Matthew 11:1-15 – Jesus’ Response to Doubt
Pastor Matt Pierson
Matthew
The King and His Kingdom
Matthew 11:1-15
Jesus’ Response to Doubt
“The word of God in the ancient scriptures and the works of God displayed in the miracles of Jesus do indeed point Him out as the king who has come to bring in the kingdom.” – Michael Green, The Bible Speaks Today
“…Faith is anything but natural or straightforward. Our is not a simple or an easy reflex to trust in Jesus when life is horrible, and sometimes even when life is wonderful.” – Lewis Allen, The Preacher’s Catechism
- Isaiah 35:5-6, 61:1-2
- Luke 4:17-21
- Malachi 3:1, 4:5-6
Matthew 11:1-15
Jesus’ Response to Doubt
- Faith and doubt are companions, not adversaries.
- Deserving judgment, we are surprised by grace.
- Believers – adventure awaits!
“Christ never failed to distinguish between doubt and unbelief. Doubt is can’t believe. Unbelief is won’t believe. Doubt is honesty. Unbelief is obstinacy. Doubt is looking for light. Unbelief is content with darkness.” – Henry Drummond
“Whether your faith is that there is a God or that there is not a God, if you don’t have any doubts you are either kidding yourself or asleep. Doubts are the ants in the pants of faith. They keep it awake and moving.” – Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking
“God’s capacity to forgive is greater than our capacity to sin; while our sin reaches far, God’s grace reaches farther. It’s a message revealing the radical contrast between the sinful heart of mankind and the gracious heart of mankind’s creator.” – Tullian Tchividjian, Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels
“Grace is the very opposite of merit… Grace is not only undeserved favor, but it is favor shown to the one who has deserved the very opposite.” – Harry Ironside
“To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.” – G.K. Chesterton
“God calls us to a wild adventure, not a tea party, my dear. I don’t follow Jesus because He can give me a life without pain. I follow Him because He is good. Someday I will follow Him right through death, and into our heavenly Father’s house.” – Martha Finley, Millie’s Unsettled Season
“The confidence proper to a Christian is not the confidence of one who claims possession of demonstrable and indubitable knowledge. It is the confidence of one who has heard and answered the call that comes from God through whom and for whom all things were made: ‘follow Me.’” – Lesslie Newbigin, Proper Confidence