From Matthew 13:24-30 / Kingdom parable #2 reveals the mystery of MIXTURE & INIQUITY.
The initial point is right on the surface. Despite all of our efforts, there will be a mixed multitude among us. Even in the Church. Simon Maguses will enter. We will not be able to purge them all out – nor should that be our focus. Discipline yes. Witch hunting no. Just as we will not be able to Christianize the entire world, so this mixture will be reflected in the Church. Do not be dismayed. He has told us it will be so.
Warren Wiersbe’s simple take on this passage is that the the good seed are genuine Christians sown into the world, and the bad seed are not merely unbelievers – but false Christians sown into the world by the enemy.
This posits several most interesting realities.
Sometimes, people come to Church not because the Holy Spirit has drawn them, but because Satan has purposefully sent them for the purpose of disruption. We must be on the lookout. Those who come and disrupt over trifles, are to be rejected after a first and second admonition. (see: Titus ) They will produce great havoc and do much damage if not.
Yet, in His explanation given in vss. 36-43, Jesus seems to draw our eyes to a different focus.
Because the “field” referred to here is not the Church, but rather – the world. In this context His point is different. The idea is – you CANNOT have a pure, “Christian” society. There will always be those who look like Christians but are not, and who will be mingled among all strata of society. In politics, in governments, in nations – it will ALWAYS be a mixed multitude.
We are not to attempt to produce a pure society by eliminating the unbelieving in some way. We are to co-exist with unbelievers in the world until Christ returns. The Church can exercise proper discipline within its own walls – but never in the world at large. We cannot produce a “Christian” nation by keeping out the unbelievers, nor are we to even attempt such a thing.
Beware of movements within the Church which attempt to create such Christian communities totally separate from the world. They are established on a false notion – that somehow, regardless of what Jesus taught here, we CAN uproot the pretenders before the end of the age, and make sure we have a least some little plot of ground that is pure.
Such uprooting is angel’s work, not ours (vs. 41) . And it will be done at the end of the age – not now (vs. 39).
What are we supposed to do then? Preach and live Christ until He comes. That’s plenty.
In these few verses, we find not only that these parables of the Kingdom reveal “secrets” (mysterion, mysteries), but that Jesus’ means of revelation is itself somewhat mysterious.
The disciples themselves want to know why He is using this method.
Note first: That Jesus is always willing to unfold His darker sayings when people inquire. R.T. France observes that a pattern emerges here. As vs. 34 records, when Jesus spoke to he crowds, “indeed, He said nothing to them without a parable.” And this was not to make Himself better understood, but as a weeding out mechanism. But when the disciples (or any others) seek Him out and ask for explanations – He always gives them.
Note second: That in Jesus’ citation of Isaiah, He explains too why He is using parables. Because prophecy must be fulfilled as a testimony to them. If they knew the Scriptures, they would know this was foretold and they would hear it all differently. Instead, they hear it and themselves fulfill other prophecy by failing to recognize this would happen, and seek me to know the truth behind the parables. It is the good seed falling on hard, stony and weedy ground.
Note third: This passage and especially Jesus’ quotation points out a principle which is threaded all the way through the Bible: That one and the same thing or event, is often divinely used both as blessing and judgment.
The ultimate reality of this will be Jesus’ 2nd coming. In that day, Believers will step into ultimate blessing, and unbelievers will be judged in fire. Israel’s deliverance from Egypt was blessing for them and judgment on Egypt. This pattern recurs over and over.
So it is, Jesus speaks in parables, which is a blessing to those who will hear and inquire (vss. 16-17) but serves as judgment on those who will give it but a surface hearing and walk away.
Note fourth: This is explicitly demonstrated in vs. 15 – 14b-15 cited from Isaiah.
The bottom line is in the last sentence: They do not want to turn from their ways, to come to Christ.
They do not want:
a. The healing that only He can provide. They want a helper, not a sole Savior.
b. To have to come to HIM. They hate His exclusivity.
c. To admit they need the healing only He can provide. They want to think differently about their sin. And that it can only be met by Christ.
And so it is with so many yet today.
These are deep reasonings of the heart that most do not even realize.
Note lastly: To what lengths Jesus goes through to give His disciples, and all who believe, a realistic and deep understanding what His kingdom is like in its key facets. How these parables will tell them, and us, what to expect, and not to expect. To understand why things in the Church are the way they are. To keep us from formulating our own ideas about how the Church and the Church age ought to progress.
