Many Reject Christ - Matthews 11-13

Matthew 11:20-24 (ESV Strong's)

Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Many Reject Christ

We live in a performance based society. If you perform you make more money.  That is just a simple observation.   People who don’t perform are marginalized and are often seen lacking leadership, skill, or motivation.  Imagine a preacher who went to into a city to start a church and no one listened.  Supposed the preacher left that city and went to another city and the same thing happened.    Most would say he must not be a good preacher.  They might think his doctrine was askew.   They might even think the man was in the wrong line of work.   Yet, in the above passage we have the words of Jesus in regard to city after city He went to that did not repent and turn to their Messiah.   In today’s economy and philosophy, Jesus would have probably looked like a failed prophet or preacher.   These cities rejected His message.  Even with perfect doctrine, spoken by the Son of God, men rejected truth.    Jesus had twelve disciples.  Not only did one of them actual betray Him, the others ran away from Him at His crucifixion.   Jesus was rejected.  Not because He failed to speak truth;  Not because He neglected to preach truth.  Not because He failed to live the truth out as an example.  Jesus was rejected because the truth presented in a perfect manner with exemplary actions failed to mix with faith.   The prayer we have to have as we present truth is that those who hear it will mix it with faith and believe the truth we present.  As flawed “ministers” for Christ we will have those around us reject the truth.    But, our role is to present it in a way that they understand.  It is God’s role to provide the faith.   Present the truth.   Then pray they have faith.