Responsible for His Revelation (Matthew 11:20-24)

Here’s my message from this past Sunday in our Matthew series. Check out the audio here. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast here.

Now, as you hear these words of Jesus, how do they make you feel? They may make you really uncomfortable. You’re used to the milder, softer version of Jesus. The one who stays away from the shock and awe. Who says nothing that makes you flinch or cringe. He doesn’t challenge what you think - or how you live. Like the music you hear at the dentist’s office. Easy listening. Adult contemporary. Not really that good. But not very offensive, either. This sounds way more metal - am I right?

So some of you are like: “Finally!” You’ve heard enough of that “blessed are the meek” stuff. Bring on the Metallica - or whatever the modern version would be. You want Jesus with an edge. Not a lamb. More like a lion. Love your enemies? Really? You prefer the Christ that looks more like you on social media. Flippin’ those tables. Telling it like it is. Fire and brimstone. This Jesus - you can get excited about Him. So you yell, “Let's go! Preach it, Jesus!

Well, today we’re going to walk through Matthew 11, verses 20 through 24 and consider what these words could mean for us today. We’re going to see Jesus - the Lion and the Lamb - rattle all of our cages today. First, I’m going to lead us on a trek through this text. And then we’ll quickly jump into what this passage means for us today. And I don’t think any of us are going to walk away happy. But we’ll find joy, if we have ears to hear. And rest.

John’s Doubts - and Ours

Last week, Aaron preached through the account just before. He talked about John’s doubt and ours. But the Baptizer’s honest questions took place amidst a generation that was questioning everything Jesus did and said. In verses 16-19, the Lord lets them - and us - know exactly how He feels. He tells them, “You’re acting like petulant little brats. John comes and doesn’t party, and you question that. You say he’s got a demon. I come and eat and drink with sinners, and you lash out at that, too. Calling me a drunk! Seriously?” But then Christ opens up both barrels here in our passage today.

Woes Upon Those Who Respond “Whatever”

In verses 20-24, Jesus unloads a rebuke on the crowd there in Israel, for how they had responded to His revelation. They hadn’t received Him. They hadn’t repented of their sins. Therefore, they would be held responsible.

Verse 20 says Jesus begins to “denounce” some “cities” - again, not a practice we generally associate with Christ. Specifically, He tears into the cities “where most of his mighty works had been done.” Jesus had come and performed healings and exorcisms. Given sight to the blind. And cleansing to lepers. Paralyzed people had gotten up and walked! He’d even raised the dead.

Now what are the cities He calls out? Where are they? In Galilee. That would be Christ’s home region. Like Missouri for most of us here. It’s where Jesus focused His ministry. “Chorazin” and “Bethsaida” - they were both cities on the north coast of that big lake - that Sea of Galilee - where Jesus had said, “Hush” - and the winds and waves had stopped and obeyed.

“Capernaum” was not only Peter’s hometown. Matthew 4:13 tells us it’s where Jesus had set up His home base. These were those Jesus - and His disciples - would have called neighbors and friends. And how did most of the people respond? Yes, some got mad. But most answered Jesus - and all His miracles - with a shrug, an eyeroll, a “whatever.”

You’ve probably heard the words of Holocaust survivor, Ellie Wiesel, who said that the opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s indifference. Imagine standing before the Lord of glory - in the flesh, as He works wonders - and you just couldn’t care less. That’s what Jesus righteously rages against here in Matthew 11.

Christ says they should have repented. Turned from their sins and followed Him in faith. And because they hadn’t, judgment would be coming. Not for those guys “over there,” but for those Galileans right there. Now that would have been shocking enough, but the way Jesus puts it goes way, way beyond that.

He mentions two cities from the Old Testament - two Gentile cities - “Tyre and Sidon” - that multiple prophets like Isaiah had called out - for their idolatry and for their materialism. And Jesus says, verse 21, ‘If they would have seen the ‘mighty works’ that you’ve seen, they would have fallen on their knees. They would have thrown on the symbols of repentance - ‘sackcloth and ashes.’” “Even they would have changed their ways,” Jesus says. And for that reason, He says, in verse 22, that their judgment day would be way easier than it would for those Galileans - those who had just looked at the Lord of glory and said, “whatever.”

