Author: drthomasclothier

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26–27 ESV)

What is meant by the phrase Gender Identity? Gender Identity is an individual’s intrinsic and innate sense of their gender or sex. Gender Identity is chiefly used in contexts where it is contrasted with the sex registered for an individual at birth. It can be a denial of a person’s physiological and biological gender God assigned to them at conception. Advocates for Gender Identity argue that young children should be able to explore their gender identities; without their parent’s knowledge or consent.

Presently, the secular culture identifies four primary Gender Identities. They are Transgender, A-Gender, Gender Non-Binary or Gender Fluid and Gender Binary. Transgender means your gender identity doesn’t match up with the sex you were assigned at birth. A-Gender means you don’t identify with any gender. Gender non-conforming, non-binary, and Gender Fluid means you don’t identify fully as a man or a boy (male, masculine) or a woman or a girl (female, feminine). Gender Binary means that you identify with your birth gender. This subject results in a constant flux of ideas, definitions and categories.

Fundamentally, the issue of Gender Identity is the result of one’s worldview. A worldview is an individual’s perspective on life, living, values and ethical behavior. The two basic worldviews are Theism and Atheism.

The Theistic Worldview acknowledges God’s existence. God created males and females. Consequentially, God has establish what is right and wrong and has given mankind an ultimate purpose. That ultimate purpose is to honor and glorify the Lord. Theism coherently answers the questions of Who am I, Why am I Here, and Where am I Going?

Atheism is diametrically opposed to Theism. Atheism denies God’s existence. Therefore, God did not create human beings. They are a product of evolution and spontaneous generation. Atheism denies any absolute standard of right and wrong and any ultimate purpose to life and living. If an individual seeks purpose and meaning to life, they are to determine it for themselves. Gender Identity, along with so many other aberrant expressions of human sexuality, are attempts by people to find an ultimate purpose and meaning to life.

“When the Son of God took on a human nature, he underlined forever the dignity and value of human embodiment, because he shared it—and still does. He did not leave his human nature behind; he is still fully human and fully God, seated at the right hand of the Father. Additionally, he affirms sexed human embodiment—that is, being female or male. Jesus did not appear in his resurrection as an androgynous being but as he had been in his earthly life: as a male,” explains author Rachel Gilson.

“This helps us understand that God’s creation of us as female and male is part of his good design and meant to be a blessing. Male and female are not temporary patterns or results of humanity’s fall into sin. Jesus’s taking on a sexed body affirms that God’s creation of humanity embodied as male and female was indeed very good (Gen. 1:28, 31). But right now we live between Christ’s first and second comings. The punishment and power of sin have been defeated, but we remain in its presence—and in a broken creation, which does not function as God originally designed it. The day when God will make all things new is still in the future. This has implications for how we experience femaleness and maleness.”

“It is good and right for each of us to work to embrace the sex that God gave to us. For someone born female, discipleship includes living faithfully as a female. For someone born male, discipleship includes living faithfully as a male. For some of us this will be easier, and for others harder. Each of us needs the grace and wisdom of God to do it well,” concludes Gilson.

How has the issue of Gender Identity impacted the culture? How is it impacting the church? That is what we will address next time.

Soli deo Gloria!  

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:26–27 ESV)

Genesis One is God’s revelation of how He created the universe. In six 24-hour days (Genesis 1:1-31), the LORD spoke everything into being in an orderly and comprehensive manner. The Bible says that not only did God create the universe, He also sustains it and upholds it by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:1-3).

⁶”By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. ⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea as a heap; he puts the deeps in storehouses. ⁸ Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! ⁹ For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” (Psalm 33:6–9 (ESV)

The LORD creating everything from nothing extends to the pinnacle of His creativity; the making of male and female human beings. Genesis 1:26-27 emphatically states that God created men and women in His image. Image (Heb. Salme) means to be in God’s likeness. He gave both the male and female the ability to think, feel and to make informed and rational decisions. It is God who assigned then, and now, the physiological gender males and females possess.

