Almost all of Matthew chapter 11 directly tells us of the importance of trusting in the Gospel of Jesus for salvation, or indirectly by declaring that he is the Messiah. First we’re told that John the Baptist is in prison and he sent some of his disciples to ask Jesus,
Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?
John, being in prison may have been understandably discouraged. Like Jesus’ own disciples, he was probably expecting Jesus to come in full power and free the Jews from Roman oppression. However, Jesus made it clear that he was here to free human kind from spiritual oppression, and would come again to set up a physical kingdom in the last days. Jesus replies to Johns question in the affirmative by simultaneously confirming the stories John was hearing about him in prison and listing off various Messianic prophecies that he had fulfilled.
Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.
Then it seems that Jesus wanted to defend John against anyone who might have wanted to use his moment of doubt against him. Jesus says that John is the greatest man that has ever lived, and that John is the “Elijah” who was prophesied to come and prepare the way of the Messiah.
The last half of chapter 11 is what we’ll focus in on. First Verses 16 – 19:
To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
“We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge
and you did not mourn.” For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ‘ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.”
Jesus is basically saying here that no matter what he does, there will be people that will refuse to believe in his message. John came preaching the Gospel in one style, and they called him a “demon”. Jesus came preaching the Gospel in another style, and they called him “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and ‘sinners’”. Then just like in chapter 10, Jesus warns of the severity of rejecting his Gospel, by comparing this sin to the sins of Sodom and other cities that God had destroyed for extreme immorality. Verses 20-24:
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. 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.”
God holds His Son in high esteem, and is willing to humble Himself out of his love for us in such an extreme way, through the death of Jesus on the cross. Passages in scripture like the one above tell us of the importance of accepting God’s gracious gift. The alternative is like spitting in the face of the Almighty God, rejecting his kindness and declaring security in my own works and power to save myself. This kind of prideful thinking and living results in destruction and a punishment worse than what the terribly sinful cities of the Old Testament at the judgment of a righteous and just God.
Let’s look the closing verses of this chapter, 25 – 30:
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
These last verses tell us who will be the ones to receive Jesus message. God hides the Gospel from the “wise and learned” people who are sure of themselves and their ability to forge their own way to heaven. Rather, it is those who trust in God like a child trusts their good father, those who are weary of trying to earn their way to heaven, and instead put their faith in Jesus’ work on their behalf. These are the ones that Jesus chooses to reveal the Father to. These are the ones who recieve God’s Spirit who gives rest for the soul.