THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:1-19, John’s Questions, Jesus’ Tribute to John

August 3, 2024August 24, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:1-19

John’s Questions, Jesus’ Tribute to John

John’s Questions

Matthew 11:1, When Jesus had finished giving (and commanding) instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach (and proclaim) in their cities.

(Commentary Break: Verse one is simply stated and easily overlooked. Jesus has finished giving instructions and continues to fulfill His mission and leads by example, by continuing to teach and preach in their cities!

This is the model and the way for each and every disciple of Christ, but particularly pastors and teachers and anyone else who would brazenly assume the role of a leader. Get out from behind your religious trappings and follow Jesus! (End Commentary Break).

Verse 2. Now while in prison, John heard about the works of Christ, and he sent word by his disciples, verse 3, and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or are we to look (and wait) for someone else?” Verse 4. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: verse 5, those who are BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and those who limp walk, those with leprosy are cleansed and those who are deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the POOR HAVE THE (GOOD NEWS of the) GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. Verse 6. And blessed is anyone (that is whoever) who does not take offense (and stumble over) Me.”

Jesus’ Tribute to John

Verse 7. As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Verse 8. But (well then), what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ (houses and) palaces!

Verse 9. But (well then), what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet. Verse 10. This is the one about whom it has been written:

‘BEHOLD, I AM SENDING MY MESSENGER (BEFORE YOUR FACE), AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY BEFORE YOU.’

(Commentary Break: Jesus emphatically states, whether they know it or not, they shall see one who is a prophet, and more than a just a prophet!

Likewise, if you encounter a true prophet of God, your curiosity will turn into fear. You will not encounter the ordinary, but the extraordinary things of God. Your sins will be exposed, you will be humbled, and you will know the fear of God. You will mourn, you will hunger and thirst, and you will find seek and find mercy.

Jesus warns this crowd and gives us perspective of the natural order versus the Devine, our standing as citizens of earth before Christ Jesus and on our position as Christians in His Kingdom. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 11. Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

(Commentary Break: Jesus, in His tribute to John the Baptist, is reminding us that the greatness of men is measured by the divine not a human standard. ‘The prophet, who was more than a prophet’, the herald or the forerunner of the kingdom, was greater in his work, his holiness, his intuition of the truth, than the far-off patriarchs, Abraham, Moses, David or Solomon, and much greater than the conquerors and the destroyers. The Greek gives the comparative, not the superlative.

The death and the resurrection of Christ were indeed great points of the gospel, but to which John could only prophesy of, and not preach of, and declare us things in his time accomplished. So, Jesus explains and warns that the weakest Christian is greater in privileges than the greatest of the Old Testament saints.

We are not to seek to attain earthly glory or status – even when they are beneficial and worthy things, for the best of earthly accomplishments fade to nothingness when compared to the glory and privileges, even the lowest of Christians will attain in the Kingdom of God. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 12. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has been treated violently, and violent men take it by force. Verse 13. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. Verse 14. And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who (is going to come). Verse 15. The one who has ears to hear, (listen and) let him hear.

(Commentary Break: You might be better served to read a good commentary for the preceding verses (twelve through fifteen). However, it is certainly passive here. Luke’s phrase compels us to understand the reason of the violence is for entrance into the kingdom. The kingdom is not being ill-treated, but it is as if it were being taken by storm (Meyer). The violent, are men using strong force, men whose minds are made up and who do not care what force and power they employ to attain their object. Take it by force, i.e., ‘grasp it for themselves’ like rough and violent bandits seizing their prey. Our Lord is describing the energy with which some souls are pressing in, and using such energy, so their salvation is obtained. There is no thought of hostile purpose in these words. (End Commentary Break).

Verse 16. “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, verse 17, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a song of mourning, and you did not (beat your breast and) mourn.’ Verse 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ Verse 19. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a heavy (wine) drinker, a friend of tax collectors and (irreligious Jews) and sinners!’ And yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

(Commentary Break: These words of Jesus are often misunderstood or passed over because of their mysterious sounding nature and complexity. These are metaphors and colloquialisms known by the Jew, and if you were a Jew in that day, you would understand the references used.

