Hated Without A Cause | Matthew 17:14-23

Scripture

• Matthew 17:14–23

About this sermon

Introduction: Sin is outrageous. It is enormous — it is no small thing. Its penalty testifies to its enormity. The penalty is death. Its retribution is everlasting wrath. It is always outrageous in two directions. Our sins are outrageous because they are against the authority of an almighty and holy King. Our sins are outrageous because they are in the face of the mercy and love, and kindness, of an astoundingly patient King. Our sins represent dishonor, and they represent disregard. We sin against the law of God, and we sin against the love of God. We are unholy and we are unthankful. Those truths are highlighted in our text. Five things are unmistakably on display in our verses. As Jesus continues His march toward Jerusalem we continue to see: Persistent mercy. Persistent unbelief and perversion. Persistent warning. Persistent promise. Persistent preparation. WHAT IT ALL UNDERSCORES IS THAT CHRIST’S MISSION IS A GRACIOUS MISSION, which represents HOPE for mankind, but also represents RESPONSIBILITY for mankind. JESUS IS HATED. HE WILL BE KILLED. THAT is the plan and purpose of God. It will accomplish what God has decreed. It is voluntary on the part of Jesus. BUT IT IS INEXCUSABLE at the same time. IT IS INEXCUSABLE from the perspective of what men do with God’s Son. THE HATRED JESUS RECEIVES IS WITHOUT A CAUSE. YET HE WILL CONQUER THROUGH IT. WHERE SIN ABOUNDED GRACE SUPERABOUNDED. WHAT MEN MEANT FOR EVIL, GOD MEANT FOR GOOD. We see these truths on display in multiple ways through 5 movements in the narrative. • A SEVERE PROBLEM (vs.14-16) It has been observed by more than one student of the Bible that there is something striking about the order of these events. From the mountain top with a glimpse of Christ’s kingdom glory, to the bottom of the mountain and the pain of man’s current state. From the realm of heaven’s sweetness to the realm of Satan’s torments. From a disciple’s sense of wonder in a realm where one could desire to remain forever, to a father’s sense of desperation in a realm that we could wish was already past. As Jesus came down from the mountain with His disciples, and met the crowds that had gathered, he meets with a commotion. Mark tells us this. The disciples who had remained behind were in a dispute with scribes. ESV Mark 9:14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 16 And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" Well, while the specific form the arguing took on is not disclosed, at least some element of it involved a need that is brought to Jesus. A man from that crowd comes to Jesus, falls on his knees and pleads for his son. • THE MAN ADDRESSES JESUS WITH RESPECT (LORD) • THE MAN ASKS FOR HELP ON THE BASIS OF MERCY • THE MAN IS BURDENED BECAUSE HIS SON IS TORMENTED • HIS SON HAS SEIZURES σεληνιάζομαι: to suffer epileptic seizures (associated in ancient times with the supernatural power of the moon) This son is the man’s ONLY CHILD. ESV Luke 9:38 And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. • HIS SON SUFFERS TERRIBLY (OFTEN FALLING INTO FIRE AND WATER) ESV Mark 9:18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." The boy could not speak and could not hear. ESV Mark 9:25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again." • HIS SON HAS SUFFERED THROUGHOUT LIFE ESV Mark 9:21 And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. • HIS SON IS DEMONIZED The father already knows that this problem has a spiritual source. ESV Mark 9:17 And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. • THE MAN SOUGHT HELP FROM THE LORD’S DISCIPLES — BUT THE SON WAS NOT HELPED (vs.16) • A STRANGE REBUKE (vs.17) This is an amazing insight into a holy moment of frustration in the heart of Christ. There are two things that we hear in His frustration. • THE NATURE OF WHAT GRIEVED HIM He is grieved by UNBELIEF. And He is grieved by PERVERSION – To depart from correct behavior. To depart from the correct path. They have a faith problem, therefore a fidelity problem. THEY DO NOT BELIEVE AS THEY SHOULD, THEREFORE THEY DO NOT BEHAVE AS THEY SHOULD. And what grieves our Lord characterizes THE ENTIRE GENERATION. And what characterized that generation, characterizes EVERY generation from the fall of Adam until now. ONE GENERATION MIGHT DIFFER FROM ANOTHER BY MEASURE OF DEGREES, BUT ALL GENERATIONS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THESE SAME TWO PROBLEMS. • THE OCCASION FOR WHAT GRIEVED HIM