A Messiah of Invitation
Text: Matthew 11:25-30
Introduction
1. Illustration: How do you feel about people? A pastor arranged for a gathering of the women’s auxiliary. It was to be a garden party on the church lawn, under the old oak. At the last moment, the morning of the party, Mrs. Preacher discovered she left Sister Hissyfit off the invitation list. The parson called the dear sister and begged forgiveness. I’m so sorry we didn’t catch this sooner, Mrs. Hissyfit, won’t you please come to the garden party? cajoled the pastor. Beggin’ won’t help now, Preacher, said the offended Mrs. H., I’ve already prayed for rain.
2. It is hard to miss Jesus' invitation. He has made it very clear!
3. Romans 1:19-20 (NLT)
19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.
20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
4. With God the question isn't "have we been invited?," but will we respond?
5. Jesus reveals himself to:
a. The Open Heart
b. Those He Chooses
c. Those Who Need Rest
6. Read Matt. 11:25-30
Proposition: Jesus invitation goes out to everyone, and all who respond to it will be saved.
Transition: The first criteria to receive His invitation is...
I. Jesus Reveals Himself to the Open Heart (25-26).
A. Revealing Them to the Childlike
1. Matthew begins this section of his gospel with, "At that time Jesus prayed this prayer..."
a. "At this time" connects this section with the previous one.
b. As you might recall, in vv. 20-24 Jesus pronounced judgment on those who did not receive his message.
c. However, here is gives praise and thanks for those that do accept his message (France, 443).
2. In his prayer, Jesus talks about two different kinds of people. First He says, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever..."
a. Those who think themselves wise and clever: a person of professional or semi-professional status who is regarded as particularly capable in understanding the philosophical aspects of knowledge and experience (Louw and Nidda, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Symantic Domains).
b. This refers to those who do not accept the gospel because they think they know better.
c. They are too enlightened with the wisdom of this world to accept the simple truth of the Gospel.
d. They are too confident in their own resources too be able to receive the truth.
e. 1 Corinthians 1:19 (NLT)
As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”
3. Then Jesus talks about "and for revealing them to the childlike."
a. Notice that Jesus doesn't say the "childish," but the "childlike."
b. Childlike: a small child above the age of a helpless infant but probably not more than three or four years of age (Louw and Nidda, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Symantic Domains).
c. These people are those who accept his message because they have open hearts and teachable spirits like little children.
d. They do not rely on their own resources, but are open to receive the revelation (France, 444).
e. Mark 10:14-16 (NLT)
14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.
15 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
16 Then he took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.
4. Jesus is not talking about ignorance but open heartedness!
a. Children are able to see things and understand things that adults cannot because they have open hearts and open minds.
b. They have not been conditioned by society to be skeptical and cynical like adults have been.
c. Illustration: That's why I can teach Kyran to say "Go Browns," because his mind has not yet been poisoned by the evil influence of Steeler's fans (Just Kidding)!
5. Jesus goes on to say, "Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!"
a. Jesus says that this does not happen by accident but results because this is the way the Father was pleased to do it.
b. What human wisdom finds unacceptable and humiliating is simply God's good pleasure (France, 445).
c. It is not that God wanted for some to receive it and others not to receive it, but those who did not receive it could not receive it because of their arrogance and pride (Horton, 225).
d. 1 Peter 5:5 (NLT) ...“God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”
B. How Open Is Your Heart?
1. Illustration: “There is nothing so hardening as delay. When God speaks to us, He asks for a tender heart, open to the whispers of His voice of love. The believer who answers the ‘today’ of the Holy Ghost with the ‘tomorrow’ of some more convenient season, knows not how he is hardening his heart; the delay, instead of making the surrender and obedience and faith easy, makes it more difficult. It closes the heart for ‘today’ against the Comforter, and cuts off all hope and power of growth.” (Andrew Murray, Holiest of All, Revell, NJ).
2. God requires an open and receptive heart.
a. Hebrews 3:7-8 (NLT)
7 That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice,
8 don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness.
b. It doesn't require great intellect.
c. It doesn't require great skill.
d. It doesn't require great social standing.
e. All it requires is an open and sincere heart.
3. If we are willing God provides us with an open heart.
a. Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NLT)
26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.
27 And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.
b. God will not force himself upon you.
c. God will not make you into a spiritual robot.
d. But even if you have a hard heart and allow him to change you, he will give you a new heart that can receive him.
e. A heart that will be open to his truth.
f. A heart that will accept the new life that He is offering you.
Transition: The second thing that we must understand is...
II. Jesus Reveals Himself to Those He Chooses (27).
A. Those Whom the Son Chooses to Reveal
1. Jesus knows deals with a subject that for some is hard to understand unless you consider "all" of what Scripture has to say on the subject.