The psalmist David acknowledged God’s current work in creating male and females through the process of conception, gestation and birth. “¹³  For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. ¹⁵  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. ¹⁶  Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:13–16 (ESV)

However, since the fall of mankind into sin (Genesis 3:1-7), sinful, human beings still struggle with the sovereignty of God over His creation. This is summarized by Satan’s question (Rev. 12:1-9; 20:1-2) to the woman; “Did God actually say?” (Gen. 3:1).

 “In effect Satan said, “Is it true that he (God) has restricted you from the delights of this place? This is not like one who is truly good and kind. There must be some mistake.” He insinuated doubt as to her understanding of God’s will, appearing as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14) to lead her to the supposed true interpretation. She received him without fear or surprise, but as some credible messenger from heaven with the true understanding, because of his cunning,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

Did God actually say? This question cuts to the heart of mankind’s continual struggle with not only God’s existence, but also His reign and rule over the universe He created (Psalm 2).

Rebelling against God’s rightful authority in human lives continues to the present day. This rebelliousness is displayed by theft, lies, murder, and sexual immorality (Exodus 20:1-17). Mankind refuses to acknowledge God’s existence, to honor Him as Lord of heaven and earth, and to be thankful unto Him for who He is and what He does. Consequentially, man creates idols in place of God (Rom. 1:18-23).

For the next several days, we will suspend our studies from the Gospel of Matthew to biblically examine the issue of gender identity. An explanation of what gender identity is, how it is impacting the current culture, and how believers in Christ, the church, can address it will be studied. Current Christian books and resources will also be recommended for further reading and research.

It is the intent of this all too brief treatment of the subject of gender identity to do so with gentleness and respect (I Peter 3:13-15). However, it is also to be done by biblical truth, spoken and communicated in self-sacrificial obedient love for God and for those created in His mage (Eph. 4:15-16).  

Soli deo Gloria!   

²⁵ At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25–30 (ESV)

Matthew 11 concludes with a prayer by Jesus. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:5-15. We now can observe how, and for what, did Jesus pray?

First, He addressed the Lord of heaven as Father. God’s transcendence and immanence are both in view. Second, Jesus acknowledged God the Father  revealed Himself to those who are His elect. Thirdly, Jesus affirmed that God the Father is sovereign overall. God’s sovereignty involves the following areas.

Fourthly, Jesus prayed for sinners to come to Him to find rest for their souls. Jesus addressed individuals who were burdened down with the reality and guilt of their sins. To achieve a self-salvation or a works based righteousness was a heavy laden labor. Jesus also turned His attention upon the religious leaders of His day condemning them for loading people with heavy burdens and then not helping them carry those burdens (Luke 11:46).

“Jesus referred to the practice of adding commandments to Scripture, making the law a burden. He likely also referred to the Pharisees’ and lawyers’ failure to show mercy to sinners. Instead of drawing near to people crushed by their sin, calling them to repentance and encouraging their obedience, they distanced themselves from those whom they considered unfit and beyond God’s grace. Jesus did the opposite, dining with notorious sinners who recognized their transgressions and sought forgiveness. Without approving of their sin, He came close to help them find release from sin (Luke 5:27–32),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Lastly, Jesus prayed, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

“People’s weariness comes from enduring their burdens, probably the burdens of sin and its consequences. Rather, they should come and yoke themselves with Jesus. By placing themselves under His yoke and learning from Him, they may find rest for their souls from sins’ burdens. By yoking, they become true disciples of Jesus and join Him in His proclamation of divine wisdom. To learn (mathete) from Him is to be His disciple (mathētēs). People can trade their heavy, tiring burdens for His yoke and burden (phortion, “load”), which by contrast are easy and light. To serve Him is no burden, for He, in contrast with those who reject Him, is gentle (praus; cf. 5:5) and humble,” explains commentator Louis A. Barbieri.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁵ At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25–30 (ESV)

Matthew 11 concludes with a prayer by Jesus. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:5-15. We now can observe how, and for what, did Jesus pray?

First, He addressed the Lord of heaven as Father. God’s transcendence and immanence are both in view. Second, Jesus acknowledged God the Father  revealed Himself to those who are His elect. Thirdly, Jesus affirmed that God the Father is sovereign overall. God’s sovereignty involves the following areas.

