have repented but miracles are never
separate from the message in other words just because there's miracles doesn't
mean there isn't a message the message and the miracles go together the miracles
only add weight to the message to prove that Jesus was Emmanuel that he was God
with us that he had the authority and the power to save that's what the
miracles proved about the message that Jesus gave. So I realize we're going over
old ground maybe it's been a while since you've been in Matthew I don't know how
long you've been back in Matthew but anyway it might have been a while but
knowing these things about Jesus identity will help us to understand chapter
11 I promise okay so there's a reason there's a method to the madness here
there's two more facts to recall from chapter 4 that are gonna help us. The
first 11 verses of chapter 4 tell us about the occasion of Jesus being
tempted by Satan and after Jesus baptism he was brought into the wilderness
by the Spirit and Satan tempted him but Jesus responded differently than Adam
and Eve did in the garden instead of doubting God Jesus trusted God he
trusted his father he trusted God's will and he followed God in God's ways he
didn't turn against God he followed God he trusted him and then from chapter 4
verse 12 to 17 after John's arrest Jesus withdrew to Galilee. Now you're going
oh I don't know my geography that well there'll be a map up in just a second but
he left Nazareth to live in Capernaum. Now Capernaum is one of the cities which
Jesus pronounces a woe on in chapter 11 so pay attention hold that in your head
Capernaum. Capernaum is in the land of Naftali and Zebulun those are tribes of
Israel those are places in Old Testament Israel and that fulfilled Isaiah's
prophecy so listen to this prophecy the land of Zebulun and land of Naftali the
way of the sea beyond the Jordan Galilee of the Gentiles the people living in
darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of the shadow of
death a great light has dawned. It's important to know Jesus did not fall to
Satan's temptation he instead went God's way he followed God's way and trusted
God in fact his move to Capernaum lit the dark places it fulfilled scripture
his message and his miracles were a great light on those that lived in darkness
in the shadow of death. God sent John with a message of repentance to prepare
the stage but Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us had the same message plus miracles
to tell and show people that he had the authority and the power to save for you
and I we know Jesus has come the question is will we listen to him
you see not only did there come a message but the second point that we
have is Jesus did many miracles to back up that message and the miracles
spotlight his identity it spotlights the message that he's giving the areas where
Jesus did most of his miracles and his teaching is in and around the cities of
Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. Those are if you will the evangelical
triangle there's there's an attempt to draw the evangelical triangle there you
go the evangelical triangle those are the places where Jesus did most of his
ministry they had a front row seat to almost everything that Jesus said and
did just in that area therefore they had no excuse to not respond properly to
Jesus message and to Jesus miracles repent for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand and they should have repented now there were no videos and no TVs in Jesus
day I'm sure you know that duh and so entertainment you know it was a bit thin
a bit lacking so when Jesus came to town and he started to do miracles in this
evangelical triangle lots of crowds turned out to watch do you know not once
in Matthew you can check it I was surprised not once in Matthew does he
record repentance as a response from the crowd to any of those miracles not
once now some individuals did come humbly to Jesus they were forgiven or they
were cleansed they saw some miracle done in their life but as the crowds gathered
none of them as a crowd repented crowds only ever respond as Matthew records it
crowds only ever respond with astonishment or accusation let me just
give you a bit of a review just so you know I'm not lying to you here okay I
didn't make this up chapter 8 verse 27 I'm just gonna run through them quickly
it's where Jesus is with his disciples and the storm is they're on the water in
the boat and the storm breaks out and when when Jesus calms the storm it just
says the disciples were amazed and actually we're scared of Jesus as well
who is this guy in chapter 8 verse 34 when he meets the demoniac or the two
demoniacs in Matthew and they he drives them out into the pigs the people in the
community they come out they want Jesus to leave not repentance but rejection
they want him out chapter 9 verse 8 when he heals the paralyzed man and
forgives his sin the crowd are in awe they they're praising God but they're
not repenting chapter 9 verse 24 and 25 the girl who was who was the officer's
daughter and she died the crowd laughed when she said when he said she is not
dead but just asleep the crowd laughed at Jesus and then later on when Jesus in
chapter 9 verse 33 he heals the mute demoniac possessed guy he drives out the
demon and the guy starts speaking the crowd are amazed but again no repentance
and the Pharisees they say of Jesus that he's got a demon he's just driving out
demons by the Prince of demons again rejection accusation to be clear
miracles are not entertainment right they're not entertainment they are proof
of Jesus identity and authority to call people into his kingdom as he preaches
repent for the kingdom of heaven is near so what does repentance look like we
hear that word thrown around in churchy circles you know repentance what does it
look like what do I mean is it just saying I'm sorry for my sin or I'm sad
and I feel bad because I've done something wrong let's look at what
repentance and living a repentant life means after Jesus took over from John
so chapter 4 verse 17 and onward Jesus gives that famous three chapter sermon
on the Mount Matthew 5 6 and 7 his sermon teaches the ways of the kingdom
