The Greatest (Matthew 11:7-15)
Moving Through Matthew • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Right now in Japan they are holding the Olympics. Every four years, countries and nations from all over the world come together for 2 weeks to compete against each other.
This year athletes from 206 countries are competing. And from those countries there are over 11 thousand athletes competing in 46 different sports.
Football, basketball, running, swimming, shooting a gun, lifting weights, and many more sports that you might have never even heard of.
-Nigeria: 60 different athletes from Nigeria are there competing in 11 different sports.
In 1996 the Nigerian football team was the best in the world.
These people from Nigeria and every county and athlete there are hoping be be the best…to be recognized as ‘the greatest.’
We are moving through Matthew and we have come to this subject of ‘the greatest,” and what are the characteristics of greatness.
Cornerstone Church Creed
Cornerstone Church Creed
The Bible is the Word of God.
The truth of the Bible will change my life.
Lord open my heart and awaken my mind and give me grace to respond.
Change me for your glory and my joy. Amen.
Matthew 11. Are you there? Say “hey, hey.”
////////// (Read Matthew 11:7-15)
Just like last week as we moved from Chapter 10 to 11, the events of verse 7 happen right after verse 6 in real time.
Verse 6 ended with Jesus telling John’s disciples to go and report what they had seen and heard. It seemed that John had fallen into doubt and was asking whether Jesus was the Messiah that he proclaimed in the wilderness.
So as Jesus send them away back to John to give a report, verse 6 picks up with Jesus lookin around at the crowd, and he senses that they are wondering about John the Baptist. Is he really a prophet? And Jesus sates that there is no doubt. He is.
Look at verse 11:
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
If you are looking at this verse in the KJV, it says ”Verily I say unto you”. Verily means ‘it’s true.’ So he says, listen I am telling you the truth…among everyone who is born among women, John the Baptist is the greatest.
But wait, wasn’t Jesus born among woman, yes, but we know that while he is with flesh, he is God as well.
So this phrase...”born of women” in Jewish culture meant that they were human. Let me show you a couple of verses from the oldest book in the Old Testament:
1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.
14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?
So going back to the oldest book of the Bible, this phase “born of woman” it shows us that this person is human. Living few days, full of trouble, sinful.
But of all humankind up until that time, Jesus said, “there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist.” He was greater than Adam, Abraham, Noah, David… Jesus said he was the greatest.
He uses the word “arisen” or “rise.” This greek word points to “originate” or “come into being”
So Jesus tells all those people who are around, that even with that small doubt, John is the greatest human being up to that point.
What defines greatness?
What defines greatness?
Let’s look at the words of Jesus as he speaks to the crowd about their expectations of John the Baptist.
So going back to verse 7, John’s disciples left on their way back to see the Baptist.
******By the way, do you think John the Baptist was his given name at birth? Did Elizabeth and Zechariah name him John the Baptist? No. Luke records that at his birth he was simply named John. The name “John the Baptist” was what people called him because of what he was doing: baptizing people for the forgiveness of sins.*****
Ok, back to our text. John the Baptist, Jesus calls him the greatest among men. Why?
His Character
1. His Character
the Baptist was able to overcome his weakness (Matt 11:3)
Down deep in a pit, John probably knew that the end of his life was close, and as he doubted (like we talked about last week), we see that he was able to rise above that because of the report he recieved from Jesus. John dealt with his weakness and overcame it.
His Character
the Baptist was able to overcome his weakness (Matt 11:3)
the Baptist was strong in his convictions (Matt 11:7)
Matthew 11:7 (ESV)
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
The reed is a plant that would grow tall along the water.
Do you remember back in when Moses was a baby, he was put in a basket
3 When she could hide him no longer, she took for him a basket made of bulrushes and daubed it with bitumen and pitch. She put the child in it and placed it among the reeds by the river bank.