Fourthly, Jesus prayed for sinners to come to Him to find rest for their souls. Jesus addressed individuals who were burdened down with the reality and guilt of their sins. To achieve a self-salvation or a works based righteousness was a heavy laden labor.

Labor (κοπιάω; kopiao) is a present active participle. It means to continually toil to the point of weariness because of a hard and difficult endeavor. To be heavy laden (φορτίζω; phortizo) is a perfect passive participle. It describes a past completed action with continuing results of carrying a heavy load with no relief. To labor in a works righteousness system of religion is a wearisome labor that offers no relief from the sinner’s guilt and no assurance of salvation. What hope does the sinner have?

Jesus said that those who labor and are burdened down with sin are the ones to come to Him for relief. Jesus taught that all God the Father gives Him will come to Him (John 6:37-39). Jesus also explained that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws him (John 6:44). For sinners to come to Jesus the Father must give them as a gift to the Son.

God the Father’s will to give sinners as a gift to the Son is solely by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. The result is rest (ἀναπαύω; anapauo). This is a future active rest. It is a relief and refreshment from the toil of working for justification. Jesus applied it to the soul who rests in the completed work by Him on the cross on their behalf. Jesus has done the work for the sinner’s salvation. The believing sinner finds rest for their soul in that work of Christ alone.

“There is an echo of the first beatitude (5:3) in this passage. Note that this is an open invitation to all who hear—but phrased in such a way that the only ones who will respond to the invitation are those who are burdened by their own spiritual bankruptcy and the weight of trying to save themselves by keeping the law,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

“The stubbornness of humanity’s sinful rebellion is such that without a sovereignly bestowed spiritual awakening, all sinners refuse to acknowledge the depth of their spiritual poverty. That is why, as Jesus says in v. 27, our salvation is the sovereign work of God. But the truth of divine election in v. 27 is not incompatible with the free offer to all in vv. 28–30.”

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁵ At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25–30 (ESV)

Matthew 11 concludes with a prayer by Jesus. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:5-15. We now can observe how, and for what, did Jesus pray?

First, He addressed the Lord of heaven as Father. God’s transcendence and immanence are both in view. Second, Jesus acknowledged God the Father  revealed Himself to those who are His elect.

Thirdly, Jesus affirmed that God the Father is sovereign overall. God’s sovereignty involves the following areas.

To begin with, God the Father has handed over all things over to Jesus Christ, God the Son. God the Father has handed over (παραδίδωμι; paradidomi), imparted and entrusted all things. This entails the sovereign salvation for those who Christ will die and provide a substitutionary atonement. This includes justification, adoption, redemption and reconciliation (Rom. 3:21-26).

“This is a powerful affirmation of the sovereignty of God over all the affairs of men; and in the verse that follows, Christ claimed that the task of executing the divine will had been committed to him—a claim that would be utterly blasphemous if Jesus were anything less than sovereign God himself,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

Jesus continued this thought when He then prayed that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. This also is an affirmation of the divine sovereignty of God in the salvation of sinners.

“God reveals and conceals according to His good pleasure. God is Creator and Lord of heaven and earth. We do not have the standing to criticize the almighty God,” explains commentator Daniel Doriani.

“We must not imagine that God looks at billions of innocent and hopeful humans and chooses to reveal His truth and redeem some and to conceal His truth from perfectly fine people, so that they ultimately taste His curse. God surveys a race of sinners. God relates to a world of sinners to whom He owes nothing except His judgment. It is no marvel that Jesus hides His truth from some. The marvel is that He reveals it so clearly to win so many.”

As a believer in Christ, rejoice in God’s sovereign salvation of your soul. As an unbeliever, pray that God would enable you to repent of your sins and trust Jesus Christ as the Savior and Lord of your soul. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁵ At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; ²⁶ yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25–30 (ESV)

Matthew 11 concludes with a prayer by Jesus. Jesus taught His disciples how to pray in Matthew 6:5-15. We now can observe how, and for what, did Jesus pray?

First, He addressed the Lord of heaven as Father. We witness a biblical balance that God is not only transcendent but also immanent (Matt. 6:9). The first person of the trinity is not only Lord of heaven and earth, He is also the spiritual Father of all believers in Christ. We should also observe that Jesus was acknowledging the doctrine of the trinity in His prayer.