of heaven and it's the reverse of the kingdom of this world it's the opposite
he says things like this blessed are those who mourn blessed are the poor in
spirit blessed are the meek when's the last time you heard an advertisement on
the telly for any of those characteristics right that's not it
doesn't happen in this world blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness righteousness hunger and thirst for more money hunger and thirst
for better property and nicer retirement never hunger and thirst for
righteousness not from this world blessed are the merciful blessed are the
peacemakers blessed are the persecuted we don't like persecution do we that's
not our way at least not the way we normally think about it Jesus said turn
the other cheek Jesus said love your enemies Jesus said give sacrificially
Jesus said forgive others Jesus said store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven
Jesus says seek first the kingdom of God Jesus said do not judge others Jesus
said do to others what you would have them do to you
wow that's a repentant lifestyle that's living the kingdom way turning away
from our sinful ways and living the reverse of this world is the repentant
lifestyle that Jesus taught we live in repentance as we turn away from the
world's way and come in line with the ways of Jesus kingdom do we live like
that do you and I live like that I've already told you what I live like and
I'm ashamed I already know that I can be cruel and mean and heartless and
selfish I don't always live this way do you after these these three chapters of
a sermon Jesus cleanses lepers he heals the Gentiles and he heals Peter's
mother-in-law there you go he heals the mother-in-law that's pretty good right
he drove out the evil spirits he heals with a word you know we have to go to
the doctor and get pills and medications and shots and operations Jesus just
Jesus just speaks and he can heal people he calm the storm with a word he
heals the paralytic he raises the dead daughter he healed the blind in the
mute and you remember from last week's sermon when Michael preached 11 chapter
11 talking about giving evidence to John he says basically the same things the
blind they're seeing the deaf or hearing the people are healed that's evidence to
John and it's evidence to us of what Jesus does the power that he has the
fact that he is the Son of God Jesus message and his miracles they prove his
authority to call people to repentance do we listen to him I have 15 to 20
Bibles on my shelf at home I think I have at least four versions of the
scriptures among them four version not versions of the scriptures but versions
of translations among them the NIV the NAS ESV I think I've got a Holman Bible
in there I know I've got a King James Bible in there I've got Greek New
Testaments and I've got Hebrew Old Testament scriptures it's quite something
you know you think as English speakers we have access to so many good resources
and the scriptures in our own language and even if you only have one Bible
maybe just on your phone or on your app it wherever you still have the full
record of Jesus teaching don't you you had the full record not just of Jesus
teaching but the Apostles teaching not just the Apostles teaching but of Moses
not just of Moses but of all that God had done historically with his saints in
the Old Testament not just that but all the prophets as well not just that but
all the Psalms as well
isn't that amazing you have Jesus miracles and Jesus message right at your
fingertips anytime of the day or night pull the book off the shelf or pull up
your app on the phone is his word impacting you is it making a difference in
your life is it taking root in your life are you are you growing in your faith
are you living a repentant lifestyle based on what God says not on what the
world says
the crowds in Jesus day they saw and they heard Jesus you and I have the full
library of God's work and word to save his people we know Jesus and we know
that he did amazing miracles to prove his identity to prove his authority his
power to save are we repenting and living life his way you see there's only
one response because unrepentance is gonna face condemnation there's only
one response now we're finally in chapter 11 you're probably glad to hear
that right we're gonna make progress we've made progress chapter 11 beginning
in verse 20 we read in verse 20 that Jesus denounced the towns why did he
denounce the towns because they did not repent
crowds they heard and they saw Jesus can you imagine hearing and seeing Jesus
live but they did not obey Jesus or follow his ways as a crowd individuals
did but as a crowd they just did what they did so Jesus he pronounces woes
against caresan against beseda a bent against cavernium that evangelical
triangle now a woe is not the final condemnation from God because there's
no fire coming down from heaven they're not just disappearing off the face of
the earth like Sodom right but a woe is the final warning it's the big warning
it's like if you hear a woe pronounced against you you you better stop and you
better listen a woe if it's not heeded becomes God's condemnation and here's
how we know that we know that from right here where Jesus teaches because Jesus
indicates that woes are not the final condemnation in several ways look at
verse 21 and 23 he says because the towns here are being warned he's saying woe
to these towns to these areas and he's warning them Jesus gives the woes before
any destruction so nothing comes on them no big judgment of raining down fire
or anything like that comes on them nothing like that takes place so it's
giving them yet another opportunity to respond it's a serious time it's a
sobering time they need to listen but he's not judging condemning them yet but
they need to pay attention so the towns are warned then look at verse 21 and 23
he says that history might have been different for these other towns that he
mentioned the notorious ones Jesus says that tire inside and verse 21 tire
inside and would have rightly responded to his miracles in sackcloth and ashes
they would have they would have just just fallen to the ground if they had
