TEXT: MATTHEW 11:16-30
Key verse: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and
lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
Most men are guilty of what social psychologists define as “projection,”
that is, always seeing your faults in others, magnifying others’ faults and
never looking inwards to locate your faults in yourself.
This is the context in which Christ spoke in our text. Immediately after
appreciating John the Baptist and his ministry among the people, Jesus turned
His attention to the response of the obstinate and unbelieving generation,
which both John and Himself ministered unto.
Jesus condemned the attitude of the people. Since God’s will is for all
men to be saved, He uses a variety of means and methods for the conversion and
salvation of souls. The Jews of Jesus’ days refused every proposition offered
by Him. No matter what He said or did, they took the opposite view. They were
cynical and skeptical because He challenged their comfortable, secure and
self-centered lives. They, therefore, criticised John the Baptist because he
fasted and drank no wine. They disparaged Jesus because He ate and drank with
publicans and sinners. The real objection to both men of course, was how their
lives and ministries exposed the ignorance and hypocrisy of these religious
people.
The ancient cities of Tyre, Sidon and Sodom were destroyed for their
wickedness and sin. Jesus upbraided His own generation that if these ancient
cities had seen His works, they would have repented in ashes and sackcloth.
Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum saw Jesus’ mighty works yet did not believe.
They would suffer even greater punishment than that of the wicked cities which
did not see Jesus. In the same vein, nations and cities with churches on every
corner will have no excuse on judgment day if they do not repent and believe.
The Bible says, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that
forget God” (Psalm 9:17). And which individual will ever stand before God,
justified for blatantly refusing to heed the entreaties to surrender to Christ,
while here on earth?
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Change your heavy load for Christ’s light burden.
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