Sermon: Greatness According to Jesus Matthew 11:7-19
Truth Taught- God declares John the Baptist to be the greatest human who has ever lived
Introduction
What makes someone great? Where the world is concerned it’s riches, fame or success. A famous singer or athlete may be called great. Some billionaire may be called great, their pictures on TV, the Internet, and magazines. Everyone knows who he or she is and most want to be like them.
Last time we looked at the question from John the Baptist, namely, are You the one who is to come or should we look for another? We looked at how John’s question surfaced because of the prophet’s misconception of what the Messiah would actually do and when He would do it. John doubted mainly because the revelation he had was incomplete. He didn’t see the full picture. Isn’t it great that we possess God’s entire revelation? We know the beginning to the end.
It might be our conclusion that as far as prophets go, John the Baptist doesn’t match up very well against the others. I mean a doubting prophet doesn’t impress much. That might be our assessment and if it were we would be wrong. I want us today to look to Jesus’ assessment of John and in the process we might discover what greatness in God’s eyes looks like.
When it comes to greatness as God defines it, it’s very different than it is for the world. In fact, today we’re going to look at John the Baptist who is from a common humble family, no wealth, no worldly education, no success, no particular physical beauty, no earthly possession or position, and yet our Lord says he’s the greatest human being who ever lived…did you catch that? As far as God is concerned John the Baptist is the greatest human ever to live…ever.
Let’s look together at the snapshot of John the Baptist…
1. The Greatness of John the Baptist
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,
“ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist
What made John great in God’s eyes?
A. John was a man of great conviction
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
John the Baptist was a man of conviction. In God’s eyes this makes someone great. They are willing to take a stand for God’s truth. They will side with God no matter what the threat is. This phrase a reed shaken by the wind is Jesus’ picture of someone who sways with the popular crowd. Whatever group he’s in he will sway to appease them. God has no use for spineless reeds shaken in the wind. God desires all of His people to stand firm in their faith no matter what. John stood firm in the face of opposition.
That was what drew the crowds to make the long journey out into the wilderness to hear John’s message. They were not led out because he was wishy washy or spineless or a cowardly person. They were drawn like a magnet because John had something he knew to be true he believed it and his message represented what he passionately held to be true.
The shaken reed Christian is one who adapts their message to who is listening.
John’s message was a message of truth and truth does not change no matter your situation or whose company you’re in.
Here’s what John preached when the religious lost came to hear him…
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
John didn’t change his message when the religious elite came. In fact he zeroed his sights in on their hypocrisy.
He was a man of conviction and God calls him great.
Do you believe truth to the point that you won’t back down no matter the crowd or the threats? I pray no one here is a reed shaken in the wind.
B. John was a man who didn’t sell out for comfort and wealth
8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
If the crowd went out to the wilderness to see a soft man of comfort they were going to be greatly disappointed. John was anything but that.
John didn’t wear soft kingly clothing…4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
If you wanted to see someone who sold out to get a high up position in a king’s palace (where soft clothing was prevalent) you would not come out into the wilderness of Judea but to Herod’s palace.
No, John was known for locusts, wild honey, and his clothing wasn’t soft king clothes but clothing made from camel hair. I’m not sure but camel hair is probably not like cotton.
John was famous and could have went far. He was a sight to behold. He was very charismatic and a powerful preacher. If John would just soften his message some he could have been on TV or something. He could have been the chaplain to someone in a high position.
Beloved, the only time John visited the King’s castle was in the basement dungeon.
Praise God for people like John the Baptist who are willing to stand firm in the face of persecution.
I pray no one here is a soft-clothing Christian. True greatness according to God is someone who stands firm and will not sell out.
Here’s what Paul tells us as the Church…
Philippians 1:27–30 (ESV)
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Notice in Paul’s wonderful words to the Church in Philippi and to the church in Chillicothe…
What is a clear sign our salvation? Standing firm in a unified truth working together in Gospel, not afraid of our opponents. He writes that this is a clear sign of their destruction…because we believe God’s Word no matter what. We believe Jesus more than they believe their stuff why? Because we are willing to suffer persecution for what we believe while they are not. As we stand firm this is also a clear sign of their destruction.
John the Baptist made King Herod and the gates of Hell tremble with fear.
C. John was a man of great self-denial
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,
“ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist
John’s life had purpose and none of it was for John. He lived his life with Christ front and center. His life was spent for Jesus. His entire purpose was to be a messenger of Jesus. It wasn’t about John it was all about Jesus.
According to God John was the greatest human ever to exist. He was humble.
4 Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.