As such, these marvelous parables keep us from discouragement, and bolster our confidence in what He is doing in the years before His return.
Some will hear, some will not.
There will always be a mixture of the righteous and the unrighteous on the earth, and in the Church until Christ returns. We cannot produce a truly “pure” Church.
Christ’s Kingdom many times appears so small. But it is alive and growing. We’ll see it in due time.
Conformity to Christ’s image is a slow and sometimes painful process. Don’t flag.
The Kingdom really is worth anything and everything we may need to endure.
Christ really is our greatest gain. We need eyes to grasp it more and more.
There is a final day of separation and judgement and reward ahead. Wait for it.
As was mentioned before, this is the 1st of 7 parables concerning the mysteries of the Kingdom. This one is about the mystery of PROPAGATION – How the Kingdom expands. Mark summarizes it neatly: “The sower sows the Word” (Mark 4:14)
This is God’s means and method. All other schemes, programs, arrangements and allurements are human inventions without the promise of blessing. It is not about one nation rising and conquering – it is about the Word of God bringing forth its fruit.
Hint to preachers: Preach the Gospel! It is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.
Jesus goes on in vss. 18-23 to unpack the parable in some detail.
Note first: The “soil” in all four cases is exactly that – soil. There is no fundamental difference in the composition of the four soils. They are all dirt. There is nothing ontologically different between people themselves which makes any difference regarding the success of the Gospel. The parable doesn’t make the point that seed fell on concrete, and then on steel, a mountain side and then soil. In each case, the seed fell on soil. The problem, was the condition of each soil.
Note second: The soil on the path has all the inherent properties of the other soils – but it’s condition was that it was hard. It would not receive the seed easily. Many a person, even in the Church is unfruitful because of hardness. They receive nothing from the outside. Everything is on their terms. Their hearts and minds have been solidified into a thought process that lets no one, and no thing ever to really enter in. They do not want to be disturbed from the way they have everything figured out. They’ve got their point of view, they are unwilling to be changed. Their favorite songs are: “I’ve got to be me” and “I did it my way.” If they remain hard, if they do not hear the Word of the Lord calling to “break up the fallow ground” (Jer. 4:3 and Hosea 10:12) they will die fruitless, and lost. The hearers of Jesus’ words here should have connected them with God’s former rebukes to such hardness. But that is the nature of hardness, nothing gets through.
Note third: The rocky soil is simply shallow. Nothing gets deeper than the skin. There is “no depth.” This person lives for the visible – the surface things of life. In truth, they never really think about anything very deeply. They flit from relationship to relationship. They change jobs often. They are constantly – and but for a micro second – absolutely enthused about whatever has caught their attention – right then. And then it is off to something else. They’ve tried everything, and been everywhere, and think they are really broad in their experience. But in truth, they know only the slightest bit about a thousand things – nothing really about anything. J.I. Packer once remarked that American Evangelicalism is 10,000 miles wide, and an inch deep. This is true of so many even in the natural. They’ll respond to the Gospel the same way they buy into every other new fad. But stay with Christ? Endure the hardness of staying put and persevering to actually bear fruit in Christ’s likeness? Nope. The people are too difficult, the circumstances not accommodating enough, the preacher boring, the music is the wrong style, the building is too old or too new or too bright or too dark and, and, and…
Note fourth: We come to the fatally distracted. The thorns are the very same encumbrances which threaten us all. But for them – they take priority over everything else. God is good. Religion is fine. Christ and Christianity is great – as long as you don’t go overboard. After all, life is more than serving Christ, isn’t it? I mean, there’s a LOT of other priorities. So worship is second to sports or other involvements. Studying God’s Word is for the Bible nerds. Prayer? – I pray, sort of, when I think of it or something is really pressing. But the thought of actually arranging one’s life around the priorities of Heaven seems too extreme. They want the religion piece in place, but certainly don’t want it to dominate the landscape – just dress it up. And these too will die fruitless and lost.
Note fifth: Then of course there is the soil which hears and receives and endures and brings forth fruit.
So the question arises, which soil are you?
Note lastly: Hardness can be softened by exposure to moisture. Attendance upon the means of grace can soften the hardest of hearts over time. Rocky soil can be cleared of debris. And thorns and thistles can be weeded out. No one need die in their sins due to these external conditions. Christ is a very great Savior. None of these are hindrances to Him, nor the Gospel. They are hindrances to us. But will He still not save any who call to Him irrespective of their environment? Indeed He will. So Paul can write in 1 Cor. 6:9-11 – “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Such were some of you. Some hard. Some shallow. Some weedy. And yet washed and made new in Christ.
