Matthew 11:20-30...A sovereign God calls

 


After slugging up 5 miles and 1100 elevation gain I made it to Farview Overlook Curve to get a panoramic view of the Never Summer Mountain Range.  A goal met to make it there this winter season and another to go above 10,000 ft in the snowshoes.  When I was coming back down I met a reality that this season is coming to an end.  The large snowblower was starting to clear the road I had just traversed up.  This blower is so big that there is a separate diesel motor just to run the snow throwing tines.  

Jesus is at a season change in His ministry.  He has shown us the teaching Jesus with the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5 through 7 of the Gospel of Matthew and also the discourse in chapter 10.  He has also shown us the healing Jesus with the many miracles that we find in chapters 8 and 9.  Now we venture into the preaching Jesus section.  Jesus is going to point out what is wrong directly with naming names of cities and religious authorities and also indirectly through the telling of parables.  He continues to teach and He also continues to heal but the preaching season is just starting up.

After commending John the Baptist who was participating fully in the plan of God even though in prison and comparing him to this present generation who was not participating even though they had heard John the Baptist harsh warnings and experienced Jesus generous offerings of miracles and His very presence, Jesus names some names.  He compares 3 Jewish towns with 3 Gentile towns.

The 3 Jewish towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum are where you would have wanted to raise a family.  They were places that supported wholesome lifestyles by a majority of the inhabitants.  The 3 Gentile towns of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom are where you might visit but maybe not let your friends know you went there.  They were places that focused on self satisfaction rather than community unity.  Jesus doesn't condone the actions of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom but He also doesn't skate by the real issue not being addressed by Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum.  Even though experiencing the mighty works of Jesus, they did not repent.

This is also a passage that expresses strongly God's sovereignty and Jesus' given authority over all things from God.  Jesus decided where His mighty works would be done and if He had done them in other places He also knew what would be the outcome.  Jesus is also the decider to who is going to be part of the exclusive relationship He has with His Father.  Sovereignty is all over this passage.  

The Bible has no problem putting God's sovereignty and God's calling side by side.  The children are in the marketplace calling out to the others but they do not participate just like these 3 Jewish towns where many of Jesus' mighty works were done.  They did not repent and follow after Jesus as the Son of God.  Jesus was calling as He does again at the end of this passage with "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest."  (Matthew 11:28, MEV).   The sovereignty of God is followed by the invitation of God to come to Him.  

I finished last week and included this week 2 Timothy 2:19 which puts these two truths side by side.  The additions are mine to draw out this point.

But the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, (you can take these next 2 statements to the bank)

(Statement 1 on the sovereignty of God) "The Lord knows those who are His,"

(and in the next breath statement 2 on the invitation of God) and, "Let everyone who calls on the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:19, MEV)

It is a hard truth for us to grasp but the Lord who knows all says that you need to call on His name to be saved.  I am created in the image of God but not created to be a god or equal to Him.  When it comes to my salvation, He had prior commitment to it than me;  He made a greater sacrifice for it than me; and He has more say so than me on this matter.

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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