Matthew 11, 25. At that time, Jesus answered. I've entitled this message, The
Answer. The Answer. Whatever nagging, doubtful question
you may have, here is the answer. And Jesus answered. I'm so thankful for His answer.
He is not under obligation to answer us. It's not like we have
an answer coming to us by way of entitlement. Sometimes he
remained silent. Do you remember when the Syrophoenician
woman came to him and the scripture says he answered her, not a word? Aren't you thankful that he does
answer? That he does speak. And Jesus
answered. Well, who is he giving this answer
to? You know, this word answer is sometimes translated defense. Who is he giving this answer
or this defense to? In Matthew chapter 11, I read
of four different groups of people. First, there is the doubting
disciple. Now, when John had heard in the
prison the works of Christ, Matthew 11, 2, he sent two of his disciples
and said unto him, Art thou he that should come? Or do we look
for another? Now, John is the one who baptized
the Lord. He saw the Spirit descend in
bodily presence like a dove upon him. He knew he was the Christ,
and yet he is wondering at this time. Now you say, how could
he do that? Same way you could. Same way
you could. John's a man. John's the greatest
man born of women, but he's a man. He's a doubting disciple. At
the second group he speaks to, would be what I would call the
curious. The curious. Verse 7, And as they departed,
Jesus began to say unto the multitude concerning John, What went ye
out to see into the wilderness? A reed, shaken with the wind,
who can be moved by public opinion. But what went ye out for to see?
A man clothed in soft raiment? Sumptuously clothed, behold,
they that wear soft clothing are in king's houses. But what
will ye have to see? A prophet. Yea, I say unto you,
more than a prophet, for this is he of whom it is written,
Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare
thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, among
them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater
than John the Baptist. Notwithstanding, he that is least
in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he who's least in the kingdom
of heaven. Christ. He became least. We were just reading or hearing
in that song of the shame that he experienced, he became least
and he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. But these
people were curious. They didn't know what they were
going to see when they went out to listen to John. And then he
was speaking to some critics. Some critics. Verse. Sixteen, but where into shall
I like in this generation, it's like into children sitting in
the markets and calling them to the fellows saying we've piped
into you and you've not danced. We've mourned into you and you've
not lamented. For John came neither eating
nor drinking, he came as a Nazarite and they say he has a devil,
he's demon possessed. The Son of Man came eating and
drinking, and they say, Behold, a man gluttonous, and a wine-gripper,
a friend of publicans and sinners." They were critics. They criticized
John the Baptist. They criticized the Lord Jesus
Christ. They were critics. And then he spake to a group
of people who did not repent. Look in verse 20. Then began
he to upbrave the cities wherein most of his mighty works were
done, because they repented not. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe
unto thee, best Saadiah! For if the mighty works which
were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would
have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you,
it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of
judgment than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which are
exalted unto heaven shall be brought down to hell. For if
the mighty works which had been done in thee had been done in
Sodom, and you know what was taking place in Sodom, it would
have remained unto this day. But I say unto you that it shall
be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, that place that God
destroyed because of their perversion, it will be more tolerable for
the land of Sodom in the day of judgment. Now that is who he is answering. He's answering a doubting disciple.
He's answering a curious crowd. He's answering a bunch of critics. And he's answering those who
repented not. And interestingly, he gives them
all the same answer. Same answer to every one of them.
And here's his answer. At that time, Jesus answered. He answered the doubts of His
disciples. He answered all opposition, rejection, and unbelief. He answered all mockers, scoffers,
and doubters with this. Now, here's His answer. Oh Father, Lord of Heaven and
Earth. His answer? Thanksgiving to the
Sovereign God. The Lord of Heaven and Earth. That's the answer. He's the Lord. He's the Lord of Heaven and Earth.
He's the Lord of creation. He spake the world into existence.
He's the Lord of Providence. He is the first cause and in
control of every event that takes place in time. And he's the Lord
of salvation. You are in his hands. I am in his hands. Whether or
not me or you will be saved, it's not really up to you. It's
up to him. He's the Lord. I thank thee. Father, Lord of
Heaven and Earth. And what did he thank them for?
