July 17, 2022

Matthew 11:16-30

1. The Peril of Human Presumption (v. 16-24)
2. The Prerogative of Divine Sovereignty (v. 25-27)
3. The Extraordinary Invitation of Jesus (v. 28-30)

“Hubris is not simply arrogance, but presumption born of the illusion of invulnerability. That is why nations at the height of their power and prosperity are especially deaf to warnings.” – Os Guinness, A Free People’s Suicide: Sustainable Freedom and the American Future

“We have rejected the position of dependence which our createdness inevitably involves, and made a bid for independence. Worse still, we have dared to proclaim our self-dependence, our autonomy, which is to claim the position occupied by God alone.” – John Stott, The Cross of Christ

Throughout the Bible we learn there are at least three categories of the revelation of God:

1. The General Revelation of God apparent throughout all creation.
2. The Written Revelation of God available to us through scripture.
3. The Living Revelation of God offered through the life and teachings of the historical person Jesus of Nazareth.

“The revelation of which we speak in the Christian tradition is more than the communication of information; it is the giving of an invitation. It is more than an unfolding of the purpose, which was otherwise hidden in the mind of God but is now made known to us through God’s revealing acts; it is also a summons, a call, an invitation.” – Lesslie Newbigin, Proper Confidence

“Come to Me, all who [labor / are weary and are heavy-laden / burdened], and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and [lowly / humble of heart], and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” – St. Augustine (354-430), Confessions

“What then are we afraid of? Can we have too much of God? Is it a misfortune to be freed from the heavy yoke of the world, and to bear the light burden of Jesus Christ? Do we fear to be too happy, too much delivered from ourselves, from the caprices of our pride, the violence of our passions, and the tyranny of this deceitful world?” – Francois Fénelon

“God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to.” – Elisabeth Elliot

“Whatever is crumbling all around you in your life, wherever you feel stuck, this remains, un-deflectable: His heart for you, the real you, is gentle and lowly. So go to Him. That place in your life where you feel most defeated, He is there; He lives there, right there, and His heart for you, not on the other side of it but in that darkness, is gentle and lowly. Your anguish is His home. Go to Him. ‘If you knew His heart, you would.’” – Dane Ortlund, Gentle and Lowly