Caught In The Middle
Lesson 11

Lesson Eleven

Seeing, Not Blind

Text: Matthew 11:20-24

If the obvious does not fit our view, our agenda, our expectation, or "what we always have known," then the obvious cannot possibly be correct. The obvious must be explained away or discredited. Suddenly, it becomes extremely important for me not to accept the obvious, but I also must prevent you from considering the obvious.

Often people in the church say, "Why did so many people in Jesus' ministry reject his words and acts? Why did so many feel compelled to aggressively oppose someone who did so much good?" They were like so many of today. The obvious did not fit their view, their agenda, their expectation, or what they had known for generations, so the obvious had to be explained away or discredited.

Consider today's text. Jesus reproached cities in which most of his miracles were performed because his miraculous works did not cause the people in those cities to repent (to redirect their lives). Among these cities, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum are named. These cities were just north of the northern section of the Sea of Galilee.

He said to the Jewish populations of Chorazin and Bethsaida that the gentile populations of the cities of Tyre and Sidon would have humbly repented had they seen his miracles. If those gentiles had seen the miracles the Jews of Chorazin and Bethsaida saw, they not only would have repented, but they would have repented in uncomfortable sackcloth and ashes. If those gentile cities had seen Jesus' miracles that Chorazin and Bethsaida saw, those gentiles humbly would have confessed their wickedness and saw their need. Though Tyre and Sidon were often symbols of wickedness in many of the Old Testament prophets, they would have seen and acknowledged the obvious given the same opportunity.

Consider the same point from another direction. Idol worshippers would have been moved by what those who were supposed to be God's people rejected! Those who were supposed to be God's people were blind to the obvious!

The result? It would be more tolerable for the gentile (idolatrous) populations of Tyre and Sidon in the final judgment than it would be for the Jewish populations in Chorazin and Bethsaida. Unthinkable! Why? Were Chorazin and Bethsaida notable sites of great wickedness? Not as far as we know! In fact, there were likely greater acts of obvious wickedness occurring on a continuous basis in Tyre and Sidon than occurred in Chorazin and Bethsaida. However, the Jewish cities neglected opportunity by refusing to admit the obvious. Scary!

Jesus intensified his grief in regard to Capernaum's rejection of his miracles. Evidently, Capernaum had a high opinion of their spirituality. Jesus said would not be exalted to heaven but would be consigned to death (Hades--the world of the dead, not Gehenna--Hell). He then used the symbol of wickedness that still lives today--Sodom. Jesus said that if his miracles performed in Capernaum had occurred in Sodom, Sodom would not have been destroyed. The implication is that the people of Sodom would have repented and redirected their lives. What an indictment! People who for generations composed the symbol of wickedness would have been responsive to the obvious while people who claimed to be God's people rejected the obvious.

The Greek word translated "woe" is not a word that expresses a curse, but a word that expresses grief. In our thoughts, it was not a word of angry frustration that expressed contempt ("you will get what you deserve"), but a word that expressed sorrowful frustration because the unnecessary was happening. It was not an angry, "How dare you ignore me!" but a grieved, "I did not want this to happen to you!" Neither God nor Jesus Christ delight in the condemnation of the wicked. They delight in saving the wicked from their wickedness--the primary function of salvation is rescuing, not condemning. Jesus was not delighted with Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum's reactions and consequences; rather he was saddened.

The American restoration movement began as a unity movement which was very aware of differences but was absolutely committed to oneness in spite of differences. To me, in the beginning of the movement, it was a positive religious thrust into a horribly divided religious world. As the factions within the American restoration movement became increasingly certain that they held the scriptural positions regarding differences, an atmosphere of indifference toward others invaded the movement. "If you want to admit you were wrong and repent, you can be a part of us." Then, "We have every right to question your sincerity if you do come to us."

What began as a conciliatory investigation and discovery into scripture and outreach, in time became an inflexible ultimatum that questioned everyone's sincerity by demanding that people accept "our view of scripture and its teachings." The spirit of the Jewish Christians and gentile Christians' dispute reflected in Romans 14 was not only rejected, but it was hidden.

Some of the most intense anger I have seen occurs when baptized believer opposes baptized believer. In the name of defending the truth, unChristlike attitudes prevail. God's priorities are forgotten and human objectives prevail. The result: those for whom Christ died are destroyed by those who are supposed to belong to Christ.

Unity involves much more than agreement. Consider 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and Galatians 3:23-29. Who would better understand the difficulties of unity than the devout Jew who consented to the murder of Jews believing in Jesus Christ, and later became the Christian apostle to the gentiles? The work of unity is never complete. The task of unity is never simple.

For Thought and Discussion

  1. What often occurs when the obvious does not fit the view of religious people?

  2. What suggestion is made about first century Israelite's rejecting Jesus?

  3. What cities did Jesus reproach? Why did he reproach them?

  4. Discuss what Jesus said to Chorazin and Bethsaida.

  5. In terms that impact us more in today's world, what is the same point presented from another direction?

  6. Discuss the result.

  7. Who would have responded to the miracles Capernaum saw?

  8. Discuss the meaning of "woe."

  9. How did the American restoration movement begin?

  10. What happened as time passed?

  11. Unity involves more than what?


Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 11

Copyright © 2007, 2008
David Chadwell & West-Ark Church of Christ

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