It would be easy to assume that these words spoken to the gathering crowd are draped in sarcasm, when actually Jesus is issuing a stern warning. He is rhetorically asking the crowd why would they travel so far in such a desolate place? Did they make this journey only to see the ordinary and mundane, such as a commonplace reed blowing in the wind? What would be the point of travelling into the wilderness when you could see that anywhere? Or perhaps did they expect to see a man wearing royal clothing wandering about the wilderness? Nonsense. They are fooling no one but themselves!

Before continuing, please remember that these are creative, causative, prophetic and instructional words of Jesus. These words apply to you and to me today in the same way they applied to the crowds following Jesus. Grasping what Jesus is saying, teaching, prophesying and instructing is our obstacle to overcome.

Even in our day, crowds of people travel near and far after hearing about a miracle-worker, a prophet or a gifted man of God. They go to great lengths to be amazed, entertained or to receive a prophet’s miracle. Too often, however, when we seek out a prophet of God, we only find that which is very ordinary. But what did you really expect?

But if you encounter a true prophet of God, it will not be a commonplace thing. There will be no inspiring oratory, no magnificent stage presence, no entertainment, no magic.

Jesus uses a metaphor to describe the behavior of both observant and non-observant Jews as miscreant children, saying they are immature, selfish and childish. They are “like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates”, pretending that what is occurring is only a child’s game for their entertainment. But the seriousness and the reality of it is that, “John didn’t spend his time eating and drinking, and (yet you ‘childish people’ say), ‘He’s possessed by a demon. ’ The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ (End Commentary Break).

We must not think or behave like immature children through the rituals of “going to church and calling out to our ‘playmates’ seeking to entertain and to be entertained in the name of our religion, complaining when we don’t get what we want or expect.” In other words, we must stop ‘playing church’, and sense the gravity of the task before us as Christians.

“Wisdom is justified by her deeds”, and of us, it will be found out by way of our own deeds! There is no exception.

(End Chapter 11, verses 1 through 19. Next, Chapter 11, verses 20 through 30).

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 10, Instructions for Service, A Hard Road, Discipleship and The Rewards.

NEXT: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:20-30, Unrepenting Cities, Come to Me

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RELEVANT

August 1, 2024 ~ Michael Young, Sr. ~ Leave a comment

The quality or state of being relevant; pertinent; applicability.
Sufficiency to infer the conclusion.
The property or state of being relevant or pertinent.

Many of us are looking for our place in the order of things. We have a desire to be relevant at some level. There are those fortunate few who are content in whatever circumstance they find themselves. But for the rest of us, whether we acknowledge it or not, we are constantly searching for some semblance of relevance, or even, in some small way, a bit of significance.

There are myriads of reasons that people look for relevancy, whether it is for recognition, confirmation, affirmation, the need to feel wanted, appreciated or loved. But the reasons for this are subjects of their own. And I don’t want to delve into why people are that way or how they got there. I want to relate this matter of seeking relevancy to those within the church.

Before I go any further, I will confess that I have been one of those who suffered this malady, and I will tell you from observation, from study and from personal experience, being relevant or receiving recognition, confirmation, affirmation, the need to feel wanted, appreciated or loved does not satisfy this craving. It only stokes the fires of passion within. And unless this is properly dealt with, for the unfortunate, it can go from a need to a craving and for many it can turn into the psychosis of narcissism.

Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others. But behind this mask of extreme confidence, they are not sure of their self-worth and are easily upset by the slightest criticism.

A narcissistic personality disorder causes problems in many areas of life, such as relationships, work, school or financial matters. People with narcissistic personality disorder may be generally unhappy and disappointed when they’re not given the special favors or admiration that they believe they deserve. They may find their relationships troubled and unfulfilling, and other people may not enjoy being around them. This is a truly serious matter and can have devastating effects, especially in the church.

It can be seen in those who crave positions within the church for visibility, individuality or influence, and recognition for admiration. Some common traits of people with narcissistic behavior that you may be able to spot are:

A Sense of Entitlement

A common sign of people with narcissism is the belief that their opinions are superior to others and deserve special recognition. They believe that others should be accepting and more obedient to their views and wishes, and that all the rules don’t necessarily apply to them.

Manipulative Behavior

Another common trait of narcissism is manipulative or controlling behavior. A narcissist will at first try to please you and impress you, but eventually, their own needs will always come first.