What did he thank the Lord for? His Father. Listen to the words. Here's Jesus' answer. He said,
I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, because
thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and has
revealed them unto babes. I thank Thee, O Father, because
You have hid these things from the wise and prudent. Who are
the wise and prudent? They who believe themselves to
be wise enough and prudent enough to set in judgment on God and
decide whether or not they agree with what He does or whether
they disagree. You know, it is an awful thing to judge. It really
is. For me to judge you, I don't
know the facts. I don't know what you're going
through. And I don't even know how I would react myself. As
a matter of fact, I'd probably do worse than you. And it's so
wrong. It's so contrary to grace. It's
so contrary to love to sit in judgment on your brother or sister
in Christ. Romans 14, 5 says, let us not judge one another
anymore. May God give us grace never to
do that. But to set in judgment on God,
to hear what he's done and say, that's not fair. I don't agree
with that. That's not the way I would do things. For a creature
of the dust, a sinful, selfish, wicked creature to set in judgment
on the God of glory, that's unconscionable. The wise and prudent, those who
deem themselves to be wise and prudent. Well, the Lord thanks
His Father that He has hid these things. He's concealed them so
that they can't see them. And you know what all the Lord
has to do to hide something from me or you? All He has to do is
just let us alone. That's it. He doesn't have to
cover anything up. All He has to do is leave us
to ourselves, and it is hidden. You've hid these things. What
things? The things of salvation. Look back in verse 4. This is Jesus' answer to his
doubting disciple. Matthew 11, 4. Go and show John
again those things which you do here, and see the blind receive
their sight, the lame walk The lepers are cleansed, the deaf
hear, the dead are raised, and the poor, those who have nothing,
have the gospel preached to them. Now, if God doesn't give you
eyes to see, you won't see the gospel in that. You won't see
your true condition in that. But if God gives you eyes to
see, you see that you're blind unless he gives you sight. You
see that you're lame and cannot walk in his commandment unless
he causes you to. You see that you're a leper and
need to be cleansed. You see that you're deaf and
you can't hear unless God gives you hearing ears. You see you're
dead and you can't give yourself life. You're totally dependent
upon him and you see that you're poor. What a blessing to have
nothing, because then you can hear the gospel to the poor.
The gospel is preached now. All God's got to do is leave
me alone and I won't see any of that. I'll just look at these
things as physical miracles. Impressive enough. But the gospel. The gospel is plain to those
who have ears to hear, but it's hidden from the wise and prudent. Now, look what he says in verse
twenty five. At that time, Jesus answered and said, I thank thee,
O Father, Lord of heaven and earth. Here's the answer, because
thou hast hid these things. from the wise and prudent, and
hast revealed them unto babes." You've revealed your gospel to
babes, to the childlike and the unsophisticated. Salvation doesn't
come by education. Salvation comes by revelation. You've hid these things from
the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes. Now listen up,
you doubters, you critics. Listen up, curious. Listen up,
those who have not repented. God's hid this from you. God's
turned the lights out. He's hid this from you, and He's
revealed this to babes. You see your calling, brethren.
Hath it not many wise men after the flesh? Not many mighty, not
many noble are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things
of the world to confound the things which are wise, and the
weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty,
and the base things of the world hath God chosen, yea, and the
things which are not. bring to nothing the things that
are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. He's revealed
the things of the gospel to babes. Whom do men say that I am? Well,
they say some good things. Some say thou art John the Baptist,
or Elijah, or one of the prophets. They put you in high cotton.
