Equal with the Father and Gentle and Lowly | Matthew 11:25-30

INTRODUCTION:

Context: “At that time” (v 25a)

1. John the Baptist doubting (v 1-15)
2. Crowds rejecting both John & Jesus (v 16-19)
3. Entire cities of Galilee rejecting Jesus (v 20-24)

Jesus could be tempted toward discouragement, but instead He praises and thanks God.

1. One pastor writes, “And in this moment when the Lord Jesus could have been profoundly discouraged. Here is the first great effort to spread the gospel to the surrounding countryside and many, many, many people had rejected that message, had rejected His miracles. He could have been very downcast. I want you to see that in that context, the Lord Jesus lifts up a prayer of thanksgiving to His heavenly Father…and in that prayer He contemplates God’s sovereignty. He contemplates God’s wisdom. And He contemplates the fact that God has caused some to respond to the gospel.”
2. When you are facing circumstances that tempt you toward discouragement or sinful anger…
   1. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Deliberately choose to thank and praise God for His goodness, even in unpleasant circumstances.

I. Jesus thanks the Father for concealing and revealing (v 25-26)

1. Jesus teaches in this brief section:
   1. Human accountability: Jesus denounces the cities for rejecting Him (v 20-24).
   2. Divine sovereignty: Jesus says that God hid these truths from some (v 25) and that only those He chooses will know God (v 27b).
   3. Universal offer: Then Jesus invites all to come to Him (v 28).
2. APPLICATION: SO BE HUMBLE
   1. H.B. Charles, “Jesus thanks God for the mystery of salvation where those who you think will get it, don’t; and those who are least likely to get it, do.”
   2. Isaiah 57:15; Isaiah 66:1-2; 1 Peter 5:5.

II. Jesus claims to be equal with and the only revealer of the Father (v 27)

It’s hard to find a higher view of Christ than the one Jesus gives us here.

1. The Father has given all things to Jesus.
2. Only Jesus knows the Father truly and comprehensively.
3. Jesus is sovereign over knowing the Father.
4. Jesus is the only one in the universe who can reveal the Father to us.
   
   1. See John 14:6; John 3:35; John 5:21; John 17:1-2

III. Jesus invites us to find rest in Himself (v 28-30)

1. "It is the only place in Scripture where the 'heart' of Christ is actually named." (J.C. Ryle)
2. Compare Matthew 23:4 with 1 John 5:3-4 & Genesis 29:20.
   1. Spurgeon, “Eastern monarchs affected great seclusion, and were wont to surround themselves with impassable barriers of state. It was very difficult for even their most loyal subjects to approach them. You remember the case of Esther, who, though the monarch was her husband, yet went with her life in her hand when she ventured to present herself before the king Ahasuerus, for there was a commandment that none should come unto the king except they were called, at peril of their lives. It is not so with the King of kings. His court is far more splendid; his person is far more worshipful; but you may draw near to him at all times without hindrance. He has set no men-at-arms around his palace gate. The door of his house of mercy is set wide open. . . . Though he is greater than the greatest, and higher than the highest, he has been pleased to put out of the way everything which might keep the sinner from entering into his halls of gracious entertainment. From his lips we hear no threatenings against intrusion, but hundreds of invitations to the nearest and dearest intimacy. Jesus is to be approached, not now and then, but at all times, and not by some favoured few, but by all in whose hearts his Holy Spirit has enkindled the desire to enter into his secret presence.”

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