“Are You Satisfied with Jesus?”

(Matthew 11:16-24)

Series: God’s Fulfilled Promise [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

June 23, 2019

The Passage

Matthew 11:16-24

16 “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children: 17 We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t mourn! 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.” 20 Then he proceeded to denounce the towns where most of his miracles were done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented in sackcloth and ashes long ago. 22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until today. 24 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

Introductory Comments:

Have you ever met someone who could never be satisfied? I’ve met that type of people. Perhaps you think of a boss whom you could never make happy. Perhaps a coach or teacher from your younger years. Maybe you’re thinking of a spoiled child. The truth of the matter is there are some people who can simply never be satisfied. 

Jesus spoke about some of those people in today’s passage. He spoke of some of the people of Israel and how they felt towards Him and His work. Jesus would then go on and speak about how God felt towards them. 

This passage is important for us to understand as we think about ourselves and our feelings towards Jesus and God’s feelings towards us. 

Because of the importance of this passage, let’s go to God in prayer and ask Him to speak to us. 

(prayer)

Remember, we are in the middle of our series in the Gospel of Matthew. In chapter 11, Jesus has shifted His focus away from preparing the disciples to go out and encounter difficulty. Now, Jesus is focusing on Himself and His authority. 

In the beginning of chapter 11, Jesus speaks of John the Baptist preparing the way, of Jesus Himself being the One who was sent, and about the least of those who are part of the kingdom of Heaven. 

Now, Jesus will speak about the people’s reaction to Him and God’s reaction to the people. 

Let’s begin by exploring the fact that . . .

I. The people were dissatisfied with the works of Jesus (16-19) [on screen]

We’re at the point in the Gospel of Matthew when we start to see more and more displeasure and disenchantment shown towards Jesus. 

People are starting to realize that Jesus is not exactly who they want Him to be. They are dissatisfied with Jesus and with His works. 

Look at verses 16-19. 

16 “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children: 17 We played the flute for you, but you didn’t dance; we sang a lament, but you didn’t mourn! 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Jesus says, “To what should I compare this generation?”

I believe He’s speaking generally here of the generation of Jewish people among whom He is living and to whom He is ministering at that particular time.  

He’s basically saying, “This is what y’all are like!”

Well, what does He say they’re like?

He gives this illustration of spoiled children: children who are performing and expecting the audience of other children to re