09.28.08
Explanation of Unbelief
The Curse of the Cities of Galilee (Matt. 11:20-30)
Explanation of Unbelief (Matt. 11:25-27)
Why did the Jews, those folks that had been schooled in the Scriptures from infancy, reject the Messiah? Some say it was because He was not the fulfillment of the prophecies. Others say He could not substantiate His claims. But why not let Jesus speak for Himself. Look over these verses.
The fault was not in Him, but with them.
The view of the Lord was one of a nation that was blind, a nation that was unable to see until that blindness had been removed. The nation’s ‘fathers’ had willfully rejected the revelation which God had given them through the law. They had turned in disobedience from the law and abandoned the worship of the true God to serve idols. They had become blind. And all that was part of the nation’s history!
The story has been told of a waterman who worked day in and day out. One day, his grandchild took his hand and pricked it with a needle. The waterman never moved. This was curious to the child. So he took his grandfather’s hand and, with him looking on, tried again and again to no avail. You see, while this would have certainly affected him in his younger days, the years of toil had taken their toll. The waterman’s hands were calloused. This reminds me of us and our hearts. Our hearts towards sin, how we become enamored by the world and blind to the things of the Lord.
The Pharisees had a high view of themselves – they were wise because they were students of the Scriptures. This put them in a right relationship with God…in their view! These words that Jesus was speaking, they must have been aimed at some other group, certainly not them.
Ah…Jesus, just as much today as when these words were spoken, wishes to reveal the Father to any who accept His word. So, where are you in this area? Are you listening? Or do you think you’re OK and will ‘make it’ based on some other criteria (I go to church, I put money in the plate, my Dad is a deacon or preacher, or some other criteria)? We need to look at Jesus, listen to His words, and accept His offer of Salvation.