11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
Do you see John’s humility? He was happy to serve Jesus. He was happy to let Jesus go first. He was happy to stand back when Jesus finally arrived so Christ could have all the attention. John was so happy to ride off into the sunset so Jesus could have all the glory.
So, greatness that means something; greatness according to God is a person who has convictions, won’t sell out, and is humble. John was the greatest human (those born of women). He was the greatest of all the prophets. He was the prophet the prophets prophesied about…
10 This is he of whom it is written,
“ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
2. The Greatness of the Least in the Kingdom
Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 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.
Another thing that made John the greatest human and the greatest prophet was that he lived in the time of the transition from prophecy to fulfillment. He was the only prophet who actually lived to see the fulfillment of his prophecy. He saw the fulfillment of all OT prophecies concerning the coming Kingdom of God. With the coming of the King, so comes the Kingdom. John was part of this Kingdom inauguration.
Jesus declares that John’s human greatness pales in comparison to those who are now coming into God’s Kingdom. John is a believer and Jesus is not saying John isn’t included but He’s highlighting the place John stands in redemptive history. He represents the OT prophets but now Jesus is ushering in the day of God’s favor for all who repent of their sins. What Jesus is saying is that a NT forgiven sinner has a greatness unparalleled in all of history.
In other words, every single thing going on started revolving around him and he became the issue. You know, the greater ones are the focus of attention, aren’t they? Another element of John’s greatness, then, was that he became the focal point. He became pivotal at that juncture of redemptive history. He became the issue. The action took place all around him. He was the culmination of all of Old Testament history.
He made waves. He upset the status-quo. He had high impact. He created conflict. You’ll notice in verse 12 that the word “violence” is used. He created violence. He stirred up a hornet’s nest. When he confronted the Jews, things became explosive. He brought everything to a head. Everywhere he moved there was a violent reaction. He was a man of destiny. His influence was at the crisis moment of redemptive history. And everything was happening all around him, just like a hurricane.
That’s what Jesus means when He says that since John the Kingdom has suffered violence. John was great. When you preach the Kingdom of God from the kingdom of Satan there is going to be violence. The Kingdom of God moves in to dethrone the enemy kingdom and violence is the result. There has been a struggle since John the Baptist till now.
So, if we are to understand another dimension of John’s ministry it was to tap the hornet’s nest and to literally stir up these attacks. You see if Jesus is going to be crucified as the Lamb of God. If He is to be crucified to take away the sins of His people then the hornet’s nest needs to be stirred up. When Jesus stepped out onto the bank of the Jordon and when John introduced Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, the religious leaders had already been set against Jesus because they already hated John because John told them the truth.
Our Lord’s point is that as great as John is there is a greatness that exceeds his. Those who persevere in this violent war will be saved. That’s a greatness beyond John’s.
We are saved by grace through faith. Those saved by grace will enter this battle as the Lord’s army. There is violence and persecution. The enemy is not going to give up his territory without a fight. John stirred it up. Jesus stirred it up. The Apostles stirred it up. The Christians in the past have stirred it up. Beloved, we must stir it up too.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
Jesus makes a similar statement in verses 13ff. All the OT including the OT Prophets and the OT Law all pointed to a final pinnacle of the Scriptures. His name is Jesus. Now Jesus is here so there will be no more prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah.
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.
And verse 14 then, this marvelous verse, “If you will receive, this is Elijah who was to come.” Now what does that mean? Simply this. In Malachi 4:5 it said that before the Messiah came to set up His kingdom on earth, Elijah would come as a forerunner. Now, would this be a real Elijah? No. No, Elijah’s not going to be reincarnated. But one like Elijah.
Malachi 4:5–6 (ESV)
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
The angel tells Zacharias before John’s birth, “He will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). “In the spirit and power of Elijah” indicates he resembled Elijah in doing a similar work of revealing the true God through a ministry devoted to preaching repentance and the certainty of things contained in the Scriptures regarding Christ. Perhaps it also includes working with a similar zeal.
Conclusion
Jesus has connected the dots for us. Elijah was to be the prophet who would be sent by God to announce the Kingdom of God ruled by the Messiah.
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.
True greatness belongs to all who have entered God’s Kingdom by faith in Jesus Christ. As great as John was, Kingdom people are greater because we are part of a superior Kingdom.
Have you believed? Do you have ears that hear spiritual truth for the salvation of your souls?
*Resources Used:
Matthew by D A Carson in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary
A Theology of Matthew by Charles Quarles
A Gospel of Matthew by France
Matthew by Craig Bloomberg
Matthew by Doriani
Matthew by Charles Price
Matthew by Leon Morris
