Let’s Play Wedding…Let’s Play Funeral
Matthew 11:16-19
I. Background/Context
• Jesus as promised Messiah (11:1-19)
• John the Baptist and his question from prison (11:2-3)
• Jesus affirms His identity and the role of John the Baptist (11:4-15)
• John the Baptist and Jesus: both encounter opposition from the religious establishment (11:12)
• John the Baptist and his question from prison (11:2-3)
• Jesus affirms His identity and the role of John the Baptist (11:4-15)
• John the Baptist and Jesus: both encounter opposition from the religious establishment (11:12)
II. Jesus Makes a Comparison (16-17)
• this generation: general and specific identification
• like children and their playmates
• proposal/refusal pattern: joy and mourning
• like children and their playmates
• proposal/refusal pattern: joy and mourning
III. Jesus Makes the Connection (18-19)
• John the Baptist: separation from sin
• Jesus: association with sinners
• personification and vindication of wisdom
• Jesus: association with sinners
• personification and vindication of wisdom
IV. So What?
• Respond to the authority of Jesus by avoiding sin decisively and associating with sinners joyfully.
• Repent and rejoice. Mourn over your sin and magnify God’s grace to the sinner.
• Why you should delight in the designation “friend of sinners:”
• “Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend! Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end.” (Chapman, “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”)
• Repent and rejoice. Mourn over your sin and magnify God’s grace to the sinner.
• Why you should delight in the designation “friend of sinners:”
• “Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend! Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end.” (Chapman, “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”)