A Closer Walk with Thee
Meditations on Christian Doctrine
Salvation
____________
The Invitation
Matthew11
NKJV
Read Matthew 11:1-25 for context
I. The revelation of the invitation – Matthew 11:25
A. 25 xAt that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that yYou have hidden these things from the wise and prudent zand have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 aAll things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. bNor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
a) To Reveal - G601, ἀποκαλύπτω, apokaluptō
(1) Thayer Definition:
(2) to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up
(3) 1a) disclose, make bare
(4) to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown
(5) Part of Speech: verb
b) Wills - G1014
(1) βούλομαι
(2) boulomai
(3) Thayer Definition:
(4) 1) to will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded
(5) 2) of willing as an affection, to desire
(6) Part of Speech: verb
B. The revelation of the invitation is this – To know Christ is no mere mental assent, but a spiritual awakening, a heart change, an awakening from a life of spiritual death to Spirit filled life.
C. Turn to Matthew 16:13
D. The Invitation is by Revelation From God the Father in Heaven.
1. Also recorded in: Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–21
a) Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, g“Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
b) 14 So they said, h“Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or ione of the prophets.”
c) 15 He said to them, “But who do jyou say that I am?”
d) 16 Simon Peter answered and said, k“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
e) 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, lfor flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but mMy Father who is in heaven.
E. The revelation is by His authority alone
1. John 1:12
a) 12 But qas many as received Him, to them He gave the 5right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: Colon
b) A Colon is a punctuation mark that introduces a series or example of something, here in this verse it is a series of examples of how people ARE NOT SAVED
(1) 13 rwho were born,
(2) not of blood,
(3) nor of the will of the flesh,
(4) nor of the will of man,
(5) Then we have these words…but of God.
(6) The word “But” is a conjunction. It means “ On the contrary to, other than, if not, except for the fact.”
(7) Therefore it is on the contrary to all the above that men are saved, born again – they are born again by God
c) The Amplified Bible renders verses 12,13 this way:
(1) “But to as many as did receive and Welcome Him, He gave the authority (Power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in – adhere to, trust in and rely on – His name; Who owe their birth neither to bloods, nor to the will of the flesh (that of physical impulse), nor to the will of man (that of a natural Father), but to God – They are born of God!”
F. So when John the Baptist sent his disciples to question Christ about His Messiah-ship back in Matthew 11 we understand something:
1. Matthew 11:27 27 aAll things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. bNor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
2. Without the will of Jesus to reveal Himself to you – you would not be capable of receiving Christ, without being born again from above you cannot know Jesus Christ.
3. Why is it this way?
G. People must come to Christ for who He is to them– not what He does for them.
1. Jesus Christ is God.
2. How many times has Jesus asked people not to tell of who He is or what miracles He has performed, how many times has Jesus departed when the crowds formed. These people wanted Christ not for who He was – but for the things He did.
H. Our next point will clarify the revelation of the invitation so Lets move on to Matthew 11:28
II. The Reason for the Invitation -
A. 28 Come to cMe, all you who labor: and are heavy laden…
1. This word “Labor” is an active verb – these people are working to enter the kingdom.
2. To be heavy laden is passive verb meaning “overburdened; literally with spiritual anxiety.”
B. He says: come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden - and I will give you rest.
C. Who are the heavy Laden, the burdened, the ones suffering spiritual anxiety, the ones who need the revelation of an invitation?
1. They are the publicans and sinners, the weak, the poor, the suffering, who cannot find salvation because of the Pharisees pride.
2. In Matthew 23 Jesus Condemns the Pharisees
a) 13 “But jwoe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 7Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! kFor you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
b) 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of 8hell as yourselves.
D. These publicans and sinners are the people we read of in Matthew 5.
1. Matthew 5 And seeing the multitudes, aHe (Jesus) went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and btaught them, saying:
2. “Blessed care the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
3. dBlessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
(1) That is - Comforted in their soul because they mourn over their sin.
4. eBlessed are the meek, For fthey shall inherit the 1earth.
(1) More on meekness in the last point of Phil.2
5. Blessed are those who ghunger and thirst for righteousness,hFor they shall be filled:
a) By God’s Holy Spirit
b) With fruit of the Spirit
c) For against such there is no law:Gal. 5
6. Blessed are the merciful,iFor they shall obtain mercy.
7. jBlessed are the pure in heart, For kthey shall see God.
8. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
9. lBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
10. These are the persons who need an Invitation, a revelation.
E. And with the revelation of the invitation we will understand the reason for the invitation – We are sinners.
a) As humans we are unrighteous, unholy, incapable of even the smallest of good deeds.
b) For even the greatest of our good deeds Isaiah says are as “Filthy rags.”
