CONFRONTING DOUBTS
Matthew 11:1–6; 16–24
Uncertainty (1–6)
As we come to Matthew 11, Jesus has presented His claims. He has sent out His disciples to present those claims in the highways and byways to all of Israel. And now He is going out personally to further state His claim. There is one word that describes the response of the people, and that word is “rejection.”
When John the Baptist, who was imprisoned in Matthew 4, hears news of Jesus, he sends two of his disciples to question Him by asking, “Are you the One who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” You see, John the Baptist is imprisoned, and he has his doubts. Why would the Messiah still be moving in relative obscurity? Why hasn’t He claimed the throne?
It’s good for us to understand that doubts are not sin. Each of us has probably gone through seasons when we question, “God, what are you doing?” Jesus’ response is prophetic, as He quotes from Isaiah 35:5–6. “He will save you. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy.” Jesus tells John’s disciples to look at the fulfillment of that prophecy. He tells them to relate all of the miracles that have been performed. If anything, this passage gives us permission to confess our doubts. God can handle your doubts. Bring them to Jesus.
Cynicism (16–19)
The people of Jesus’ day rejected the ministry of John the Baptist because, they said, he “came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’” But now they’re rejecting Jesus because He came eating and drinking. There is no acceptance, only rejection.
And so Jesus’ ultimate response is to reject them. Even today, if Jesus doesn’t meet our preconceived expectations, many will reject Him. Looking back, have there been times when God moved in a way that contradicted your expectations of Him?
Denial (20–24)
In response to the rejection Jesus received, He declared woe against Chorazin and Bethsaida because those cities were located near His headquarters in Capernaum, where so many miracles were performed. Jesus said that if the pagan cities of Tyre and Sidon had witnessed His miracles, they would have repented long ago.
Chorazin and Bethsaida denied the evidence that Jesus presented that validated who He is. There will be more severe judgment on people who have heard the message of the gospel again and again and still reject the Savior. “Light creates responsibility,” writes J. Vernon McGee in his commentary. When you know and you’ve seen and you’ve witnessed and experienced the work of God in your life, you will be held to account for that.
But Jesus came at that time not as a conquering King but as a suffering Servant. He didn’t meet their preconceived expectations of Messiah, so they rejected Him.
Even in our day, we have been so blessed to have a Bible in every home, and yet how many people have taken the time to read it? Many embrace Jesus, the good moral teacher, or Jesus, the role model, but they reject Jesus as the Atoning Savior — the only Son of God.
By Don Fugate
Senior pastor of Foxworthy Baptist Church in San Jose, California