I love Matthew 13. It is a remarkable passage. Gathered together here are 7 parables. Parables of the Kingdom. They form a primer for the Disciples of a sort. How they are to understand the Kingdom in the intervening years between Jesus’ ascension and return. A study of each parable by itself is very profitable. Each one, while simple, is profound and rich. But what often gets overlooked is the larger picture. In other words, what happens when we take all 7 together, and assemble the complete picture?
When we take all seven parables here and put them together, What emerges, is a primer for the Apostles, on getting a “Church Age Overview.” A wonderful grip on what’s happening, what to expect, and what to do. A severely neglected manual for keeping a vision for the Church and its mission in every age. It offers encouragement, insight, and is a preventative against unreal expectations – all in one. Pastors – take heart!
Let’s see the scheme in order.
1 / 3-9 & 18-23 / The Mystery of PROPAGATION: How the Church grows. “The Sower sows The Word”. This is God’s means and method. All other schemes, programs, arrangements and allurements are human inventions without the promise of blessing. It is not about one nation or people rising and conquering with political or military power – it is about the Word of God bringing forth its fruit.
2 / 24-30 & 36-43 / The Mystery of PROXIMITY: The Wheat and the Tares. Explaining that there will be mixture and iniquity on the earth until Christ returns. Despite all of our efforts, there will be a mixed multitude among us. The Pagans will be with us to the end – both inside and outside the Church. Simon Magus’s will enter. We will not be able to purge them all out – nor should that be our focus. There will be necessary Church discipline, yes. But witch hunting? No. Do not be surprised that there will be imposters among us.
3 / 31-32 / The Mystery of TRANSITION: The Mustard Seed. Explaining the small beginning of the Kingdom versus its very great end. What will be, bears little resemblance to what is now.
4 / 33-35 / The Mystery of TRANSFORMATION: Leaven. The image is a deliberately internal one. Change in the Believer has an instantaneous start that produces its great effects secretly, inwardly and thoroughly, but over time. We GROW into the image of Christ’s character, we aren’t zapped there all at once.
5 / 44 – / The Mystery of SUPREMACY: The Hidden Treasure. Explaining how it is that genuine believers are motivated to sacrifice all for that which others cannot see. Here, the man (inexplicably to the naked eye) values what is not seen by others above all else.
6 / 45-46 / The Mystery of SUPERIORITY: The Pearl. Explaining how it is Believers place Christ above all other religion. Christ is our greatest gain.
7 / 47-50 / The Mystery of The CONSUMMATION: The Dragnet. Explaining the free offer of the Gospel to all men. Many are called, but few are chosen. The net of the Gospel is cast into the sea of humanity, and all sorts are gathered in indiscriminately. However, we need not fear. The day of sorting will come. There will be a separating of the goats and the sheep.
Taken in order then we learn these 7 lessons.
A – Confidence and Comfort in the simple plan and program of God in evangelism. God’s Word IS sufficient.
B – There is no need to fret or fear if the World seems to grow and progress in evil along with the Church. The harvest WILL come.
C – Though the Kingdom may seem small and insignificant now – wait. The half has not been told.
D – Though you seem to make little progress in sanctification, you WILL be transformed into His image as the Kingdom grows within you and affects every part.
E – Though others have not seen what you have – you are not a fool to forsake that which you cannot keep to obtain that which you cannot lose.
F – Let no one dissuade you from the singular excellencies of Christ. Truth isn’t all about us- but He is THE Truth, THE Life, and THE Way.
G – Give the Gospel to all men and draw them in. But give them no comfort in the MERE fact they dwell among the saints, simply because they found an attraction here. If they have not been changed, if they are spoiled or dead or unprofitable, they WILL be cast away.
This short scene comes on the heels of the very sharp and difficult confrontations above. It makes me marvel.
Note how our Savior never loses His tenderness for those who seek Him, even in His most exhausted moments, and after being attacked most viciously. He is so full of grace.
It was a hard day for Moses in Ex. 20. The chapter begins with the death of Miriam, his sister. Then, there was no water, and the people began to regale Moses with complaints and accusations. God tells Moses what to do, but he is hurt, grieving, defensive and angry. Instead of speaking to the rock as instructed, he strikes. And is barred from entering the Promised Land as a result.