2. Jesus begins by saying, “My Father has entrusted everything to me..."
a. Jesus shifts gears from a prayer of thanksgiving to a proclamation of his relationship with the Father.
b. The word "everything" refers to this revelation of truth.
c. The Father has given all authority to Jesus as His representative on earth.
d. He has the authority to forgive sins, the power to speak with authority, and even the power over nature (Horton, 225).
3. Jesus goes on to say, "No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son..."
a. Jesus relationship with the Father puts them in a category all by themselves.
b. It separates them from angels, human, and animals. They are simply "other" (France, 445).
c. In the Bible "to know" is more a matter of relationship than intellectual facts; it is personal rather than formal (France, 446).
4. Now comes the difficult part, Jesus says, "and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
a. This verse shows that Jesus is equal with the Father, that He himself is God, and that the only way to the Father is through Jesus (Horton, 225).
b. John 14:6 (NLT)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
c. It all goes back to what Jesus said in vv.25-26, the open and willing heart is prepared to receive His revelation of truth.
d. It is to the person who sets aside all human knowledge and wisdom and becomes as an unlearned, helpless infant, that God chooses to reveal Himself.
e. Only the person emptied of human wisdom can be filled with divine truth (MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Matthew 8-15).
B. God Desires All to Come
1. Illustration: A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer when all of a sudden he said aloud, "Lord grant me one wish". The sky clouded and a booming voice said, "Because you have tried to be faithful I will grant you one wish." The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over anytime I want to."
The Lord answered, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the logistics of that kind of undertaking; the supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific; the concrete and steel it would take. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time to think of another wish, a wish you think would honor and glorify me".
The man thought for a long time and finally said, "Lord, I wish that I could understand women. I want to know what they feel inside, what they are thinking when they give me the silent treatment, why they cry, what they mean when they say ’nothing’, and how I can make a woman truly happy?"
After a few minutes God said, "How many lanes do you want on that bridge?"
2. Does that mean that God chooses for some people to go to heaven and some people to go to hell?
a. 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
b. God desires for everyone to come to Him.
c. God desires for everyone to receive the truth.
d. God desires for everyone to spend eternity with Him.
3. However, the sad reality is that many people choose not to receive Him.
a. John 1:12 (NLT)
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
b. God doesn't send anyone to hell, we send ourselves there because we will not accept Him.
c. We choose not to go to heaven because we reject Jesus free gift of salvation.
d. Those that end up in hell will have no one to blame but themselves!
Transition: The third thing we learn about the Messiah's invitation is...
III. Jesus Reveals Himself to Those Who Need Rest (28-30).
A. Come to Me, All of You
1. Allow me to clarify this even further. In the next verse Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
a. We see here another side of this story. This knowledge is only available to those whom the Son chooses to reveal it, but here we see Jesus giving an invitation to find the answer to life's problems by coming to Him.
b. This invitation is open to "all," and is free to anyone who will acknowledge their need for Him and be willing to accept Him (France, 447).
c. This invitation is for everyone who is weary and carried heavy burdens.
d. "Weary" evokes the image of persons exhausted from their work or journey, while "heavy burdens" indicates persons weighted down with heavy loads (Wilkins, NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Matthew, 422).
e. How many people do you know who are weary and carrying heavy burdens? Everybody I know!!
2. The religious leaders of Jesus day put burdens on the people that they were unable to carry.
a. They did so by placing a bunch of man maid regulations that not only didn't bring them closer to God, but drove them farther away.
b. However, Jesus offers them rest from those burdens. He offers them a new life filled with peace.
c. John 14:27 (NLT)
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
3. Jesus goes on to say, "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
a. A yoke was used to harness two animals together in such a way that the maximum pulling power of each would be accomplished.
b. The stronger animal would get the heavy end.
c. "My yoke" refers to the yoke that Jesus gives us that makes us fellow workers with Him and the Father.
d. It is a light yoke because Jesus takes the heavy end and gives us the light one (Horton, 227).
e. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT)
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
B. Burden Is Light
1. Illustration: "When life caves in, you do not need reasons -- you need comfort. You do not need some answers -- you need someone. And Jesus does not come to us with an explanation --
He comes to us with His presence.” — Bob Benson
2. Jesus reveals himself to those who recognize their need for Him.
a. Revelation 3:17-18 (NLT)
17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
18 So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
b. Those who recognize that they are lost.
c. Those who recognize their spiritual poverty.
d. Those who recognize they can't do it on their own.
3. Jesus reveals himself to those who acknowledge that he is the only way.
a. Acts 4:12 (NLT)
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
b. They acknowledge they need a Savior.
c. They acknowledge they need forgiveness.
d. They acknowledge that Muhammad can't do it; Confucius can't do it; meditation can't do it; money can't do it; fame can't do it; drugs can't do it; booze can't do it; only Jesus can do the job!
Transition: Do you need a Savior today?
Conclusion
1. Jesus reveals himself to those who:
a. Have open hearts
b. He chooses
c. Need rest
2. Do you:
a. have an open heart?
b. need rest?
3. Jesus wants to reveal himself to you today.