But whom say ye that I am? Peter answered, thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God, Blessed art thou, Simon
Bar-Jonah. Flesh and blood hadn't revealed
this to thee, but my Father, which is in heaven." I thank thee, O Father, Lord
of heaven and earth, because you've hid these things from
the wise and prudent and have revealed them unto babes. And
here's why. Here's why God does this. You
want to know why God does what he does? Here's the answer. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. There's the answer to every question. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. Here is the ultimate reason behind
everything. Even so, Father, for so it seemed
good in thy sight. Why is the gospel hidden from
the wise and prudent and revealed unto babes? Because it seemed
good in God's sight. You satisfied with that? Doesn't
matter where they are. God's satisfied with it. I am
too. If it seems good in his sight,
It's good, isn't it? It's good. Verse 27. Here is the answer. All things
are delivered unto me of my Father. Now, there's the answer. All
things are delivered to me. All power is given to me. In heaven and in earth, I have
all power. All persons are delivered in
my hands. In John 17, 2 and 3, the Lord
said, Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should
give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. All life
is delivered in his hands. John 5, 21 says the Son quickens,
the Son gives life to whom he will. All judgment is given to
him. The Father hath committed all
judgment to the Son. All the elect are given to him.
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that
cometh to me I'll in no wise cast out. Ephesians 1, 10 says
all things in heaven and earth are given to him. All glory is
given to him. In Philippians 2, 9 and 10, God
hath given him a name which is above every name, that if the
name of Jesus Every knee is going to bow in things in heaven, things
in earth, things under the earth, and every tongue is going to
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the
Father. All preeminence is given to Him. All fullness is in Him. All things are delivered to me
of my Father. What it says next in verse 27,
here's the answer. No man knows the son but the
father. The people who do not know me
can't know me. The only one who truly knows
me is the father. I'm just beyond anybody else. No man knows me but the father. The Lord said in John 8, 43,
why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot
hear my word. It's beyond your ability. He
that is of God, heareth God's words. You therefore hear them
not because you are not of God. Nobody knows me but the Father. That's how great I am. And no
man can know the Father But me, the God-man, and that person
that I'm pleased to reveal unto, that's who's going to know the
Father. And his answer continues in verse
28. This is what is known as the
great invitation. And while I'm not going to object
to that, because in some respects it sounds like an invitation,
it's more than that. It's a command. It's a command. And if you fit
the description this command is given to, you are commanded
immediately to do what he says to do. The great command. Here it is. Come unto me All ye that labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. What a promise. Now, who is speaking? Who's making
this promise of giving rest? Now, let me tell you three things
that are necessary. First, he has to be able to do
what he said he'd do. Secondly, he has to be willing
to do what he said he would do. And thirdly, he has to be faithful
to do what he said he would do. Now, those three things are absolutely
necessary. Come unto me. And I'll give you
rest. Now he has the ability to bring
this promise to pass. You see what he had promised?
He was able also to perform. The scripture says he's able.
to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing
He ever liveth to make intercession for them. He's able to keep us
from falling, the Scripture says. He's able to present us hopeless
before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. He's able
to raise our vile bodies that they might be likened unto His
glorious body. He's able. He's able. But not only is he able, bless
God, he is willing. That leper came up to him and
said, Lord, I know your ability. I know your ability. If you will,
you can. I'm not real sure if you're willing,
though. If you will. If you will. You know what he said? I will be Thou claim. He's willing. And he's faithful to always do
what he said he would do. If we confess our sins, he's
faithful. He's faithful and he's just to forgive us of our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Now, that's who's speaking, the
one who's able the one who's willing and the one who's faithful. And the only one who fits that
description is the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, who's he speaking
to? Well, he identifies these people
in no uncertain terms. Come to me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden. You know, there's a lot of people
who labor under a sense of can't take the world anymore. I'm weak. Things haven't gone
my way. I've had a bad life. I've had
a bad hand dealt to me. I can't take my problems, just
problems, problems, problems. They're they're heavy laden and
they're burdened with the cares of this life. They're not happy
people, but they never come to the Lord. A lot of folks like
that, didn't they? They don't come to the Lord.
So when he's talking about being burdened and heavy laden, he's
talking about being burdened by sin. Sin. I'm so conflicted over my sin. I'm so burdened over my sin. My sin is ever before me. A concern for my soul's salvation. Thoughts of death and judgment
and thoughts of where we'll spend eternity. Now, he says to these
people who are weary and heavy laden over sin. That's what he's
talking about. Sin. Now he says to every one
of these people, come to me. Come. Come. You know what that means? That
means don't wait. It means don't wait till you
get better. Don't wait till you know more.
