First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Lord’s Day November 2, 2003 Anno Domini

Matthew 11:1-19

The Kingdom’s Preachers Rejected

  I.  Jesus identifies himself through his works.
      A.  Jesus answers for the sake of John’s disciples. [John 1:15, 27]
      B.  The evidence of the miracles. [John 5:36; Isaiah 35:5; 61:1]
      C.  The evidence of the preaching.
      D.  Blessed is he who is not offended because of Christ. [Isaiah
8:14; Luke 2:34; 1Peter 2:8]
     

  II.  Jesus identifies John by his office.
      A.  Question and answer: who did you think John was?
      B.  More than a prophet!
      C.  The testimony of Scripture. [Malachi 3:1; Exodus 23:20; Matt 3:3;
John 1:23]
      D.  The testimony of his office.
     

   III. Jesus rebukes the crowd for not believing.
      A.  The kingdom is assaulted. [Matt 11:12; Luke 16:16; Matt 13:19]
      B.  No dancing, no mourning...
      C.  Offended and deaf.
     

  IV.  Wisdom is justified by her own children. [Luke 7:35]
      A.  The Lord knows who are his own. [1Cor 1:24, 25]
      B. Unbelieving people cannot stop the work of God. [1Cor
1:21]
      C.    Persecution cannot stop the work of God. [Romans 11:33]
      D. Hear the answers to your questions so that you may have
confidence in Christ.
     

        1. The miracles of Christ were not a show, nor were they
exaggerated stories by the early church. They testify that Jesus
is the Son of God. [John 10:37-38]
       

        2. The preaching of the gospel may be rejected by the
powerful and wise, but the poor are drawn to hope in Christ.
[1Cor 1:26-29]
       

        3. Consider God’s careful fulfillment of his Word. No
other account in history can make the claims that the Bible
makes: God speaks, generations later he acts in accordance with
his Word.
       

        4. Take to heart Christ’s warning not to be like fickle
children. Hear and believe.
       

        5. Jesus is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
There is hope for all who turn to him in faith.
       

Pastor Christian Adjemian, Dipl.Div., Ph.D.

pastor@reformedprescambridge.com phone: 617.864.3185