Humble or Haughty - SOAPS 3/16
Matthew 11:20-30
20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Observations
In this passage we see some of the most powerful statements from Jesus. He reveals 2 paths which we can walk down in life, the repercussions of each, and contrasts them in a way which so deeply reveals the heart of God. The latter portion of this passage has become quite well known through Dane Ortlund’s, “Gentle and Lowly” where he explores the nature of Jesus and examines the weight with how Jesus describes himself in this passage; as gentle and lowly.
While we see Jesus as gentle and lowly, this section of scripture does not seem to start off in such as way. Christ opens with denouncing the cities where he had done mighty works. The word here for denouncing is ὀνειδίζειν (oneidizein), an incredibly weighty word with meanings such as viewing someone (something) as culpably guilty and therefore deserving punishment. While this may not seem in line with the “gentle and lowly” Jesus, it demonstrates 2 things.
It demonstrates further the righteousness of God and our inability to separate the heart of God the Father or Christ as they are one.
This demonstrates the first of 2 paths that we see contrasted in this passage: Not choosing to repent.
Woe to You
In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus reveals further his nature of righteousness and demonstrates the immense catastrophe that comes alongside haughty, unrepentant living. We learn three key things in this section of scripture.
Jesus went into these places, performed mighty works and yet they did not repent. And what was their reward?
22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades…
While Christ was speaking to these cities, it is easy to see the same implications upon our own un-repenting hearts. They saw his mighty works and did not praise or honor God. They saw his power and call to repent, yet they chose not to.
From this we can clearly see how this relates to our own lives and the first of 3 key things we learn from this passage: we must repent and recognize God in our lives.
How often do we call upon God’s name, he delivers, and we forget about it?
How often does God deliver us and we lift up ourselves for overcoming and not Him?
How often do we experience the conviction of God and continue to live the same way?
It may seem extreme but Christ says, “But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” vs. 24. That should deeply convict us to turn to him. Proverbs 1:7 says that the beginning of knowledge is fear of the Lord. We ought to fear the power of God, we must see his righteous heart in this passage, we must see his awesome power. And beyond just recognizing this, we must repent. We must no longer to choose to live as we have; rather, we must live in recognition of God and follow the path which he has laid for us.
In this passage there is an underlying presupposition, that Christ went to all of these places and did mighty works. From this we must ask the questions,
Has Christ come to do mighty works in your life and you’ve missed it or not given him the glory in them?
Are you, seeking to be more like Christ, going to the places you are called and doing mighty works there?
Thus the second key thing we learn from this section. We, to be christlike, must go and do mighty works in the places God calls us.
Are you, being christlike, going into places where you have influence and doing mighty works there? Are you sharing the gospel in word and deed in your workplace, at that coffee shop, with your family, as a father, as a mother, overseas on missions, with that stranger? Regardless of your spiritual gifting you must bring the mighty word and works of Christ to the places he has established for you to enter into.
The last thing we can learn from this passage comes with a different type of conviction and relief. We see here that it is not our job to make cities or people repent. To be Christlike, it is simply our duty to perform mighty works and bring the gospel of Christ. If they choose not to then they will receive the powerful wrath of God. This should convict us. There are so many who are making a beeline for this as their future, should we not feel more compelled to go and spread his grace?
Gentle and Lowly
We just saw the immense power and righteous judgement of God on those unrepentant. Now Christ contrasts that with such power as he shares what we receive when we do repent and turn to him.
Jesus starts off with a curious statement, “25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”
He thanks the Father that these things are hidden from the wise and understanding and has rather revealed them to children. Why?
Christ through this statement emphasizes the accessibility of God. He showcases the willingness of God to welcome those who approach him humbly. There is no pedigree which must be obtained to rest in God’s arms, rather simply a heart posture.
Why else was it that the wise and understanding had things hidden to them? Proverbs 9:10 says that the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord. When we build up ourselves, our own wisdom, our own understanding we lose sight of the beginning of it all, God. When we lift ourselves up, we lose our ability to see our true dependence on God, we lose our ability to enter fully and humbly into his presence. We chase the infinitely illusive myth of self deliverance.
Rather we must humble ourselves to see our inability. We must humble ourselves to further see the depths of God and the breadth of his ability.
Thus we see the beautiful contrast. When we repent, we approach God in humility, he receives us, takes our burden and yoke upon him, and can be with us for he is gentle and lowly in heart.
Application
This section of scripture gives us a clear 2 part application that is easier said than done and can look infinitely different.
Repent
Turn to Christ
For me I need to pray over the places I am placing my pride in, the places I am hubristically “wise and understanding”, surrendering those over to God and letting the yoke rest on him and rest secure in who he has called me. Not defining my worth in my ability to do or wisdom, rather in the intrinsic nature God has given me.
I need to take time to write out and repent from the places I sin and fall short and ask God to take those burdens so I may live free and find rest in Him.
What might you need to do?
