Matthew 11: Taking the Kingdom by Force (5)

Pray Psalm 149.5-9.
Let the saints be joyful in glory;
Let them sing aloud on their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations,
And punishments on the peoples;
To bind their kings with chains,
And their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute on them the written judgment—
This honor have all His saints.
Praise the LORD!

Sing Psalm 149.5-9.
(Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Sing to the Lord, exult with great delight!
Sing on your beds with joy to God by night!
Sing praise and take His Word into your hand.
Publish His grace and wrath in every land!

Read Matthew 11.1-24; meditate on verse 20-24.

Prepare.
1. Why did Jesus rebuke these cities?

2. What does this suggest about the good works Jesus calls us to do?

Meditate.
The psalmist declared that the goodness of the Lord is in all the earth (Ps. 33.5). We don’t have to look very far to see evidence of this. In His coming, Jesus hyper-exaggerated the goodness of God for the dramatic effect of demonstrating that, in His Kingdom, bringing the goodness of God to light in the land of the living is a primary concern of Kingdom people (Eph. 2.8-10; Ps. 27.13). The good works Jesus did are to be reproduced in His followers, thus justifying Jesus as the Wisdom of God, and His rule as the way of righteousness (Matt. 11.19).

Paul said that the goodness of God leads people to repentance (Rom. 2.4, 5). This is why good works matter so much, and why, as Jesus promised, the good works His people do in every age and place will be so many more than those He was able to do during His short time on earth (Jn. 14.12).

The world has a responsibility in the face of such good works: People must acknowledge the goodness of God and repent of their sins. Where that doesn’t happen – as in Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum in Jesus’ day – the judgment of God awaits. Some of that wrath falls in the here and now (Rom. 1.18-32). The most devastating judgment of God, however, is stored up for the day of judgment (v. 24). Here is another mention of that coming day (cf. 7.21-23).

We are reminded that the Good News is not good except in the light of the bad news of the coming judgment of God. God is continuously witnessing to His love through His goodness, including that which His people do. To fail to acknowledge that goodness, repent of all that is contrary to it, and believe in the Good News of the Kingdom, is to consign oneself to wrath now and eternal judgment to come. With all the love we can muster, we need to make this clear.

Reflect.
1. Why is it so important that Christians do good works?

2. How can we help people see and acknowledge God’s goodness?

3. Why is the coming judgment of God part of the Good News of the Kingdom?

These were cities where Jesus was prone to linger as a favored place. And not even at this does he hold back his speech. He makes their dread even more intense by saying that they would suffer things more grievous than Sodom and Tyre. Jesus alarmed them when he used every possible means to reclaim them to repentance. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 37.4

Lord, lead me today into many good works, and help me to…

Pray Psalm 149.1-4.
Rejoice in the salvation of Jesus, and commit this day to showing His goodness and proclaiming His truth to the people in your Personal Mission Field.

Sing Psalm 149.1-4.
Psalm 149.1-4 (Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Sing to the Lord a glorious song and new!
Praise Him you people, to Whom praise is due!
Let us rejoice, let us be glad in Him
Who has created us and cleansed our sin.

Praise Him with dance, with tambourine and lyre!
To be so praised is God’s one great desire.
Lord, beautify Your holy ones with grace;
show us the mercy of Your saving face.

T. M. Moore

Worship the Lord!
Looking for a way to worship at home? Or in your small group? Download and share our free Worship Guides by clicking here.

Not quite sure about how to share the Good News of the Kingdom? Our booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom, can help you work your Personal Mission Field by walking you through the Good News and helping you put it in your own words. Order your copy by clicking here.

If you value Scriptorium as a free resource for your walk with the Lord, please consider supporting our work with your gifts and offerings. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button  at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).