Second, God has revealed Himself to those who are His elect. It is the Father’s will that the worldly wise and understanding are not wise and understanding in knowing God. Only the Father’s little children know and understand Him because He has sovereignly chosen to reveal Himself to them. This is His sovereign and gracious will.   

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” ²⁰ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:18–21 (ESV)

“God is sovereign in choosing those to whom He will reveal His truth. No one can know God by worldly wisdom and learning (I Cor. 1:26-31),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

²³ Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, ²⁴ but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV)

Today, let us delight that God has sovereignly chosen to reveal Himself to believers in Christ so that we may intimately know Him. Have a blessed day in the Lord as you live for the One, True God of heaven and earth.

Soli deo Gloria!  

²⁰ Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. ²¹ “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. ²² But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. ²³ 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. ²⁴ But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” (Matthew 11:20–24 (ESV)

Jesus fulfilled the role of the of the Old Testament prophet of God in this narrative by Matthew. It parallels Matthew 23:1-36 and Jesus’ denouncement of the scribes and Pharisees.

The Old Testament prophet of God was responsible to herald God’s divine revelation. This occurred in the form of the oracle. An oracle (maśśāʾ,) was information transmitted from God to human beings. They were either answers to important questions or revelations about future events.

There were two types of oracles. First, there was an oracle of blessing. This would be good news from God producing joy and happiness (Psalm 1). Jesus began His Sermon on the Mount with the announcement of divine blessing (Matt. 5:1-12). Second, there was the oracle of woe. This was an announcement of judgment and condemnation (Isaiah 5:1-8; Micah 2:1-3).

In the context of today’s passage, Jesus invoked an oracle of woe against the Jewish cities Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. These were three Galilean towns where Jesus performed most of His miracles. However, the people were unresponsive and did not repent of their sins (Matt. 11:20).

Jesus announced that the cities of Tyre and Sidon, which God judged (Ezek. 26-28), would have repented in sackcloth and ashes had Jesus’ miracles occurred before them. Jesus also said that Sodom (Gen. 19) would have repented of their sins in witnessing the Lord’s mighty works; unlike Capernaum.

“Chorazin! And Bethsaida! were cities very close to Capernaum, near the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee,” explains Dr. John MacArthur. “Tyre and Sidon were Phoenician cities on the shore of the Mediterranean. The prophecy about the destruction of Tyre and Sidon in Ezek. 26–28 was fulfilled in precise detail.”

“Capernaum, chosen by Jesus to be his headquarters, faced an even greater condemnation. Curiously, there is no record that the people of that city ever mocked or ridiculed Jesus, ran him out of town, or threatened his life. Yet the sin of that city—indifference to Christ—was worse than Sodom’s gross wickedness (cf. 10:15),” concludes Dr. MacArthur.

The phrase “more bearable” alludes to  degrees of punishment in hell for the ungodly (See Matt. 10:15; Mark 6:11; Luke 12:47–48; Heb. 10:29 ).

“God is the one truly competent Judge, for He alone knows all things. Second, God is sovereign. He judges people according to the light they have. There are degrees of joy in heaven and degrees of misery in hell (Matt. 12:41; 23:14). Third, there is corporate as well as individual responsibility before God,” explains commentator Michael Doriani.

The religious are often the most hardhearted to the biblical Gospel. We also must not be shy concerning the biblical doctrine of hell and judgment, as some pastors and believers in Christ tend to be. Even the hard sayings in Scripture must be taught.

Soli deo Gloria! 

¹⁶ “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, ¹⁷‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ ¹⁸ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” (Matthew 11:16–19 (ESV)

Tell the people what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. This is because what they need to hear they won’t necessarily want to hear. This is the philosophy for many in church leadership. This is the perspective by many congregations. It is not new. It is what the crowds desired to hear from the false prophets in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11; Ezekiel 13:10, 16) and from false pastor/teachers in the New Testament (2 Tim. 4:1-5).

“To what may we compare …?” was a familiar idiom preceding a rabbinic parable or argument from similarity. Immediately following Jesus’ evaluation and praise of John the Baptist, He condemned the Jewish leaders and the masses for their infantile immaturity of unbelief and obstinacy to the biblical truth of the Gospel.  