Remember, Jesus is talking to the people of Israel. They thought they were the chosen people. That the kingdom would be theirs. And Jesus starts rattling off Gentile, non-Jewish cities - from their past - places they considered dirty, people they called dogs. And He starts telling them that those ungodly cities - and their people - were far better off than them. If they weren’t mad yet, they were now!

Now those words would have been shocking enough, but Jesus takes it even further. Now I grew up in the Cold War days. I remember watching the original Red Dawn and totally freaking out. There’s this scene, where kids are in their classrooms, enduring a typical day at school, and helicopters land, right out in the school yard. And Soviet soldiers step out and start shooting up the school. The U.S.S.R. - they were the bad guys. Moscow was the capitol of that evil empire.

Now imagine a prophet comes along, and he cries out, “All the things I’ve done here before you - Moscow would have repented. Khrushchev would have even listened. You’re gonna be looking up at Him from your view in hell.” Or maybe to my grandparents’ generation, if He’d said: “Berlin would have repented at all you’ve seen. Adolph Hitler’s gonna put you to shame. The Nazis had better hearts than you.” Think about how that would have played.

Listen to verse 23 again. “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades.”

Now does that sentence bring anything to mind? Read the book of Isaiah lately? In Isaiah 14, there’s this passage where Isaiah speaks, forecasting the day when God’s people would speak in triumph over their enemies. Hear verses 12 through 15:

Isaiah 14:12 “How you are fallen from heaven,

O Day Star, son of Dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who laid the nations low!

Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart,

‘I will ascend to heaven;

above the stars of God

I will set my throne on high;

I will sit on the mount of assembly

in the far reaches of the north;

Isaiah 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.’

Isaiah 14:15 But you are brought down to Sheol,

to the far reaches of the pit.”

Sound like what we just read in Matthew? Uh, yeah. Verse 4 of Isaiah 14 calls these words a taunt against the “king of Babylon.” So here we have the archetype of everything bad and wicked. The very epitome of evil. The city that’s set in contrast to Jerusalem itself. Babylon, the evil empire that carried God’s people off in slavery. Whose name lives on in the book of Revelation - and gets tossed into the lake of fire. Jesus is comparing good old Israelite kids TO THEM!  The nerve, Jesus!

But wait… there’s more. Look at verses 23 and 24. What’s the city that Jesus says faces an easier judgment than those people in Capernaum? Yeah, “Sodom.”

If there’s any city in the Bibles that they read that would have been associated with sin and unrepentance, it’s that one. After all, they’re the ones where the expression “fire and brimstone” even comes from. Right? Jesus says, “If they’d seen what you’ve seen, that city would still be there!”

Scholars have labeled Chorazin and Bethsaida and Capernaum the “Evangelical Triangle.” Jesus says to them, “You’re in way more trouble than Tyre and Sidon - and Sodom and Babylon - the ‘Axis of Evil.” Whoa. Things would have been really awkward after that tirade.

Jesus is going Old Testament prophet on the people of Israel. The ones that saw His mighty works and said “whatever.” Except He’s the new Moses, the prophet of prophets. Jesus teaches here that He doesn’t just know what will happen. His knowledge is even more comprehensive. He even knows what would have happened. And Christ seems to hint there will even be levels of judgment some day. And they, the people of Galilee, would be at the bottom. They’d not responded to His revelation. They hadn’t received Him. They hadn’t repented of their sins. Therefore, they would be held responsible.

Responsible for His Revelation

But how does this passage speak to us today ? Some parts of Scripture have some pretty obvious application. For others, you have to do some mining to get the gold. We may read this and wonder. How does Jesus going off on some cities, way back in Israel, mean anything for our lives?

Romans 15:4 says to us, “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” In these words of Jesus, there is “instruction.” There is “encouragement.” There is a path to “hope,” if we’ll but dig a little. Here are four encouragements I want you to hear this morning.

First, we’ve been given His revelation, and we must respond to it. Revelation. The Lord has revealed Himself to us. Just as with these people here in Galilee. And we, too, have to respond.

Now you might say, “K.P, I’ve not seen Jesus do any miracles like here. Christ isn’t standing here before us now. And I’ve not see any blind men see. So don’t talk to me about revelation.”