When relating to other people, narcissists will try to keep people at a certain distance in order to maintain control. They may even exploit others to gain something for themselves.

Need for Admiration

One of the most common signs of a narcissist is a constant need for praise or admiration. People with this behavior need to feel validation from others and often brag or exaggerate their accomplishments for recognition. They also like to feel appreciated in order to boost their ego.

In the church, this is manifested in their superiority of Spiritual abilities, Spiritual gifting and leadership skills and accomplishments.

Lack of Empathy

Lack of empathy is another sign of narcissism. This means that the narcissist is unwilling or unable to empathize with the needs, wants, or feelings of other people. They prefer to be in charge without collaborative groups. This also makes it difficult for them to take responsibility for their own behavior.

Spiritual Superiority or Arrogance

People with narcissistic behavior already see themselves or their opinions as superior to others, so they may become curt, rude or abusive when they don’t receive the treatment or recognition they think they deserve. While they hold themselves superior, they may speak or act rudely toward those that they deem as holding faulty views or are spiritually inferior.

Other signs include:

A sense of self-importance, exaggerating their achievements and talents.
A preoccupation with fantasies of success, power, or brilliance.
A belief that they’re more special or unique in particular areas than others and should only seek out other high-status people for associations.
Envy of others or the belief that others are envious of them.
Insisting they have the best views of everything.
Feeling they deserve certain privileges and treatment.

This is sometimes seen in the leadership of a church. But it is particularly dangerous when it comes from the pulpit or from the pastor. This type of narcissism is sometimes considered as spiritual abuse.

Sometime misnamed as “visionary”, “a controlling personality” or a “strict leadership”, narcissism is a psychosis and is usually well hidden behind what seem to be good intentions by the perpetrator.

Spiritual abuse is when a spiritual leader, such as a pastor, uses their power and influence to manipulate and control people. A spiritual abuser is not concerned with promoting the well-being of those he serves. Rather, he’s only interested in how people can further his plans and agenda.

Few things cause Christians to become disillusioned more than being ripped to pieces by spiritual abuse in the church. Few things do more to sully the name of Jesus more than abusive spiritual leaders.

There are few things more dangerous to a church than a pastor who is extraordinarily endowed on the gifting side and extraordinarily deficient on the character side. That guy is a decaying tie rod waiting to break. The progress can be impressive until the character collapses.

Here are six bright red warning signs of spiritual abuse.

There are ways to cope with a narcissistic person whom you cannot avoid, like a close family member or a work associate. But within the church, it becomes difficult to improbable. If you try to avoid a narcissist in a close community, like a church, they will seek you out to correct you publicly, by any and all means necessary. So, avoidance rarely works there. In these situations, if you are confronted by a narcissistic person, be polite, do not engage in conversation, just move along. They will eventually move on to someone else.

If it is a pastor in the church, you probably should find another church. Your church is suffering from a psychosis.

You cannot “fix” a narcissist. DO NOT TRY. Don’t condemn them. Don’t argue with them. Don’t try to befriend them to win them over. Do not try to socialize with them. Do not talk about them.

Do pray for them, privately. Do love them from afar. Do be polite to them. Do keep your distance.

If you have been negatively affected by someone like this, feeling of betrayal, disappointment, hurt, anger, sorrow and distrust are normal, but you must get healing and move past them. If you do not, the effects will continue to wear you down.

Pray to God for relief and wisdom.
It is natural to grieve. But, it is also natural to get past this stage and end it.
Seek Counselling.
Find a confidant who does not know the offending parties or the church.
Forgive as you are able.

If you find any of the traits mentioned in your own life, here is what you can do.

Begin to pray honestly to God for wisdom.
Get counselling.
Deliberately avoid seeking any position or opportunity for recognition or praise.
Find, study and memorize Bible verses about servanthood of the believer.
Go to a confidant or your pastor and talk about your concerns.
Trust God. He has this and He has you.

Having done these things, you have taken the step necessary to putting Jesus back on the throne of your life. I know it is much easier to give this advice than it is to do these things. But you can and you will.

“Have this attitude in yourself which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond servant.”

Your Brother and friend,

Mike Young