But not so Christ.
His disciples are attacked and accused for plucking grain on the Sabbath as they walked through a field. He heals a man with a withered hand only to have the Pharisees go out to conspire His destruction. He heals even more people and then cast the spirit out of a demonized man, only to be accused of acting by the power of Satan. He is asked to perform a sign like a trained seal to satisfy His detractors. And now, He is surrounded by a crowd, and (as Mark 3 records) His unbelieving Mother and brothers thought He had lost His mind.
And how does He respond to all this – with incredible, gracious words – “Here are my mother and my brothers.” Those who do the will of God.
Note second how the Believer’s bond to Christ is greater even than that of His natural family. When Paul had to warn Timothy (1 Tim. 1) of the danger of those inquiring into genealogies – as though there is some spiritual gain to be had by virtue of those we are related to in the flesh – Jesus here wipes that notion away for good. And yet how many today think their soul’s security rests in Godly parents or grandparents, without having any attachment to Christ personally through faith. It is a wicked and deadly myth.
Many years ago I worked for a time in a funeral home. On more than one occasion I had someone tell me their deceased relative was assured a shorter time in Purgatory if not a place in Heaven itself because of the family members they had who were priests, nuns or other high-ranking clerics. What a dreadful deception.
Note thirdly that it is those who actually do the will of the Father in Heaven who are Jesus’ kin – not mere professors. As Prov. 20:6 reads: “Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?” Those who are truly faithful to the living God are those who are Jesus’ true brothers and sisters. We live in a day and age where people imagine they are whatever they pronounce themselves to be – no matter how ridiculous or detached from reality. But it is not so in the kingdom of God. Only those authentically born again of the Spirit are part of the family of God.
Note lastly and most importantly – transcendently – what it means to be Christ’s. That we, as He taught us to pray, may begin with the most highly privileged words in all the cosmos “our Father.” That in Him, we approach the throne of grace as boldly as Jesus Himself – for by faith we are truly His brothers, and true children of God.
“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2
From Matthew 12:43-45 / The Myth of Moral Reformation
At first blush, one wonders what Jesus’ words here have to do with what just came before. But upon examination, the connection is apparent. The Pharisees had attacked Jesus’ work of freeing a demonized man as the work of the Devil, though they knew right well such could not be the case. They struck at the heart of His ministry – manifesting the power of the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus turns the tables. All the Pharisees can offer, is external rites, rituals and laws. They can regulate outward behaviors, but have no power to change the heart. And so Jesus’ exposes the utter failure of naked religion. Even Judaism. It has no power to transform.
Note then that mere moral reformation is a hopeless fraud. And even if there is religious reformation, if the Holy Spirit does not come to dwell, nothing at all is done – and in fact, one may even be the worse. Having been rid of one plague inwardly, apart from the Spirit’s indwelling, deeper, darker plagues of self-deceit now reinforced by mere religion keep the lost bound even more than before.
Now there is no greater testimony to this than Jesus’ cleansing the Temple area two times. The first time is recorded in John 2, at the very beginning of His ministry. The second is found in Matt. 21, just prior to His passion. Though the Son of Man Himself forge a whip and drive out the money changers, though the entire corrupt religious system be exposed and effectively dismantled – if there is no change in the hearts of those men – things will revert and be even worse than before.
Note then, that even sound Christian doctrine will not give us a sound and righteous society. If it was only a space of less than 3 years between Jesus’ two cleansings before the Jews reverted, then what chance does any external reformation stand of remaining? The answer is none. No, the answer is – worse.
History tells us that the 1st and 2nd “Great Awakenings” had a profound impact in northeastern United States. But what do the statistics tell us now? That the northeast and specifically New England, is the most Gospel resistant region of the U.S.
While there were countless genuine conversions during those eras, and as a result sweeping societal reforms – if not sustained by truly regenerate people – we go from a merely unconverted populace, to one that is actually Gospel resistant.
We can see the same now in England after the unparalleled ministries and results of that legion of Victorian lions of the Gospel like C.H. Spurgeon, Joseph Parker, J.C. Ryle, Alexander Whyte, R.W. Dale, Alexander Maclaren, and a host of others. Or consider the Continent and the heart of the Protestant Reformation. What of Germany, France, Switzerland, etc? Are these still bastions of Biblical truth? No, they are much worse. Though the unclean spirit of the age be gone out for a time, in due time, it will return with a vengeance – if the Holy Spirit does not take its place in men’s hearts.