But we still have access to God’s revelation every day. First, in the skies. In His creation. Just go outside. The Lord reveals Himself there. Psalm 19, verse 1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” They point to His existence and to His majesty.

Second, in the Scriptures. In the word of God, He reveals Himself to us. The story of God points us down the road of salvation.

Third, the Spirit. The third person of the Trinity, the Spirit of God, speaks to our consciences, even if we’re not followers of Jesus. For disciples of Christ, the Spirit will illuminate our Bibles for us. He’ll shine the spotlight on the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Fourth, through His signs. Can the Lord still do miracles today? Yes. Does He seem to much of the time? No. But we can see the wonders He does - in our Bibles. Think of the Exodus in the days of the old. And the miracles we see here. And ask Him to do more.

Fifth, through the Son. Not just the word inscripturated. The word incarnated. The word of God in the flesh. Have you heard these words from the book of Hebrews?

Hebrews 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Here, in the Scriptures, through the work of the Spirit, we can see the glory of the Son. If we’ll just see. And as we see, we have to respond. No shrugs of the shoulders. No rolls of the eyes. A non-response is actually a response. This story of the Son is a love story, with Him as the hero. And the only acceptable response is to receive that love, and try to love Him back.

Think this is unfair? If we’d been there, we would have seen? It’s pretty doubtful. Only our arrogance would say that. But think about it: where they stood, they could only see the trees. But we can look down and see the forest. We’re on the other side of the cross. We see what angels long to look into. What prophets hoped for but never saw. We have the final chapters of the book. Will we see His revelation and respond?

Let’s think about what that response should look like. Second, we must acknowledge our privilege and receive it. He has revealed Himself! He didn’t have to at all. It’s totally a gift of grace. The Galileans were nothing special. That’s not why they saw what they got to see. And neither are we. But He’s spoken to us. And we don’t want to take it for granted.

Now this might be a question you have. And I certainly understand. What about those people who’ve not gotten to hear? Look at the book of Romans, in chapter one, with me.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

The Lord has not left Himself without a witness — anywhere in His world.

Paul says the skies shout - there’s a God who’s made and rules the earth. And each of us is without excuse. It’s our sin that leaves us meriting judgment. But the revelation we’ve had - we’ve suppressed even that. And we’ve turned from acknowledging our Creator. And we’ve bowed down to His creation instead.

But for those of us who’ve heard of Jesus, we’ve received even more revelation. Not just the skies, but the story - of a Savior. And that’s all of grace. It’s a remarkable privilege. God wasn’t obligated to do it. He could have walked away and left us in our sin. But He did. He sent His Son. He gave us His word. He’s left us with His Spirit. And unlike these foolish folks here, we have to open our hands. We must acknowledge our privilege and receive it. That’s our first response. Receive it. Rejoice in it. Thank Him for it. And dance for joy. What a gift.

Here’s a more specific question of application today. We have His revelation. Do we cherish it? Do we soak it up? We’ll send people all over the world to share it. But will we read it deeply ourselves? Are we open? Are we eager? Are we hungry for His revelation? The more we grow, the bigger or appetite will become.

Third, we must adjust our posture and repent before it. Isn’t that what Jesus is upset about the most? Their posture. Their backs are turned to all that He’s done. Or they’re standing over Him and His words. What’s our posture?

One thing that’s so sad - and really messed up - is that sometimes the more we learn about God, the prouder we become.

Every few months or so, we put this crosschart up on the screen. If it’s not obvious, I want this indelibly imprinted on our brains. The horizontal line is the timeline of our life. We become a Christian, and then we embark on a life of growth. And the more we grow, the two axes widen. They don’t get closer. We more and more experience this gap between God’s holiness - at the top - and our sinfulness at the bottom. The gap gets bigger. And it gives us the opportunity to experience more of the grace of Jesus. His cross bridges that divide. And that brings joy.

We respond to the gospel with repentance and faith. We turn from our sin. And then back to Jesus. And that graphic means that it doesn’t just happen at the start. Repentance - and faith - will be a part of our lives for all of our days. And that means we should hear His words - and see His works - and get humbler every day. And see more and more the ways our lives don’t line up - and repent. We must adjust our posture and repent before it. That is, before His revelation.