seen and heard Jesus Jesus said history might have been different that indicates
to us that God would relent if people would repent God would relent history
would have been different he said Sodom would still remain there would not have
been fire and brimstone coming down on Sodom if they had repented if they had
seen Jesus his miracles and heard his teaching history would have been
different that gives us hope because God as long as he is relenting we can
repent but he does paint the opposite of that verse 22 and verse 24 he said
there's a bleak future ahead Jesus says the judgment will be worse for those
who ignore him now the words Corazon Bethsaida and Capernaum they have seen
Jesus judgments going to be worse for them if they don't repent if they ignore
him tire and Sidon will come off better in judgment day than these areas if they
ignore him Sodom it'll be lighter on Sodom on judgment day than for the
evangelical triangle because those who saw and heard Jesus will be in greater
trouble if they do not repent this includes this indicates that people are
responsible for the information that they have for the light that they've been
given if you've been given a little light if you just have a little
understanding of the scriptures but you act on it that's good if you have the
great light of Jesus and you know who he is and you know what he's done and you
have the full record of scripture and you act on it that's great but if you
don't it's terrible let's put all the people on a timeline okay all the groups
we've been talking about Sodom over here okay Sodom starts the timeline because
they were way back in in the Old Testament they're in Genesis chapter 18
or 19 19 and then you have tire and Sidon they're in Ezekiel 38 and we read
about them tire and Sidon I just wanted you to read that passage that passage
we read out earlier just so that you could see what they were on about what
what they were gonna face the judgment they were facing because of their pride
pride and arrogance even hints that the tire was like Satan the highest of
beings the highest creation and then falling to the earth crashing into
destruction then third Corus and Biseda and Capernaum that third group and then
we're gonna put ourselves on the timeline we're the group number four okay
the first group Sodom they didn't really have a full scripture right they lived
in a time where there weren't the written scriptures in front of them they
had no Bible but they knew that what they were on about was wrong and God
judged them for their wickedness the second group tire and Sidon they lived
in the Old Testament times they knew who God was they knew the God of Israel not
knowing them in for salvation but they knew who he was they had given God's
people grief they had caused Israel all kinds of problems they opposed God's
people and they were judged for their wickedness the third group Corazin
Biseda Capernaum they saw and they heard Jesus and Jesus says their final
judgment will be worse than Sodom and tire and Sidon why because they heard
Jesus message they saw Jesus miracles but they did not repent remember they
had the dawning of the great light upon them but they didn't act on it what
about our place we're number four in that timeline what about our place are we
any better are we better off we have the full record the Old Testament and the
New Testament in our hands we have the witness of Scripture we have the
witness of God's work in this world I know this because I have a church history
wife she loves church history you think 2,000 years of history of God's work in
this world nations changed people's lives changed there's all kinds of things
that the Holy Spirit has brought to change people we know that from history
brothers and sisters friends we will not fare any better if we continue our own
way in fact it appears will be worse off on judgment day if we continue our own
way because we have heaps of information about what God has done and what he is
doing in this world in the dark shadow of death judgment and condemnation ahead
is there any hope it's pretty bleak isn't it this picture that we see from the
scriptures is very bleak for the unrepentant is there any escape yes yes
there is a great light has dawned Jesus has come Emmanuel Jesus God with us God
who saves he has come we have seen the kind and merciful character of our God
God sent his son Jesus whose name means the Lord saves he is Emmanuel God with
us Jesus calls us to listen to him to repent and to follow him into his kingdom
he baptizes with the Holy Spirit he gives us the Holy Spirit so that this can
take place does our repentance somehow cancel faith or better yet how does
repentance and faith go together well no our faith is in the promise of God in
the mercy of God the character of God who makes a promise that all who take
refuge in Jesus repent and turn to Christ all will be saved who do that our
repentance is not our work instead as we live God's way as we repent and live
this repentant lifestyle it's evidence that God has brought us into the kingdom
we are sons of God children of God following the way of God it's a great
thing to live that repentant lifestyle it brings assurance of God's salvation to
us see our only response to escape the condemnation and the final judgment of
God is to listen to Jesus each of us needs to repent but not just the ones to
say we're sorry God feel sorry for our sins but to live that repentant lifestyle
to turn from our ways our sinful ways of operating and to live the repentant
lifestyle that Jesus taught and the way that the Holy Spirit empowers us to live
and to help us brothers and sisters friends listen to Jesus let's pray Lord
Jesus we do want to thank you we know that yet again you give us the
opportunity to hear your word to understand who you are help us Lord to
listen not just to listen but to take up these things and to be different because
your work of work of Christ and work of God in us heavenly Father thank you for
your mercy and kindness in sending Christ Holy Spirit be at work in each and
every one of us from this day forward and thank you for the work that you've
done already in Jesus name we pray Amen