And so it is, that Jesus prophesies here, that after He is gone, and having brought the light of the Kingdom to bear in the darkness of His day – “so it will be with this evil generation.” And barely 40 years later, the Temple and what little light was left was swept away in judgment.
Note then that the import of Jesus’ words in John 3 comes home to us with renewed power: “You MUST be born again.” “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
No amount of religion or moral reformation can save any society. Only the power of the Gospel can have any lasting impact. And what a privilege we have then in our day – to still have time to announce the good news of the Gospel. And for the Spirit to work – not in cleaning up men’s actions – but transforming their souls.
There is little doubt this section is tied to Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees in the verses above.
Note first that Jesus is reiterating a principle He previously articulated in Ch. 7. What we said there also applies here: That the most common misunderstanding of the simile comes from an idea which in fact does not exist – that there is some sort of generic “tree” (which people are), and that this tree can produce either good fruit or bad or corrupt fruit. But this is not true either in the simile nor is it His thought. The comparison in 7 is between fruit trees, and thorn bushes. The same idea is present here. The issue is one of ontology. One wouldn’t expect a pear from a thorn bush under ANY conditions, nature. His point isn’t about what people do or do not do nakedly, but what people are or are not.
While this admonition certainly can be taken in the broad sense, it is particularly here aimed at making pronouncements and judgments regarding men and their actions – and being judged as either good or bad. We must be exceedingly careful here, not to justify the wicked, nor to condemn the innocent. Our tendency to rush to judgment carries with it very great consequences.
We need to become new creatures. We come into this world thorn bushes. And we need to be transformed into fruit trees. Something which can only be done by His amazing grace and power. It cannot be done by the mere reformation of actions.
And here, the fruit of His good works testify to who and what He is, even as the lying and denigrating words of the Pharisees reveal their hearts. Due to their nature, they are incapable of speaking true good as regards Him.
Note second that this principle is universally true: Out of the abundance of the heart, that’s what makes its way into our communications. And it is a sobering thought to contemplate. What is the predominating content of our own words, and the tenor in which they are spoken? It is a searching question indeed.
Alistair Begg relates an incident once of when he was driving. Frustrated by other drivers making poor moves, not stepping on the gas after the light turned green etc., he was in the confines of his car making all sorts of negative comments about the other drivers. When all of a sudden he heard from the back seat by his young son “and there’s another kind word from your pastor.”
In a time when the anonymity of the keyboard gives us permission to comment and post on almost everything and anything – we need to examine what it is the abundance of our words reveals. Proverbs 8:13 says: “The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” And 22:11 “He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.”
Our speech patterns are vitally important. We dare not overlook them.
Note thirdly, that this principle is so important, that Jesus can say “by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Now He is not speaking here of justification in the salvific sense. Rather, the idea is that hypocrites will eventually be revealed. And one of the sure criteria of what gives testimony as to whether or not we have changed hearts, will be the examination of what we have spent our time talking about. Indeed, His use of the word “careless” in vs. 36 must not be overlooked. It refers to what is idle and ultimately useless. Useless. If the main characteristic of our discourse in life is nothing but useless matter – what will we say in the last day?
But here then is the wonder of our Christ revealed as well. Luke 4:22 tells us how the crowds marveled “at the gracious words that were coming from His mouth.” His gracious speech was so profoundly evident, that people marveled at it. What must that have been like?
No wonder then Peter said to Him “you have the words of eternal life.”
Oh, may we be noted for the same.
In Acts 4, in the aftermath of having been examined by the Jewish leadership, by virtue of Peter and John’s boldness and speech, “they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
Does our speech betray the same thing? Oh Holy Spirit, make it so in my life.
From Matthew 12:22-32 / Un-pardoned, not unpardonable.
Whether or not this event occurred at the very same time in the synagogue as the one before it, the text is not clear on. What is clear, is that Jesus was so openly manifesting His Sonship and the Kingdom, that it would take an active refusal to disbelieve the obvious. And this is precisely what took place.
In the process, we are confronted with a most startling pronouncement in vss. 31-32.
Before we get there, there are several other things to take notice of.
Note first then the Pharisees charge against Jesus to be acting out of the power of Satan, and His response.
Some things do not need deep, theological answers – they are stupid on the surface, nonsensical. Jesus doesn’t need to go deep with their charge against Him here, He simply needs to point out that their reasoning is illogical.