Don't wait till you understand more. Don't wait till you get
your life more straightened out. No, come right now. And if you're waiting, you're
looking to some kind of work. That's just all there is to it.
Come. Right now. Come to me. Leave salvation by works. Leave
that right now. Leave it. Forget it. It won't
get you anywhere. It's only going to get you further
down. Come to me. Come to Christ alone. Nothing more. Nothing less. and nothing else. Come to Christ
alone. He says, come to me and I will
give you rest. Rest is his to give. I will give you rest. This is sure and this is certain. And notice he says, I will give
you rest. Rest is not for sale. It's not
something you can earn. It's something he gives freely. Come to me and I will give you
rest. You personally, you individually.
I will give you rest. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter
four for just a moment. There remain. Therefore, arrest. A keeping
of the Sabbath, a Sabbath of rest. to the people of God. For he that is entered into his
rest, he also has ceased from his own
works, as God did from his. Let us labor, therefore, to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of
unbelief." Now, this burden This heavy, laden burden under sin. I want rest from that burden,
don't you? I want rest. And it's His to
give. It's not something I can earn.
It's His to give. Now, what is this rest all about? Well, turn to Genesis chapter
1. Verse 31. And God saw everything that he
had made and behold, it was very good. And the evening in the
morning with the sixth day, thus the heavens and the earth were. What's the next word? Finished. Finished, there's nothing left
to do. And on the seventh day, God ended
his work, which he had made, and he rested on the seventh
day from all his work, which he had made. And God blessed
the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it he had
rested from all of his work, which God had created made. You
see, God finished the work. He looked at what he did, and
behold, it was very good. There wasn't anything else to
do. He stopped. When Christ said, It is Finished! What's there left for me to do? Rest. Rest in the Lord. Now, there's rest from the fear
of sin, because it's been put away. It's gone. There's rest in trials because
we're promised that all things work together for good. To them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. There's rest from the fear of
death because the reason for fear has been taken away. Sin.
Now we can say to live as Christ and to die is gain. There's rest
from the fear of judgment. Because there is therefore now
no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. There is
rest throughout all eternity because they that have believed
do enter into his rest. Let's go back to Matthew 11.
Here's the answer. Here's the answer. Verse 29,
take my yoke upon you and learn of me. A yoke is a coupling yoked to
Christ. He said, learn of me. And I think
this next statement is is one of the most incredible. Well, it's worthy of the Lord.
When this is the only time he ever described his own heart.
Isn't that interesting? This is the only time he ever
describes his own heart. And he says, I'm meek and I'm
lowly in heart. You know, if I'm going to be
yoked to somebody and yoke with them, that's the type of person I want
to be with. How about you? Meek and lowly in heart. He says, you'll find rest to
your souls in being yoked to me. And here's why, for my yoke
is easy. And that word easy is also translated
gracious and kind and good. It's a good thing to be yoked
to Christ, isn't it? You see, because salvation is
all of grace, this yoke is easy. If he does it all, it's easy. And he says, my burden. Now there is a burden that we
bear. We take up our cross daily and
follow him. It's a burden, but it's a light
burden. The glory of the cross I want you to think just for
a second about what the God of glory has been pleased to reveal
to you. He's been pleased to reveal to
you that which is most precious to himself, the cross of his
blessed son. You've been made to see the glory
of the cross. That ain't no heavy burden, is
it? That's a light burden. And when you see the glory of
the cross, you say I liked affliction. Which is, but for a moment, work
it for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory while
we look not at things which are seen, but things that are not
seen. For the things that are seen,
they're temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal. Now, aren't you thankful for
this answer? This answers everything. Verse 25, At that time Jesus
answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and
prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes Even so, Father, for
so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto
me of my Father, and no man knows the Son, but the Father. Neither
knoweth any man the Father, save the Son. And he to whomsoever
the Son will reveal Him, come unto me." all ye that labour,
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me. For I am meek and lowly in heart,
and you shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy,
and my burden is light. Let's pray.