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 (Matthew)
15: Rejection of the King (1) (Mt 11:2-30)
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15: Rejection of the King (1) (Mt 11:2-30)

I.       The Basics

A.     Setting

After sending out the twelve disciples, the Lord Jesus continued in His ministry. Once again we read about John the Baptist and his role in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus, seeing the unrepentant heart of the people, began to denounce the cities in that region. But even then, He still called out to the people to come to Him for rest.

B.     Key Verse

            “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (11:28,29).

C.     Did You Know…?

1.       Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum (11:21,23): all three near the Sea of Galilee’s northwest shore. 12/44The doom pronounced against Capernaum and the other unbelieving cities (Matt. 11:23) has been remarkably fulfilled. Tell Hum, its generally accepted site, is an uninhabited place two and a half miles SW of where the Jordan enters the Sea of Galilee. 10/209

2.       Tyre and Sidon (11:21) were large Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean, not far away, and often denounced by OT prophets for their Baal worship (Isa 23; Ezek 26-28; Joel 3:4; Amos 1:9-10; Zech 9:2-4). 6/273

3.       Sackcloth and ashes (11:21): The Israelites used sackcloth as a ritual sign of repentance or a token of mourning. The dark color and coarse texture of this goat’s hair material made it ideal for that use. 4/480 Ashes were added in cases of deep emotion (cf. Job 42:6; Dan 9:3), whether one put them on the head (2 Sam 13:19; Lam 2:10), sat in them (Jonah 3:6), lay on them (Esth 4:3), or even rolled in them (Jer 6:26; Mic 1:10). 6/273

4.       Hades (11:23): is the place of the dead. 12/44

5.       Yoke (11:29): A yoke was a piece of timber or a heavy wooden pole, shaped to fit over the neck with curved pieces of wood around the neck fastened to the pole, and was used to hitch together a team of draft animals so that they could pull heavy loads evenly. 9,vol. 5/1022

II.    Observation

A.     Outline

(11:2-19)

(2-6)

(7-15)

(16-19)

(11:20-24)

(11:25-30)

(25-27)

(28-30)

B.     Key Words/Phrases

III. General Analysis

1.       List the verses that indicate the people’s reluctance in accepting the gospel.

2.       According to Jesus’ words in this passage, what is the purpose and role of miracles?

IV.  Segment Analysis

A.     11:2-6

1. Why was John thrown into prison?

2a. What did John’s question imply?

2b. What might have led him to ask this question?

2c. Do you sometimes have doubts about God’s power and promise? What enables you to renew your faith in such circumstances?

3a. How did Jesus’ response answer John’s question? (see Isa 35:5-6; 61:1).

3b. How was Jesus’ response encouraging?

4. Explain verse 6 and apply it to ourselves.

B.     11:7-19

5. Record Jesus’ comments about John.

6. What truths are taught about the kingdom of heaven in these verses?

6a. 11

6b. 12

7. Explain the significance of verse 13

8. How were the people of those days like the children in Jesus’ analogy? (see verse 20).

9. Compare this paragraph to Luke 7:29-35. What do you think Jesus meant by the children (or actions) proving wisdom right?

10. According to verses 11-19, how can we come into the kingdom of heaven?

C.     11:20-24

11. Why would the judgment on these cities be worse than those of the pagan cities in the Old Testament?

12. What does Jesus’ denouncement teach us about our attitude and response toward miracles?

D.     11:25-30

13. How is this paragraph related to the entire passage?

14a. Who are the “wise and prudent” and who are the “babes”?

14b. Why does God hide His will and deeds from the wise and prudent but reveal them to babes?

15. Explain verse 27 in light of John 14:6

16a. Who are those who “labor and are heavy laden”?

16b. How should we come to Jesus?

17a. What is Jesus’ yoke?

17b. Why is it easy?

17c. “Yoke” and “rest” usually do not go together. But why did Jesus tell us to take up His yoke in order to find rest for our souls?

18. How can we also be “gentle and lowly” in heart? 

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