Download 1 LIFE OF JESUS BIBLE STUDY A Rebuke from Jesus Matthew 11

LIFE OF JESUS BIBLE STUDY
A Rebuke from Jesus
Matthew 11:20-30
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Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not
repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and
Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22
“Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for
you. 23 “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if
the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24
“Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment,
than for you."
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At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these
things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26 “Yes, Father, for this way was
well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one
knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to
whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give
you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU
WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Getting Started . . .
What are the pros and cons of living in a big city?
What city would you most like to visit? Why?
What sorts of activities absolutely drain the life out of you?
Why are many Christians frazzled and burned out?
Chorazin
(choh ray' zihn) One of the cities Jesus censured because of the unbelief of its inhabitants (Matthew
11:21 ). It was located in Galilee. It has been identified with modern khirbet Kerazeh, ruins located
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about two miles north of the site of Capernaum. Chorazin is mentioned in the Talmud as a place
famous for its wheat. In the time of Jesus it must have been an important place, but by the second half
of the third century A.D. it had ceased to be inhabited. Holman Bible Dictionary
Bethsaida
(behth ssay' ih duh) Place name meaning, “house of fish.” The home of Andrew, Peter, and Philip (John
1:44; John 12:21 ), located on the northeast side of the Sea of Galilee. This town was rebuilt under
Philip the tetrarch, one of Herod the Great's sons, who named it Julius in honor of the Emperor
Augustus' daughter. Near here Jesus fed the 5,000 (Luke 9:10 ) and healed a blind man (Mark 8:22 ).
Jesus pronounced judgment upon Bethsaida for its lack of response to His message and miracles
(Matthew 11:21; Luke 10:13 ). The site of Bethsaida has yet to be identified archaeologically. Some
scholars do propose two sites named Bethsaida: The one northeast of the Sea of Galilee, as already
discussed; and another, west of the Sea of Galilee, close to Capernaum. This postulation is based on
Mark 6:45 , where following the feeding of the 5,000 outside Bethsaida, Jesus tells His disciples to sail
to Bethsaida. However, there is no contemporary mention of two Bethsaidas, and the Mark 6:1 text can
just as easily refer to a short trip to the known city of Bethsaida-Julias as to an unknown town. William
Vermillion in Holman Bible Dictionary
Sidon and Tyre
(ssi' dahn, teere) Phoenician cities located on the coastal plain between the mountains of Lebanon and
the Mediterranean Sea (Genesis 10:15 ). Sidon and Tyre were ancient cities, having been founded long
before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan. Extrabiblical sources first mention Sidon before 2000
B.C. and Tyre just after 2000 B.C. While Sidon seems to have been the most dominant of the two cities
during the early part of their histories, Tyre assumed this role in the latter times. Both cities were known
for their maritime exploits and as centers of trade. One of Tyre's most coveted exports was purple dye.
Joshua could not conquer the territory (Joshua 13:3-4 ). Holman Bible Dictionary
Israel had relations with the two cities, but especially with Tyre. David employed Tyrian stonemasons
and carpenters and used cedars from that area in building a palace. (2 Samuel 5:11 ). The construction
of the Temple in Jerusalem during Solomon's reign depended heavily on the materials and craftsmen
from Tyre. About 870 B.C., Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of the Phoenician king, bringing Baal
worship to Israel's court. Ezekiel 28:1 characterizes the king of Tyre as the ultimate example of pride.
Under Roman rule, the two cities were important ports of trade, but they did not enjoy the dominance
they previously held. Jesus spent time in Tyre and Sidon and in contrast to the prophets' attitude
toward the cities, He contrasted them with the Jews as examples of faith ( Matthew 11:20-22 ). Paul
spent seven days in Tyre after his third missionary journey (Acts 21:3-4 ).
To Guide Your Personal Bible Reading . . .
Who was Jesus condemning? (11:20)
Why was Jesus denouncing the cities in which He performed most of His miracles? (11:20)
What two cities did Jesus condemn first? Why? (11:21)
How did Jesus say Korazin and Bethsaida were different from Tyre and Sidon? (11:21)
What did Jesus say would happen on the day of judgment? (11:22)
What city did Jesus single out for comparison with Sodom? (11:23)
What did Jesus predict for Capernaum? (11:23)
Why did Capernaum have a bleak future? (11:23)
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To what ancient, evil city did Jesus compare Capernaum? Why? (11:23-24)
What city did Jesus say would face the sterner judgment than Sodom? Why? (11:24)
After pronouncing woe on several unrepentant cities, what did Jesus do? (11:25)
When did Jesus pray? (11:25)
How did Jesus address God? (11:25)
“Jesus clearly stated his relationship to the Father of whom he spoke in Matthew 11:25. He made three
unmistakable claims to special relationship with God:
1. All things have been committed to me by my Father. These words explain shared knowledge.
There are no secrets between Father and Son and never have been. The present perfect tense
of "have been committed" indicates that this has been the case from eternity past into eternity
future. Jesus is the only source of the revelation that is hidden or revealed.