But when we (or others) have an agenda or a point of view, it is often the case that we will not let common sense or logic get in the way of pursuing our course. Here, they were so opposed to Jesus, it didn’t matter to them if their argument was so obviously ridiculous. If Satan casts out Satan, what possible advantage would that be to him? Nonsense!
They would accuse Him anyway. But Jesus doesn’t go into a long discourse on demonology. He dismisses their charge out of hand as patently ridiculous.
Note too that even Christians can fall into this same behavior if we are not careful. God’s purposes and reasoning are never nonsense. There are times when His logic soars high above ours – but it is never obviously stupid. And if it is stupid, like so many of the so-called prophecies and foolishness making the rounds in Evangelicalism today – don’t waste your time formulating detailed responses – just reject it and walk away. It distracts us from seeking first the kingdom of Christ and His righteousness.
Jesus points to another obvious fallacy in their charge when He points to the evident continuation of His work in the Disciples. Who are these “sons” who also cast out demons? Jesus’ disciples. They who will testify that the power they have received is not from Satan, but authority grated to them by Jesus. Will they accuse the whole lot of working by the power of Beelzebul when so many were obviously delivered from bondage?
Note Jesus’ statement in vs. 30 that those who are not with Him are against Him. In another place, He’ll say something quite different – that those who are not against Him, are with Him. (Luke 9:49-50)
Hint to preachers: Seeing how those two fit together would make a useful sermon, incorporating a similar seeming dichotomy in Proverbs 26:4-5.
The statement in vs. 30 is not one of proximity, but of relationship. If any are not “with” Jesus in the breaking in of and advancing His Kingdom – they are His enemies. He is out to destroy the works of the Devil. To live apart from His kingship, is to remain allied with the Rebellion. If we will not side with Him, then we WILL be vanquished by Him. There are only two sides in this battle, and none are neutral.
Note lastly Jesus’ terrifying statement in 31-32. This refers to what is commonly, but errantly labeled the “unpardonable sin.” In error I believe, because the text does not say the sin cited cannot be forgiven, but that God has determined He will not forgive it.
Now the issue here deserves much thought, study and prayer. Many a sad Christian with a tender conscience has feared they may have committed such a sin, and lived in a tortured but unnecessary condition. The great hymnist William Cowper is a prime example. But the issue here is not mere blasphemy. If it were, we could never read Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 1:13 “though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief.”
Here is where the difference between Paul and those Jesus is confronting must be recognized. Paul blasphemed in “unbelief.” They, apparently, know full well this is the finger of God, but are so opposed to Jesus and losing their authority, that they will deny what they know to be true about Him in order to take people off from trusting Him. This, God says, He will not forgive.
It is the Holy Spirit’s mission to testify to Jesus. To purposely obscure or deny that witness, is to place oneself in eternal jeopardy. Revelation 19:10 – “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
I believe John MacArthur phrases it something like this: To knowingly ascribe the works of the Holy Spirit through Jesus, to the Devil – so as to turn people away from faith in Christ.
JM will go on to argue that such a thing could only have taken place during the incarnation, and as such, none can commit that sin today. For Jesus is not here, performing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit for us to knowingly deny. It was unique to that place and time.
Hint to preachers: It is good, when preaching narrative passages, to demonstrate why we do not take unique events and try to make them normative in the Church for all places, all people and at all times. To fail to reckon with the unique time of the incarnation is to over-apply some passages which cannot and should not be made normative in the Church today.
When all is said and done, in this passage, we have the most undeniable revelation of Christ, His person, power and authority. We have supplied to us a most wonderful testimony to set our hearts on as sure and incontrovertible. What a glorious Savior He is. For He crushes all the powers of darkness with but a word.
Immediately after the encounter with the Pharisees over Jesus’ disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath, He goes on to enter the local synagogue.
Note first that as corrupt and defiant as the leadership was, Jesus did not forsake attending the local assembly to worship. How unlike many today who would use poor Church leadership as an excuse not to attend. Why would we consider it reasonable to rob God of the public testimony of our worship over the foolishness of fallen men? Why would we forsake singing His praises together? Hearing His Word read and at least attempted to be applied in some way? Sometimes, we can be more righteous than Jesus Himself.
