Theme: " A Portrait of the King "
Title: " The King's Itinerant Ministry Chronicled "
Text: Matthew Chapters 8 - 25
INTRO: *** Chapter 11 ***
I. The King's Preaching & Teaching Tour Continues.
11:1
II. The King's Discussion with the Disciples of John
11:2-6 *** John the Baptist
A. The Setting & Motivation of the Discussion from the
Standpoint of John
Verse 2
B. The Issue ( or Subject ) of the Discussion
Verse 3
C. The Lord's Gentle & Reassuring Response
Verses 4-6
III. The King's Comments to the Multitudes Concerning
John the Baptist
11:7-14
A. The Lord's Questions to the People About their Expec-
tations toward John
Verses 7-9a
B. The Lord's Assertion concerning the Stature of John
the Baptist & the Role of his Ministry in the Work of
God.
Verses 9b - 11
C. The Lord's Obscure Closing Statements Regarding
John the Baptist
Verses 12-14
1. The Statements are Somewhat Parabolic in Depth
& Nature .
2. They Do Not Lend themselves to a Simple " Cut &
Dried " Interpretation but Convey a Sense of
Mystery in their Meaning.
IV. The King's Solemn Warning to His Hearers
11:15 *** Listen Up !!!
V. The King's Description of the People of His Day
11:16-19a
A. They were Childish in their Attitudes : Not Child-like.
Verse 16
B. They were Self Centered & Controlling in their
Dealings with Others.
Verse 17
1. They Wanted Others to " Dance to their Tune."
2. They Wanted Others to Be Sensitive to Them & to
Sympathize with Their Feelings and to sort of " Fall
in Line " Behind Them in Their Causes.
3. It is Clearly Implied, however, that They were Not Will-
ing to Give Christ & His Servants the Same Consider-
ation as they Expected from Them & Others.
C. They were Unjustly Critical of the Lord & His Messengers.
Verses 18-19a
VI. The King's Confidence in the Midst of Criticism
11:19b c/f Proverbs Chapter One
*** A Child of Wisdom Will Know the Voice of Wisdom when
he Hears it, and will say: " that's right."
VII. The King's Reproof Directed Toward the Unrepent-
ant
11:20-24
A. He Pronounces Woe Upon them for their Unrepentance.
Verse 21
B. He Promises their Debasement & Destruction .
Verse 23
C. He Judges them Worthy of an Aggravated Condem-
nation .
Verses 22 & 24 c/f Luke 12:47-48
VIII. The King's Parenthetical Prayer to His Father
Above
11:25-26 *** A Prayer of Praise
A. Do the Things that Seem Good in the Father's Sight Seem
Good to You ?
B. Can You Thank God for Doing Whatever Pleases Him in
Your Life ?
IX. The King's Declaration of His Exclusive Relation-
ship with the Father
Verse 27
A. He Declares Himself to be the Sole Heir & Executor
of the Father's Estate.
B. He States that No One Knows Him like His Father Does,
and No One Knows His Father like He Does.
C. He Says that the Only Way to Truly Know the Father
is by the Revelation that He Gives ; He's the Word of
God.
X. The King's Invitation to Weary Souls for Rest
11:28-30
A. The Rest of Salvation from the Burdens of Sin &
the Works of the Law
Verse 28 c/f Romans 3:19-28 ; Galatians 2:16 ; &
Hebrews 6:1
B. The Rest of Discipleship or Lordship for the Inner
Struggles of the Soul in Control
Verses 29-30
1. Yoke -- Symbol of Submission & Service
*** Submission to Jesus to Serve Him & His Agenda
2. The Rest Comes When we Willingly Bow Our Heads
to Take His Yoke Upon Our Own Neck -- and What
we Learn About Him as a Result.
a. He's a Meek & Lowly Master.
b. His Yoke is Easy, & His Burden is Light.
3. The Psalmist Says: " O Taste & See that the Lord is
Good ..."
Psalm 34:8