Jesus looks to the crowd and ask them, what did you go out to see. Why did you travel from Jerusalem out into the wilderness, all that way to go see? Where you going to see a man that was like a reed blowing in the wind? A weak man who didn’t have confidence in what he believed or what he was doing?
As Jesus speaks here and mentions the reed blowing in the wind, this symbolizes a man who is shaken in his belief. He is blowing about, not certain of what he truly believes. He has no conviction. No heart for what he believes. This kind of man will tell people what they want to hear. This kind of man does not have courage in his belief, he does not have conviction.
And Jesus asks, is this why you went out there to see John. To see a man with no conviction?
There were plenty people around like that. They didn’t have to travel out to the wilderness to see a man who had no conviction.
The Bible points to sticking to our convictions when Paul writes in Ephesians 4:14...
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
John knew what he believed. He was certain of it. And when the religious leaders came out to see him, He called out there sin.
Matthew 3:7 (ESV)
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
In other words, you snakes, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come. John spoke with conviction, with boldness. The greatest knew what he believed and stuck to his convictions.
His Character
the Baptist was able to overcome his weakness
the Baptist was strong in his convictions (Matt 11:7)
the Baptist’ life showed self denial (Matt. 11:8)
8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
In this day just like today. The people with the most money have the best clothes. The clothes that are of good quality and cost very much. As Jesus continues to get to the heart of those who are listening, he then ask, ‘Did you expect to see someone out there where the finest clothes, like those of a King or living in the kings house. But that wasn’t John was it?
John clothes were very simple. Lets go back to Matthew 3:
Matthew 3:4 (ESV)
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
Now, I have never worn camel hair, but I’m sure it is very scratchy. Camel’s hair was not worn by the King or his people. Camel’s hair was worn by the poor. The lowly. How is it that the greatest man would wear the clothes of the lowly? Because John the Baptist knew that his life wasn't all about him, so he lived a life of self denial. Self denial showed his character.
The most important thing to John the Baptist wasn’t his clothes, wasn’t the things he would eat… the most important thing to John was living a life that completely pointed to the coming Messiah. And that is what living with character means.
Who you are, who you are going to be, and how you will be remembered will be because of your character. If you say you believe this, but you do that…it doesn’t line up with your character. John was human, just like you and me, doubt entered his mind… but the greatest among mean was able to fight through that doubt and deal with his weakness and come our strong on the other side.
What about you. Does your character line up with who you claim you are? Does your character line up with someone who would call themselves a follower of Christ? John wasn’t perfect, but the reason Jesus could call him the greatest born to woman was because of his character.
So he was called the greatest born of women by Jesus, first because of His Character: overcoming his weaknesses, staying with his convictions, living a life of self denial....His Character, but also because of His Calling.
2. His Calling ( Matt. 11:9)
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
John was a prophet. No doubt. The Old Testament Prophet Amos told of how God would reveal the coming of the Messiah.
Amos 3:7 (ESV)
7 “For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
“His secret” we know now, was the coming of the Messiah, and he would reveal his coming by the prophets.
The role of prophet was laid on Johns life even before he was born.
Luke writes how this was proclaimed to John’s Father, Zechariah. Zechariah was a priest one one day he was in the temple...
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
John the Baptist had a calling on his life. The Lord create him for a specific purpose… he was going to be a prophet. But not only was he born to be a prophet, someone else, 700 years before prophesied about him. And Jesus points back to the words of Isaiah in verse 10:
10 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
Now think about this: Isaiah, the prophet, prophesied about John the Baptist, another prophet, who would prophesy about the Messiah.
This is why Jesus called him the greatest up until that time. And think about all the great men from Genesis 1 up to Matthew 11. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Issac, Joshua, Jeremiah, Daniel, Isaiah, and many more. Jesus put John the Baptist beside all of them and says he is the greatest. Why? Because he was prophesied about, he was a prophet, and as Jesus said about Isaiah’s prophesy that he would be sent before “Jesus’ face,” in other words he would see Jesus. The other prophets could not claim that. Isaiah could never say that this Messiah he prophesied about so many times in his writings that he ever saw him face to face, but John the Baptist could say that.