Note second how because this is true, Jesus will have opportunity to heal the man with the withered hand. Despite our failing assemblies, might not the Lord use us to minister to those within its pale? People are still in need of the mercy and grace of Christ even in deeply flawed Churches. May we be willing conduits of His mercy.
Note third that when Jesus is aware that His enemies were out to destroy Him, that He withdrew. The Son of man knew His time was not yet. He did not find it prudent to die on just any hill – but that of Calvary alone. And we believers, we are not to die on just any hill either. When the cause is truly the Gospel, we must not shrink. But neither are we to stick our chins out and dare our opponents to strike us over every little thing. Christians dividing and warring over politics and lesser matters of religion is a shame. There are times to stand our ground no matter the consequences. And times to withdraw when the cause does not justify it. How we need wisdom to discern which is which.
Note lastly how Jesus’ withdrawal at this point is actually the fulfilling of Isaiah’s prophecy. As such, it teases out the frame of the Gentle Shepherd. Verse 18 begins with God calling us to “behold” – to see and take note of His servant. To take to heart what is about to be revealed about Him.
1. He will proclaim the justice of God to the Gentiles – in showing them their sin, yet not as to condemn them. To show How God is both just, and the Justifier of those who have faith in Christ.
2. He will not do battle with His enemies while here – but be gentle toward them as well.
3. He will be gentle toward those who are broken and bruised and have but the slightest spark of spiritual life kindled within.
4. He will be Gentle to those Gentiles to whom He has proclaimed justice – that in Him, they might hope.
It is not “behold the warrior King.” That He will show Himself to be in due time. But we live in the age when His gentleness and proclamation of grace to the nations is still the leading feature.
Oh, that we would proclaim it. The we might be the ones crying “BEHOLD!”
As Matthew has arranged it, this portion has contain Jesus’ 3 “greater than” statements regarding Himself.
In the first, something greater than the Temple is here – He demonstrates how it is He is the fulfillment of all the Old Covenant signs and symbols pointed to. Soon, He will actually inaugurate the New Covenant. The Old era will have come to it consummation in Him. And it is why going back to those Old Covenant feasts, festivals and practices are so foolish. It is going back to pictures when the reality is right in front of us.
Then, He speaks of how He is greater than Jonah. By contrast and comparison we are meant to infer how He had come to the most hostile and distant people from God (even though they professed nearness to Him) and preached judgment – but also salvation. A salvation Jonah never preached. At this point in time, Israel as as much the enemy of God as Assyria was the enemy of Israel in Jonah’s day. And yet God came to rescue them and grant repentance.
Now comes Jesus’ third statement.
“The queen of the South” Jesus says, “will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
In context, not only is the Pharisee’s unbelief rebuked by the example of Jonah, He’ll go on to show how it is rebuked yet again in the account of how the pagan Queen of Sheba came from a great distance to see Solomon for herself – simply because she had heard such great things about him. Whereas these guys, had watched and seen Jesus close-up for quite some time, and still scoffed!
Once again, we see a number of things here by way of contrast and comparison.
1 – Solomon sought out and spoke wisdom: Christ is the very wisdom of God – 1 Cor. 1:30/ “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
2 – Solomon’s reign brought temporal and temporary peace – the golden age of Israel’s history: Christ is the very Prince of Peace – and brings reconciliation to God the Father. Rom. 5:1/ “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3 – Solomon was seduced by the world: Christ said “fear not, I have overcome the world”. John 16:33/ “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
4 – Solomon was unfaithful to his wives: Christ remains ever faithful. And doesn’t Scripture repeat and emphasize the great truth of His faithfulness? 2 Timothy 2:13/ “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” Hebrews 2:17 / “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 3:5–6/ “Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” Revelation 19:11/ “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.”
5 – Solomon dressed himself in splendid garments: but in Luke 2:11-12, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Humbling Himself to our condition.
6 – Solomon was King of Israel: Christ is pictured in Rev. 19:11-16/ “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
7 – Solomon built an earthly Temple: Christ Himself IS the Temple in the New Jerusalem – Revelation 21:22/ “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.”
8 – Solomon built a temple out of material stones: Christ is building His Temple out of the living, redeemed stones of Believers – Eph. 2:19-22/ “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 2:4–5 / “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
What then are we to make of all this?
Let me suggest just three things:
1 – Salvation rests solely in the person and work of Jesus Christ, not in any system of rules, regulations, rites, rituals or imagined good works.
We are saved by grace through faith – not by our efforts.
