Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Savior’s Lament Matthew 23:37-39 The religious leaders have failed to damage the reputation of Jesus, but they have discrediting themselves Pay attention and be careful of false religious leaders - 1 John 4:1

The Savior’s Lament Matthew 23:37-39 Characteristics of false religious leaders: 1) Self-proclaimed authority. 2) Hypocritical demands. 3) Loveless & uncaring. 4) Pretentious displays of piety. 5) Proud & arrogant

The Savior’s Lament Matthew 23:37-39 Jesus labeled the scribes & Pharisees as: Hypocrites, Sons of hell, Blind guides, Serpents A brood of vipers

The Savior’s Lament Matthew 23:37-39 They kept people from heaven; Robbed widows; Created self-righteous disciples; Were liars; Majored on minor points & ignored justice, mercy & faithfulness; Were robbers & self-indulgent; Plotting murders

The Savior’s Lament Matthew 23:37-39 False teachers abound, so be like the Bereans to know the word of God to check them against it Jesus’ laments over the heard-heartedness of the nation to heed both His warnings and call to salvation

The Lament Over Jerusalem Matthew 23:37-39 Jerusalem, “City of Peace,” the center for the worship of God, was violent against God’s prophets “Kill” and “stone” are both present active participles - the violence was still occurring

The Lament Over Jerusalem Matthew 23:37-39 Jesus’ intense lament was over Jerusalem and the nation it represented.

The Savior’s Desire Matthew 23:37 The simile is of a hen protecting her chicks from danger - that is the Savior’s desire Jesus has given stern warning to the people and their leaders about the danger of God’s wrath facing them

The Savior’s Desire Matthew 23:37 God’s stated desire is for people to repent and find refuge in Him (2 Peter 3:9; Psalm 36:7; 91:4) Man’s sin has separated him from God and brought the curse of death (Genesis 3; Romans 6:23)

The Savior’s Desire Matthew 23:37 Jesus came to redeem man from sin & death (John 3:16; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Timothy 1:15; John 10:28)

Unwilling People Matthew 23:37 Jesus was willing to save them, but they were not willing to be saved by Him and instead rejected Him God is sovereign, but man also has a responsibility God is sovereign in salvation - John 6:44; Ephesians 2:1-10; Daniel 4:35

Unwilling People Matthew 23:37 The Bible does not teach fatalism / determinism / double election Being damned because God did not choose you is not the same thing as being damned because He did. We must teach what God does say & be careful not to go beyond that based on what God does not say

Unwilling People Matthew 23:37 Fatalism / double-election are contrary to what the Scriptures do teach about God’s judgment of man Judgment based on not being in book of life & condemned by what is written in the book of deeds - Rev. 20

Unwilling People Matthew 23:37 Determinism makes many passages nonsensical - such as Matt. 23:37, 1 Tim. 2:3-4; Matt. 11:28-30 God is sovereign, and He has given man responsibility to respond & obey His commandments

God’s Call to Repentance Repentance - a change of mind resulting in changes of action consistent with new beliefs Repentance in salvation involves a change in mind to recognize the truth about sin, self and the Savior

God’s Call to Repentance Repentance was the foundational message of John the Baptist, Jesus, & the apostles (Lk. 24:27; Acts 17:30) Failure to repent will result in perishing (Luke 13:2-5)

God’s Call to Believe God calls people to believe in Jesus both generally & specifically - Acts 16:31; John 3:16; 11:26; There is a universal offer of salvation to mankind - Romans 10:8-13 Those who refuse to believe will be judged - John 3:18; 1 John 5:10

God’s Call to Believe God calls for all to repent, believe and be saved and anyone that does not will be judged accordingly Salvation is provided freely by Jesus Christ, but it cannot be appropriated by the unwilling

God’s Call to Believe Salvation requires belief in the facts of the Gospel: Jesus’ identity, atonement, resurrection, return God’s requirement of repentance & belief is a response to God’s grace, not a means of earning salvation

God’s Call to Believe There is no salvation for those unwilling to accept God or the terms of His offer of grace

A Desolate House Matthew 23:38 The kingdom would come in a spiritual form - the church - and Israel would be destroyed & taken captive This would be done according to God’s warnings in the Torah, especially Deuteronomy 28

A Desolate House Matthew 23:38 God is longsuffering, but eventually the time comes when He judges the ungodly for their sin

A Hope for the Future Matthew 23:39 “Until” is a word of certainty - it will absolutely happen by the exercise of God’s sovereign will Jesus public ministry of teaching, miracles and healing had ended God keeps all His promises, and the Messiah will return to the praise of the nation of Israel

A Hope for the Future Matthew 23:39 Zechariah 12:10; 13:1-2,9 - Messiah returns, Israel is cleansed, the remnant will be God’s people The Lord’s promises of both judgment of the unwilling and redemption of the willing are true

Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