BLESSED ARE THOSE NOT OFFENDED IN ME--MATTHEW 11:1-6

BLESSED ARE THOSE NOT OFFENDED IN ME

MATTHEW 11:1-6

Introduction:


There are blessings to be had in Jesus Christ. It is a pity that so many will not accept Him as the Savior of this world. Here we will look at the situation that the Lord faced among His own people, His own nation; a people without faith in their Messiah.


The same situation exists here today. Men will not believe, not that they cannot, but they will not believe in Christ for salvation.

I. ISN’T THIS THE CARPENTER’S SON?

Matthew 13:55-57, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.”


A. They were scandalized [to cause to stumble] by Him, John 6:42, “And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?”


B. A prophet is not accepted in his own country, Mark 6:4, “But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”


C. Jesus could not do a mighty work because of their offence in Him, Mark 6:5-6, “And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

II. WOE UNTO THOSE WHO CAUSE OFFENCES?

Matthew 18:7, “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”


A. The Pharisees of our days, Matthew 23:13, “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”


1. The liberal theologians of our day, Luke 11:52, “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”


2. Those who attempt to hinder the preaching of the Word of God today, Acts 4:17-18, “But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. 18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”


B. Those who lie claiming to know the Lord in order to get gain, 2 Peter 2:3, “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”


1. Cursed children, 2 Peter 2:14, “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:”


2. Those who have forsaken the right way, 2 Peter 2:15, “Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”

III. ISN’T HE A “STONE OF STUMBLING AND FOR A ROCK OF OFFENCE?”

A. To the Jew a stumbling stone, Isaiah 8:14-15, “And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.”


1. From the beginning He was spoken against, Luke 2:34, “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;”


2. God offered Him as a sanctuary, Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”


B. His doctrine was and is TOO STRONG for many, John 6:60-61, “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”

IV. ISN’T IT FOR LACK OF FAITH THAT THEY ARE OFFENDED?

Romans 9:32-33, “Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”


A. Without faith…


1. It is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”


2. You cannot enter into His rest, Hebrews 3:18-19, “And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.”


3. The Word will not profit you, Hebrews 4:2, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”


B. With faith the Word brings salvation, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

CONCLUSION

Is Jesus an offence to you? Are you ashamed to be known as a Christian? Many in the Lord’s day have a great deal of difficulty with what He taught, as do many in our generation today.


However, Jesus continues to offer the only solution to our sin problem. He is still the Savior of this world. For He says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”