All of man-made religion finds a way for people to somehow reach God. But Biblical Christianity is all about how our God reached down to us.
How He found us in our sin and rebellion against His right to rule us, and now re-establishes His rule, as He created us to serve His plans and purposes.
Even the very commandments God has given cannot make us worthy.
At most, the perfect Laws of Moses can only serve to reveal how broken and sin-stained we are – how we cannot keep His Law perfectly.
Only the mercy and grace of God in the substitutionary death of Christ on Calvary can wipe out our sin.
Only He can save us from the just wrath of God which is due to us.
Something greater than the Temple is here: It is Jesus Christ. The one who fulfills all the things the Temple and its laws, rites and rituals were meant to typify.
I have often told the story of how my wife and I met. It was on the internet. Living in different states, we could only see each other infrequently. So I had a picture of her as the screen saver on my computer.
And I will confess that a couple of times, I longed to be with her so, my lips my have touched that screen.
But we’re married now. I get to see her, hold her hand, kiss her and live life with her.
If now, AFTER we are married, I go back and kiss her picture instead of kissing her – well, that’s a pretty serious defect wouldn’t you say? She sure would!
That’s just what is it like when people go back to Old Testament rites, rituals and regulations rather than serving the Christ who has come in person!
Those things were pictures. He’s the authentic.
Christians serve Christ, not a system.
We seek His Lordship, not a bunch of rules and laws.
We seek to please Him, not a written code.
2 – The Christian lives by faith, not by sight.
We do not look to signs, omens, feelings, impressions and mystical experiences to guide us, or assure our hearts and minds; We rely on the revelation of God’s character in His Word, in Christ, and the promises we can rightly discern in His Word.
And how do we define “faith” as it is in the Bible? It is believing that all of what God has said in His Word is true, and ordering our lives accordingly.
A number of years ago I heard a very famous preacher tell people over and over that they should follow him and send their money to Him because “a miracle settles it all.”
No it doesn’t! Jesus Himself told us that on judgment day – Matt. 7:21-23 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Some will prophesy – rightly! Cast out demons and do many mighty works in His name – and yet they will not be His at all!
Paul reminds us there is a lawless one who will come some day: 2 Thess. 2:9-10 “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
So Isa. 8:19-20 “And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.”
As Believers we do not need signs from God regarding this and that in life – we need His Word, studied, rightly understood, believed, obeyed and applied.
And if you are not a Believer yet today…
In Luke 16, Jesus told the account of a man who died in his sin, and while in Hell pleaded with Abraham that someone would reach his 5 brothers who were still alive – to warn them not to die in their sin: Luke 16:27 / “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—
Luke 16:29 / But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’
So the man shot back, Luke 16:30/ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
To which Abraham finally replied: Luke 16:31/ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”
If you are demanding God give you some sign that the Gospel is true and that you need to come to Christ now to receive the forgiveness of sins – it will not be coming.
He does not answer to you, you, and all of humanity answer to Him!
If you will not hear God’s Word to repent of your sin and believe on Christ – no sign He could give you would be sufficient.
Such is the wickedness of our rebellious hearts. Come to Him now, before it is too late!
3 – A true grasp or reality can be had, only in the light of the Person and work of Jesus Christ.
Until He is in His proper place in our thinking, we do not live in reality as God knows it. We live only by the fallen wisdom of this godless age.
Christ has come: 1 Cor. 1:30 “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,”
And –
Colossians 2:1–4 / “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.”
Solomon was wise – but Christ is wisdom itself. When we know who He is, why He came, what He is doing now and how all things will end in Him – THEN, and only then do we understand life and how to live it.
So we read in Ephesians 1:7–10 / “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
If God’s plan for the fullness of time – if what He is aiming at in everything, in creation, in us, in everything – is to unite all things in Christ, everything in Heaven and on earth – then we must reckon with that as framing all of reality and existence.
We cannot live in truth, until we live in this reality. We must live all of life in reference to Him.
Something greater than the Temple is here: All that the Temple and its laws, rites, rituals and regulations pictured.
Something greater than Jonah is here: The One who accomplishes all of God’s will – the One who is the very subject of the Gospel message of reconciliation to God.
Something greater than Solomon is here: Everything we can possibly know about God, His plans and purposes in creation, all of life and what it means, and what is to come – is wrapped up in Him.
Look nowhere else. Serve no one or nothing else.
2 Corinthians 4:6 / For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
ResponsiveReiding 