Jesus compared the Jewish people to children sitting in the marketplace and playing with their friends. They were spoiled and were always unhappy because they did not have what they presumed they needed, but in reality only wanted. Their desires changed at a moment’s notice.

“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.” Jesus’ joyous ministry was rejected when He did not meet the people’s worldly expectations. John’s ministry of repentance was rejected because he was too condemning of the people’s sin. In other words, the people were never happy.

They accused John of being demon possessed because he did not eat or drink. They accused Jesus of being gluttonous because He did.

“John the Baptist fit the role of an apparently ascetic prophet, like Elijah; Jesus follows a model more like David, but both are proper in their place. The charge that John “has a demon” suggests either that he is a false prophet possessed by an evil spirit, or that he is a sorcerer who manipulates a spirit guide; either charge would warrant the death penalty under Old Testament law (Deut. 13:1–11; 18:9–20). “Glutton and drunkard” was also a capital charge (Deut. 21:20); hence this is a serious accusation,” explains commentator Craig Keener.

No matter what Jesus and John did or taught, the masses rejected them. This is because they did not give people what they selfishly wanted but rather spoke to them about what they truly needed.

The true need for all sinners is justification, redemption and reconciliation by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. No matter who we are and what we do for Christ, may we resolve to always speak the truth of the Gospel to those who need to hear it. Each generation needs to hear God’s good news.  

Soli deo Gloria!

¹² “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:12–15 (ESV)

In today’s text, Jesus Christ was acknowledging the political and societal issues of His day. This particularly had to do with the battle between two kingdoms: the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of heaven.

The kingdoms of darkness and light have been in conflict with each other even prior to Genesis 3 (Isaiah 14:12-21; Ezekiel 28:11-19). Moses’ recorded the events in the Garden of Eden that brought the conflict into the human realm (Genesis 3:1-21; Romans 5:12-21).

The kingdom of darkness uses violence against the kingdom of heaven. Persecution, intimidation, incarceration and eventually execution are the prevailing methods used by opponents of the Gospel (Acts 1-12; 21-28; 2 Cor. 11). This ungodly methodology continues.

At the same time, the first century Zealots were Jewish political insurrectionists. They believed the kingdom of heaven was earthly and political. They sought to eliminate Rome and reestablish an earthly kingdom in Israel by force and violence. They longed for the days of King David and Solomon. They desired an earthly Messiah. Many today desire the same. They resist, often by force, the clear teaching of the Gospel.

“The kingdom (of heaven) was pressing ahead with force although violent men such as Herod were trying to overcome it be force. It is not the strong and forceful who obtain the kingdom but the weak and helpless who depend upon God (Matt. 11:28-30),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Jesus clearly explained that John the Baptist was the Elijah of which Malachi prophesied (Malachi 3:1; 4:5). Gabriel also announced that John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). In referring to the Law and the Prophets, Jesus affirmed the inerrancy and authority of the Old Testament.

“Jesus here endorses John as the promise of Malachi. The people understood Malachi 4:1 to mean the return of Elijah in person. This John denied as to himself (John 1:21). But Jesus affirms that John is the Elijah of promise who has come already (Matt. 17:12). He emphasizes the point: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear,” explains commentator A.T. Robertson.

Jesus Christ evidenced that He was the Messiah; not only by His signs and wonders (John 3:1-2) but also by John’s testimony and ministry (John 1:29-34). More than a prophet, priest, king or moral teacher, Jesus Christ is Lord. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the One, True God.

“He who had ears to hear, let him hear. We know that it is customary with Christ to introduce this sentence, whenever He treats subject which are highly important, and which deserve no ordinary attention. He reminds us why the mysteries of which He speaks are not received by all. It is because many of His hearers are (spiritually) deaf, or at least have their ears closed,” explains John Calvin.

“But now, as every man is hindered not only by his own unbelief, but by the mutual influence which men exercise on each other, Christ here exhorts the elect of God to consider attentively this remarkable secret of God and not to remain deaf with unbelievers.”

They who have ears to hear, let them hear.

Soli deo Gloria!