Here’s another note of specific application. Do we show the way of repentance?  Lead out in that? Moms, dads, do you before your children? Is apologizing something you do naturally? Or is defensiveness far more your M.O.? Student, in the classroom. Friend, working in the hospital. Are you known for being humble? As the first to ask forgiveness? I love the way Pastor Rich Villodas puts it:

“The Church must never forget that one of the best ways to establish credibility in the world is by routinely and fearlessly confessing and repenting of sin. And we lose our credibility by refusing to name our sins.” (Rich Villodas)

Russ Moore puts it this way:

“The world needs to see moral consistency from those of us who claim to be ‘the saved.’ The way they see that consistency is not with a people who are without sins and injustices and flaws, but with a people who know how to repent.” (Russell Moore)

So, how do we respond to His revelation? We receive it. We repent before it. But what is it that’s at stake? What do we learn from Jesus here?

Fourth, we’ve been given His revelation, and we’ll be held responsible for it. Now, as I said earlier, we’ve been given so much by God. The skies, the signs, but also the scriptures, the Spirit, and, most of all, the Son. And God shows us here that we’ll be held responsible for the light of Christ we’ve seen. To have seen His glory and have turned away, we’ll receive - He says - an even harsher judgment from Him.

Now if you didn’t hear before: this doesn’t mean ignorance is bliss. No, not at all. But arrogance will put us in a category with those here in Galilee, and all those in our Bibles and throughout history, that have heard the words of life and said, “Whatever,” and walked away. As D.A. Carson puts it, “The implications for Western, English-speaking Christendom today are sobering.” You think?

These words should jar those of us who’ve grown up in Sunday school. Or in Christian families. Or have enjoyed our freedoms we have here in the states. Listen to these sobering words from Dale Bruner:

“Christian countries are in special trouble on judgment day, not because Jesus has not really been in their communities but because he has. Jesus’ presence, without change, can lead to a damnation deeper than Sodom’s... . Capernaum stands for all self-conscious Christianity, for all Christianity smug in its possession of Jesus, in its being the center of Jesus’ work... . Jesus is not always impressed. It is going to go better in the judgment day for notorious pagans than for self-satisfied saints. The sum of the matter is this: Christians should take Jesus seriously. When they do, they escape judgment; when they do not, they invite it." (Dale Bruner)*

Whoa, huh? Christ has revealed Himself to us, and we must respond rightly. We must receive it. We must repent before it. We will be responsible for how we receive His revelation.

Roadblocks to His Revelation Here

Now, as I’ve thought about Christ’s words here, there are two groups of people I need to address. And trust me, I can understand both angles here myself.

First, those who want to go their own way and resist this idea of accountability. Repentance? What? Judgment? Ew. Maybe that’s you. And I certainly understand.

Repentance. We’re walking in a world that’s all about freedom. Living your truth. Being authentic. That’s the goal. The thought of turning from yourself is absurd to most. Heck, the idea of sin seems ridiculous, as well. But the Jesus everyone wants to call a great teacher is the one who taught that we needed to lay down our lives. And turn from our sin. Do what He says. And bow down before Him.

And the truth is that is where true freedom lies. He made us. He owns us. And our lives just work better, when they fit with how we’re designed. Turning from sin. Trusting in Him. It may not be easy. But it is in the long run. And it’s the only pathway to hope and joy.

Judgment. Divine wrath and eternal punishment are taken even less seriously today. But each of us knows something’s wrong with this world. And we all want people to be held accountable for their deeds. Heck, we cancel people every day. And make people suffer - for life - for their sin.

We just think it’s others that deserve this - not us. But Jesus says we’re sinners. We all deserve His wrath. And when He comes and does these signs - He heals the sick and raises the dead - He points to a day of peace. When perfect justice will reign. And we all want that. But though we may not be sex traffickers or evil dictators here, we’re all a part of this system. We are all a part of this unjust world. We’re not just sufferers. We’re sinners, too. And we all need His grace.

Second, those who want to assert their righteousness and heap condemnation upon others. Last week, Aaron talked about what’s been called deconstruction. People doubting their way right out of the community of faith. Now some would say that it’s the things we see here - all this talk about sin and judgment and such - that makes them want to leave. But I think it’s also the way Christians today can behave.

