We Have Piped Unto You,

Matthew 11 v 16 - 30

1. The Lord's Description 16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,

Their :

(a) Immaturity It is like unto children little children

(b) Inactivity sitting in the markets (c) Insincerity and calling unto their fellows, (their playmates) (d) Impassivity 17 And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. The children of this generation were making the complaint (see vv. 18-19) that others were not playing the game according to the way they played the music. John and Jesus did not follow “their tune.” Jesus’ complaint was that this generation wanted things their way, not God’s.

Indifferent to the :-

Word Of God We have piped unto you

Will Of God ye have not danced, and ye have not lamented.

Way To God We have, ye have not Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

No Doubting :-

The Master's Love O Jerusalem

The Master's Longsuffering thou that killest the prophets

The Master's Longing how often would I have gathered thy children together John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

John 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

The Master's Light even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings (protection from danger)

The Master's Loathing and ye would not!

2. The Lord's Disposition 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

(a) Johns' Separation 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.

(b) Jesus' Integration 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.

They attacked :-

His Conduct, eating and drinking

His Character, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber

His Company, a friend of publicans and sinners.

(c) Wisdoms' Vindication But wisdom is justified of her children.

Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by her deeds (what she does) and by her children.

3. The Lord's Denunciation 20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

(a) The Reason for their Condemnation 20 because they repented not:

(b) The Right of their Condemnation 21 they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

(c) The Retention of their Condemnation 22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

(d) The Remedy for Condemnation 25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

1. Respect for the Father I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,

Respect for :-

His Person O Father,

His Position Lord of heaven and earth,

His Plan thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

2. Reception of the Faith thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

the untarnished, the untaught, the untrained.