Title: Heaven, generation, grace/Matthew 11:12-24
words to enter
The work of providence that God the Creator wanted to save His chosen people began to be revealed in detail from the work of John the Baptist in the wilderness, who was sent to prepare the way of the Lord.
The work of the Messiah actually began when Jesus, the Messiah, was baptized by him, was tempted by Satan in the wilderness, defeated the powers of evil, and preached the gospel.
Matthew 11:3 They said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we wait for another?
Matthew 11:5 The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached.
Matthew 11:6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble because of me.
Jesus is not saying that he does not fall because of himself, but that those who hold onto him are blessed.
The kingdom of God in Jesus is blessed by the blind from seeing, hearing by the deaf, hope for those in despair, richness for the poor, and everlasting life. .
What does the Lord say in verse 12 of today's text?
The gates of this kingdom of God are open and subject to violence.
Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Heaven suffers violence. Also, those who are violent will inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Heaven - the kingdom of God.
I suffer violence - to say that the gates of heaven are open,
Violent people - Those who long for the kingdom of God, are zealous, have courage and determination.
Jesus uses this kingdom of heaven as the opposite of the kingdom of sin ruled by Satan.
There is darkness in the kingdom of Satan, and because sin is covered, they have ears but do not hear, have eyes but do not see, have legs but cannot walk, are lame, defiled like lepers, and death always lurks.
Heaven is the rule and rule of God. God's love. Forgiveness. There is no sin.
Jesus, the Messiah, came to this earth as the Savior with the Kingdom of God.
This heaven brought by Jesus is always open. Therefore, anyone who believes in Jesus has already entered the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven.
The kingdom of God has already come to those of you who have left everything today and decided to worship God at this time.
For those who cannot come to church to come and worship God together, the kingdom of God has already come to him.
We, who have not heard the word of God, will be transformed into those who hear the word of God.
Those of us who did not see the providence and guidance of God now see in Jesus.
Our transgressions and sins that were dirty were washed clean. We have gained new life from the dead.
Why do so many people only believe in Jesus? Shakyamuni and Confucius are not? Isn't it Allah?
He asks, “Can we go to heaven with other religions?”
People say you can go. There is salvation in other religions as well.
But not Jesus. It is not the word of God.
What is truly important is that Jesus Himself is the only way and door to enter this kingdom of heaven.
John 14:6 Jesus said to them, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
Even if you believe in Buddhism, you can become a good person. Even if you believe in Confucianism, you can become an upright person, but you cannot gain salvation and enter the kingdom of heaven.
There is no other way to heaven. There is no other way to be governed and governed by God.
There is only one door to heaven, Jesus Christ.
What would you like to compare this generation to?
How about the people of this age we live in today?
What do you work for and what do you live for?
What did Jesus say about the people of his day?
First, you said that they are indifferent people.
16 - As it is said, We played the flute for you, but you did not dance; we mourned, but ye did not beat our hearts.
What are people indifferent to? It is God's country. I was indifferent to heaven.
They were interested in the personal matters of what they eat, wear, and drink. He was very interested in politics and religious matters. But he was not interested in heaven and personal faith.
John the Baptist in the wilderness, you brood of vipers./ Repent./ The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus taught and preached the word about the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, but he was indifferent.
They saw miracles but did not realize them, and they suffered calamities but did not repent.
It is a generation that is completely indifferent to the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven.
Just as in Noah's day they were indifferent to the coming of God's judgment, the Jews were indifferent to the coming of the kingdom of heaven. I saw the coming of heaven through various signs, I heard it with my ears, I saw it with my eyes, but I didn't dance to it and I didn't mourn.
What about the people of this generation we live in now?
For those outside the church, what about you inside? What are you interested in? Are you interested in the Kingdom of God? Am I interested in God's rule and rule in my life?
Isn't Jesus playing the flute in heaven right now?
But is there anyone who dances to the sound of the trumpet? Are you not indifferent to the sound of the trumpet of the gospel?
Isn't Jesus mourning through events happening all over the world right now?
Aren't the voices of lamentation over the coming judgment being heard from all over the world? But is there anyone who repents while beating their hearts at the sound of that mourning?
Everyone is busy with their work, but they are indifferent to the spiritual work of the kingdom of God. They dance and mourn in the affairs of the world, but are indifferent to the affairs of the kingdom of God.
We are God's people set apart from the world. Let us be concerned with the work of God, the kingdom of God, and the reign and rule of God.
Second, Jesus says that this is the generation that criticizes this generation.
Critics can be reluctant to criticize everything.
Matthew 11:18 John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, He has a demon.
Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and he said, Behold, a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Wisdom is justified by what he has done.
John criticized him for not eating and crying in the wilderness, saying he was possessed by a demon, and he criticized Jesus for being a glutton and wine drinker because he ate and drank, and as a friend of sinners and tax collectors because he preached the word of God.
How much did the Jews criticize Jesus? The priests, Levites, scribes, and leaders were especially critical.
Matthew 7: 1 Do not judge, lest you be judged.
Matthew 7:2 With the judgment with which you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure with which you measure it it will be measured to you.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Let us cry free from criticism. But let us receive counsel and reproof with thanksgiving.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:17 This is so that the man of God may be perfected for every good work.
Jesus said that right and wrong are not determined by criticism, but justified by what we do.
The third is the generation that forsook grace.
Matthew 11:20 Then he rebuked the towns in which Jesus had given the greatest power, because they did not repent.
Matthew 11:21 Woe to Korazin, woe to Bethsaida, if all the power that was done in you had been done in Tire and Sidon, they would have repented already in sackcloth and sitting in ashes.
Matthew 11:22 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tire and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
Matthew 11:23 Will you be exalted to heaven, Capernaum? You will be brought down to hell. If all the mighty works that were done in you had been done in Sodom, the city would still exist to this day.
Matthew 11:24 I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.
They were very quick to forsake grace.
Even though they received many blessings, they were the ones who cried out to be crucified in three years.
Have you not forsaken the grace that God has given you?
The grace of salvation, the grace of health, the grace of material things, the grace of helping. . .
If we forsake the grace that God has given us in Jesus, there is no way to escape judgment.
2 Corinthians 6:1 As co-workers with God, we exhort you not to receive God's grace in vain.
2 Corinthians 6:2 He said, "I heard you in your favor, and I helped you in the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
closing words
God knows everything. Don't worry. Only believe in Jesus. In Jesus, all problems are solved. And please take an interest in the kingdom of God. Please forgive and build up with the love of Jesus. Let's live a good life of faith so that we can continue to live in God's grace.