2. No one knows the Son except the Father. In the Old Testament, "know" means more than
knowledge; it implies an intimate relationship. The communion between God the Father and
God the Son is the core of their relationship. Jesus claimed an intimate relationship that no one
else can ever have. Those who make Jesus out to be nothing more than a great teacher have
ignored such statements as this, statements that force us to a decision as to whether Jesus
really is who he claimed to be.
3. No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
For anyone else to know God, God must reveal himself to that person, by the Son's choice.
How fortunate we are that Jesus has clearly revealed to us God, his truth, and how we can
know him. People can only approach God through Jesus—he truly is the only way. That Jesus
praised the Father for making this choice and then explained that the Father had given the Son
this authority again emphasizes Jesus' true identity.” Life Application Bible Commentary - Life Application Bible
Commentary – Matthew
In what way are those who are childlike wiser than some who are highly educated (11:25, 26)? How
can you become wise like a child?
What did Jesus say God had entrusted or committed to Him? (11:27)
Who alone did Jesus say knew Him? (11:27)
Besides himself, who did Jesus say could know God? (11:27)
Who claimed to reveal God to the world? (11:27)
What general invitation did Christ make at this time? (11:28)
“When a man carried a yoke he would carry it on his shoulders. Judaism applied this image of
subjection to obedience. Jewish people spoke of carrying the yoke of God’s law and the yoke of his
kingdom, which one accepted by acknowledging that God was one and by keeping his commandments.
Matthew intends Jesus’ words about rest as a contrast with Pharisaic Sabbath rules in the following
passage: the promise of “rest for your souls” comes from Jeremiah 6:16, where God promises to stay
his wrath if the people turn to him instead of to the words of the false religious leaders.” Bible Background
Commentary - The IVP Bible Background Commentary – New Testament.
What kind of people was Jesus addressing? (11:28)
What promise did Jesus make to those who would accept His offer? (11:28)
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What farming imagery did Jesus use to encourage people to come to Him? (11:29)
How did Jesus describe Himself? (11:29)
How is walking with Christ described? (11:30)
For Discussion . . .
How do you think God views our country’s evil bent—especially in light of all the ways He has blessed
us?
As people who have experienced the goodness of God, how should we be living?
Why is it dangerous for us to know the truth about God and yet continue to sin?
What would Jesus say if He came and preached in our city today?
“How disastrous when those closest to truth turn away! Some churches do that when they move from
faith to doubt, from a focus on Jesus to a focus on everything but Jesus. When selecting a church, look
beyond the architecture, the greeting committees, and the nursery facilities. Is Jesus at the heart of it?”
Life Application Bible Commentary - Life Application Bible Commentary – Matthew.
Why do you think we sometimes become indifferent toward God?
In your eyes, what about Christ seems so obvious that everyone ought to be able to see it?
Why do you think God hides certain truths from "the wise"?
In what ways do you feel weary and burdened right now?
What aspects of the Christian life do you find especially taxing or burdensome?
What is it like to experience the promised "rest" of Christ?
How would you describe your walk with Christ right now?
Apply It
What specific sin do you need to repent of today?
What are three things you could do this week to be a brighter light for Christ in your city or town?
In light of the certain judgment of God, what step could you take this week to reach a lost neighbor or
friend?
What are two specific ways you can work with Christ tomorrow instead of going in your own direction?
Besides praying, what are some ways you can get to know your Father in heaven more intimately this
week?
What burdens will you entrust to Christ today?
Conclusion:
In Matthew 11:20-30 Jesus denounces some and offers a warm invitation to others. What causes his
denunciations?
What is the nature of Jesus' invitation?
In what ways have you found rest in your life by coming to Jesus?
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“Following Jesus would not be a free ride; Jesus had already described the persecution and rejection
his followers could expect. They were not free from all constraints; they would carry a yoke, but it would
be easy and light. Again, this did not belittle the importance or difficulty of carrying out his mission;
indeed, Jesus asked for more than mere obedience to the law. Discipleship required extraordinary
effort. These words focused on Jesus' care and concern for his followers, his promise of guidance and
presence, and the ultimate future rewards. The efforts of Jesus' followers would not result in dead-end
toil or drudgery or in frustrating cycles of guilt and depression from trying to please God by being good
enough. Jesus' yoke would result in fruitful service. . . . Jesus doesn't offer you a lawn chair and
soda—the yoke is still an oxen's tool for working hard. But it's a special kind of yoke, with weight falling
on bigger shoulders than yours. Someone with more pulling power is up front helping. Suddenly you're
sharing life's responsibilities with a great Partner—and now that frown is turning into a smile, and that
gripe into a song” . Life Application Bible Commentary - Life Application Bible Commentary – Matthew.
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