John was the last prophet to point to Jesus, why? Because when HE pointed to Jesus, he said....HE IS HERE!
Look at what the Apostle John writes about John the Baptist first look at the Messiah:
John 1:29–34 (ESV)
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
John the Baptist was great because of his calling. He understood the calling on his life, and he did not move from it.
Everyone of us have a calling on our lives. God has placed that calling for HIS purpose. You may be a barrister one day, you may be a carpenter, a tailor, a banker, a politician, or maybe a pastor or missionary.... God has a calling on your life. And as a follower of Christ we need to seek that calling, understand it, and step into that calling.
And whatever happens, whatever situation that we find ourselves in, the greatest is one that moves into God’s calling on their lives and stays there.
3. His Impact (Matt 11:12)
Look at the impact John made in verse 12:
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
Jesus is saying that ever since John arrived we have had problems. Not bad problems, good problems! ‘The Kingdom of Heaven’ is God’s rule, God’s dimension, God’s purposes, and ever since John showed up the Jewish nation was now brought face to face with the Messiah.
But what does this word “violence” here talk about? Persecution. Ever since John began to preach that he was coming and now he is here, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and even Herod began to bring violence towards the Kingdom, including John and Jesus.
But look at the end of the verse (12) the violent take it by force. The word violent is translated “forceful person” and teh word “force” means to “claim or to snatch.” So this doesn’t mean that someone is trying to steal the Kingdom, this idea of “the violent take it by force” means that people will fight, will suffer, will do all they need to do to obtain the Kingdom of God.
This goes completely against the thought that all you need to do is say a prayer and your are going to heaven. Saying that IS important, it is the realization that you need a Savior and coming to that realization. But living the Christian life is not easy. Was it easy to John? Because of his faith he was thrown into prison and he had a good idea what would become of him. But the impact he made with his life was incredible.
The angel that told his Father of his being born told of this impact:
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,
To become one of the greatest, you have got to make an impact with your life. But it won’t be easy. Jesus even says that it is not easy:
Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
When you choose to live for Jesus, it won’t be easy, but if you do, if your strive, if you commit yourself, you to can make an impact for the gospel.
Look at verse 13, Jesus begins to bring this all together.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John,
Jesus is saying that everything from Genesis to John the Baptist has come to this point…They were all pointing to his coming, and finally, John then points to him and says, ‘this is him!’
14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
Now what does this mean. Is John the Baptist Elijah? Didn’t Elijah leave the earth and go up into heaven? Almost 1000 years before? Why would people think that this was Elijah?
Let me take you to the prophet Malachi. These are some of the last words of the Old Testament. After these words from Malachi, there would be no other prophet until John the Baptist (400 years!)
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
But, the Lord showed that John was not Elijah. Look what the angel told his Father in Luke 1:17
17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
Then in verse 15, Jesus speaks something very bold:
15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
In other words, Jesus is saying is John the Baptist came to prepare the way, then I am the King, and I offer the Kingdom of God. So that puts the responsibility on those people who are hearing and seeing this, they have to make a choice.
But lets look back at verse 11, and we will conclude:
Matthew 11:11 (ESV)
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
So as Jesus sees the thoughts of the crowd who seem to question who John the Baptist is, he tells them he is the greatest born of women. Why
His Character?
His Calling?
His Impact?
But what does he say about us? If John is the greatest, then do we all fall below him in the eyes of God? Some, yes, but Jesus is saying is all the great earthly things that John did, and that we see .... still, one who enters the kingdom and stays faithful is right there as well.
So what about you? Do you want to be seen as great in the eyes of the Lord. It begins with a relationship with his son Jesus, and then a daily life where your Christlike character is displayed, and carry our your calling, and you can look back on your life and see the impact you made for the Kingdom.