F. Yet back in our text of Matthew 11 Jesus says “come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden - and I will give you rest”. Rest! You would think that we would have to work hard at being holy, but Jesus says REST!
1. I am a sinner, unworthy, unholy.
2. Could I ever have rest?
G. Well, Not only must the invitation be revealed to us by God’s Holy Spirit, bringing us to see the reason for the invitation But we must know the reality of the invitation.
III. The Reality of the invitation comes with a certain amount of responsibility on our part:
1. Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you dand learn from Me
a) … The great commission cannot be carried out without the great commandment.
b) We are to “Go” and make disciples of all nations. We do not just bring them revelation of Christ’s invitation, by reason of their sinfulness and then leave it at that.
c) We must then “Disciple” the nations in the “Reality” of the invitation – Discipleship itself.
d) We must show them the next part of the invitation which is …learn of Me. This will lead them to the great commandment… love the Lord thy God…
e) And will guarantee for us that as we fulfill the great commission we will not be guilty of the great omission – Which is “Failing to disciple the nations to worship, honor, love, adore, magnify, and trust in, God.”
B. 29 Take My yoke upon you dand learn from Me … Why?
1. for I am 6gentle and elowly in heart,
2. fand you will find rest for your souls.
a) O The joy that these words speak to us all - rest!
b) Release from TRYING to do good, now I am free, free, free, free in Christ Jesus!
C. But what is this that The Lord Jesus Christ says next?
1. 30 gFor My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
2. A yoke!!! I thought we were called sheep?! Not Oxen – A Yoke?
D. Jesus’ hearers understood that the yoke was a symbol of submission – I would like to quote John MacArthur Jr. from his book, “The Gospel According to Jesus.” He has a balanced insight into this yoke we are to carry.
1. In Israel yokes were made of wood, carefully fashioned by the carpenter’s hand to fit the neck of the animal that was to wear it.
a) …The yoke was worn by the animal to bear a load, and used by the master to direct the animal.
2. The yoke also signified discipleship.
a) When our Lord added the phrase “and learn from Me,” the imagery would have been familiar to Jewish listeners.
(1) In ancient writings, a pupil who submitted himself to a teacher was said to take the teacher’s yoke. One writer records this proverb: “Put your neck under the yoke and let your soul receive instruction”…
3. It is a yoke that also implies obedience.
a) The imagery of the yoke itself argues against the notion that one can take Jesus as Savior and not as Lord. Jesus does not bid people come to him if they are unwilling to receive his yoke. True salvation occurs when a sinner in desperation turns from his sin to Christ with a willingness to have him take control.
4. The yoke of the law, the yoke of human effort, the yoke of works, and the yoke of sin are all heavy, chafing, galling yokes. They represent large, unbearable burdens carried in the flesh. They lead to despair, frustration, and anxiety. Jesus offers a yoke we can carry, and he also gives the strength to carry it (cf. Phil. 4:13). Therein is true rest.
a) Jesus wants us to learn from Him, he is God. The Holy Spirit leads us into ALL truth. About who Jesus is, who we are, what we must do.
E. 29 Take My yoke upon you dand learn from Me Jesus said
1. for I am 6gentle and elowly in heart,
2. fand you will find rest for your souls.
F. The Humbled and Exalted Christ is our true yokefellow and in Philippians 2:1 we read of this humble servant by the hand of the Apostle Paul…
1. Phil. 2:1 - if there is any 1consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any aaffection and mercy, 2 bfulfill my joy cby being like-minded, having the same love, being of done accord, of one mind.
2. 3 eLet nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but fin lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
3. 4 gLet each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of hothers.
IV. There is an Invitation today for all who have ears to here.
A. Can you say that Jesus Christ is your Lord, born of the Virgin Mary, come in the flesh, crucified, risen and coming again in glory? If so – you have received revelation.
B. Do you understand the sinfulness of your flesh and the need for salvation? If so – you know the reason for the invitation.
C. Are you daily confessing sin as God reveals it, speaking the truth in Love, learning of Christ, praying, meditating on scripture, loving the brethren? If so – you are learning of Christ; are Yoked together with Him in a common goal, your sanctification.
1. But If you fail in any of these areas do not harden your hearts in stubborn pride –
a) but Phil. 2:5 iLet this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, jbeing in the form of God, did not consider it 2robbery to be equal with God, 7 kbut 3made Himself of no reputation, taking the form lof a bondservant, and mcoming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and nbecame oobedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
2. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up.
a) Whether humility to receive the invitation
b) Or humility to live the invitation
c) Come to Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith and accept the invitation!
