Matthew 11:16-24
¹⁶”But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, ¹⁷and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
¹⁸For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’
¹⁹The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
The Unrepenting Cities
²⁰Then 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. ²²Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.
²³And 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. ²⁴Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
Devotional
It’s sad when people stop responding to each other’s words!
The LORD has given us the language to share our innermost thoughts, feelings and ideals with each other. But if the relationship is broken, sometimes people stop listening to each other, which can have bad consequences.
That comes out poignantly with the child’s play.
Some children try in every possible way to get other children to participate, but they are not interested. They don’t go for it, they make fun of their friends!
This is just a simple example.
But if this happens on a large scale, and in an area where the matters are most serious, and not only the happiness and coexistence of people, but also their highest welfare and their very existence are at stake, to eternal salvation, or to be lost forever, the consequences are incalculable! Because you only live here and now!
How bad it is if people leave the Bible closed and ignore what the LORD says!
He revealed himself primarily in Jesus, his Son, but many ignore this (cf. Zechariah 1:4; John 1:10,11).
Preachers do all they can to interpret and explain the Gospel into these modern times, but the churches are emptying. It seems as if many people have lost the awareness that in Jesus, it is about the word, the speaking of God Most High (John 1:1,14).
You can’t just ignore his call.
It’s about life or death, all or nothing (Romans 6:23)!
Not listening is equivalent to mental and spiritual suicide.
It is also foolish.
For the righteousness of God’s wisdom in John the Baptist and Jesus was very evident in the works they did.
Those who do not want to let go of their own images of Jesus or thoughts about Him will have to lose out. In the final judgment one will not be able to appeal to ignorance or spiritual blindness (cf. Ezekiel 2:5).
God judges righteously.
Jesus did many miracles in Israel, but many did not want to see God’s work in them; they would not repent (cf. Matthew 23:37).
That deserves the most severe punishment (Matthew 11:20-24).
Question
- Is lukewarmness excusable? (Compare Revelation 3:14-22.)
Prayer Suggestion
- Thank God for what you read in 1 Thessalonians 2:12.
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