We’re the good guys, the “in” crowd, the godly, the right. And all those people out there, are wrong and will pay. When I was a kid, raised over on the state line, I remember taking the rivalry just a wee bit too far. Hoping that one of those tornadoes would roll through Lawrence and take out their teams.

Our other rival, Illinois, saw their stadium catch on fire this week. Their football program is literally a dumpster fire, people have joked. And yeah, we might be tempted to cheer that the whole thing would just finally burn down. But that’s messed up. But it’s unfortunately how people often view Christians today.

You say you’re excited to hear these “metal” words from Jesus? Who bears the brunt of these harsh words from Him? Not Tyre or Sidon or Sodom or Babylon. It’s Galilee. It’s the supposed people of God. The people who claim to follow Him. But really don’t. Jesus, says, “You guys know better. And for that reason, you’ll pay.” We can’t point our fingers at the people out there. But rather in our mirrors - and among the pews - right in here.

As Peter says in 1 Peter 4, “It is time for judgment to begin at the household of God.” Want to be like Jesus and flip over tables in the temple? Well, maybe start in the temple! The New Testament say now that’s the church. Don’t go doing it out in the world. Or what else does the New Testament say is the temple today? You and me. We’re temples of the Holy Spirit now.

Maybe we should start where Jeff Medders argues we should:

“The location for whip-making and removing impure religion is our own hearts. Drive out sinful cravings. Flip out over the idolatry presented within. Crack whips over the things that need to be confessed. Remove the high places in the low places of our spirituality… Let’s flip tables like our Lord. Pursuing righteousness in the court of our spirituality—the heart. We are God's temple. Remove the money changers, the things we’ve allowed to set up shop that have no business conducting business in our Father’s house—us. Jesus shows us that he wants to drive out what doesn't belong. And he wants to do the same with us. His cross hands us the whip. His empty tomb shows us how to swing.” (Jeff Medders)

The good news of the gospel is this: Jesus came to take the punishment for our rebellion. He was condemned that we would be accepted. And as we’re made right with Him, as He saves us and makes us new, we become more open and responsive to Him. And we become less harsh and judgmental toward others.

Let’s respond to His revelation. Let’s receive it. Let’s repent before it. Knowing that we’ll be held responsible for how we respond. Remembering that we all fail to respond as we should, but we have a Savior. If we’ll repent and believe. Who’s died for us. Who’s lived for us. And who will by His grace bring us home.

Back several years ago, commuters in a busy D.C. subway station were treated to some music as they scurried from their trains. Most walked right on by. They were indifferent to the magical tones flowing out of a Stadivarius that had cost millions of dollars. The famous violinist, Joshua Bell, who just days ago had played a concert hall at over a hundred dollars a ticket, was almost completely ignored. A child noticed him, and tried to pull his mother over to listen, but she pulled him away. They were in hurry. One woman, Stacy Furukawa arrived at the end. She noticed Bell. She’d been at a show just a few days before. She said,

"It was the most astonishing thing I've ever seen in Washington…Joshua Bell was standing there playing at rush hour, and people were not stopping, and not even looking, and some were flipping quarters at him! Quarters! I wouldn't do that to anybody. I was thinking, Omigosh, what kind of a city do I live in that this could happen?” (Stacy Furukawa in The Washington Post)

Friends, have we not failed to respond to One so much greater? Let’s pray that our cold hearts would be warmed. That our hard hearts would be softened. That we wouldn’t be indifferent. And say “whatever” and walk by. And that we would receive and worship Him.

Christ’s Warnings - and Rest

Now it’s interesting, don’t you think, that next week’s passage, that Pastor Jeff is going to take on, contains some of the most well-known - and endearing - words in the Bible - verses 25-28. Not all - really quite few - will receive the teachings of the King - all about the Kingdom He brings. It’ll be hidden, in fact, from the proud. It’ll be revealed, though, to those with child-like faith. Like there in D.C. They will heed His words. And there they’ll find rest. Those who respond, who receive, the humble, the hungry.

The lion who roars out these words we’ve seen today - He’s also the “gentle and lowly” one. He’s the lamb. Who has died for us that we might live. Come hear about Him next week. Let’s pray.   

*quoted in Wilkins, NIVAC New Testament Commentary