MATTHEW

REST AND UNREST–MATTHEW 11:28-30

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
REST AND UNREST
MATTHEW 11:28-30
Introduction:
Christians, by faith in Christ, have entered into rest. He is their peace. To all who come to him he gives rest, rest that is relief from the pressure of life, release from the turmoil of society and satisfaction to the soul.
I. REST
A. Rest for your souls, Matthew 11:28-29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
1. In the old paths, Jeremiah 6:16, “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.”
2. Walk in the good way, Jeremiah 7:23, “But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.”
B. Peace like a river, Isaiah 48:17-18, “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. 18 O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”
1. The Lord leads us in the way that we should go, John 6:45, “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.”
2. If we do His commandments, Deuteronomy 5:29, “O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!”
3. The effect of obedience is peace, Isaiah 32:15-18, “Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. 16- Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field. 17- And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. 18- And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;”
C. Rest from the days of adversity, Psalm 94:13, “That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.”
1. Until the indignation be past, Isaiah 26:20-21, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21 For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood , and shall no more cover her slain.”
2. The Lord causes the weary to rest, Isaiah 28:12, “To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.”
3. He causes the troubled to rest, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,”
4. The Lord deals bountifully with us, Psalm 116:7, “Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.”
D. Be careful not to come short of His rest, Hebrews 4:1, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.”
II. UNREST
A. The Ungodly have NO REST in their soul, Psalm 1:4, “The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.”
1. The future does not look good for the ungodly, Revelation 14:11, “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
2. Their end is destruction, Job 31:3, “Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?”
B. The heart of man is DECEITFUL, Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
1. He walks in the stubbornness of his heart, Jeremiah 16:12, “And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:” See Genesis 6:5.
2. He walks on the broad way to destruction, Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14- Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
3. Man is never satisfied, Proverbs 27:20, “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.”
4. The Lord knows the heart of man, John 2:24-25, “But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.”
C. Knowing man’s need, the Lord offers His rest, Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
1. This is rest for the people of God, those who have received Christ as Savior, Hebrews 4:9, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”
2. Theirs is the promise of the celestial city and the heavenly country, Hebrews 11:10, 16, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 16- But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”
CONCLUSION
God’s rest is the greatest blessing that one can have. It means that he has put his trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. He has a home in Heaven and need not worry about his future. His rest is the rest of the soul.
The lost do not have that rest. Their life may appear tranquil, but at the hour of death their soul will not go to a place of rest, but rather a place of torment in Hell.

WHO IS THIS? THIS IS JESUS THE PROPHET–MATTHEW 21:1-11

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
WHO IS THIS? THIS IS JESUS THE PROPHET.
MATTHEW 21:1-11
Introduction:

All four of the evangelists take notice in their gospels of this passage of Christ’s riding in triumph into Jerusalem, five days before His death.

The Passover was on the 14th day of the month and this was the tenth. This was the day the Law required that the Paschal Lamb should be taken up and set apart for that service, Exodus 12:3, “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:” On that day therefore, Christ, our Passover, who was to be sacrificed for us, was publicly shown.

I. THE JEWISH LEADERS WERE PLOTTING TO SLAY CHRIST

A. The Jews planned to kill Jesus, John 11:53, “Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.”

B. The Pharisees had given a commandment to find Jesus, John 11:57, “Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.”

II. MARY ANOINTS JESUS’ FEET

A. Meanwhile He was at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, John 12:1, “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.”

B. There they made him a supper, John 12:2, “There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

C. After supper Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, John 12:3, “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

1. The ointment of spikenard was very costly.

2. Some complained.

a. Judas Iscariot was most outspoken, John 12:4-6, “Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5-Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6-This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.”

b. Some of the others picked up on his criticism, Mark 14:4-5, “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5-For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.”

D. The Lord had put this in her heart to do, John 12:7, “Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.”

III. THE DAY OF THE LAMB OF GOD

A. John the Baptist was the first to reveal the Lamb of God, John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

B. Five days before the Passover, the Lamb was chosen and set aside for the sacrifice, Exodus 12:3, “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:”

1. This Lamb was “for an house.”

2. This Lamb had to be “without spot,” Exodus 12:5, “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:”

C. The Lamb was to be killed “in the evening” on the 14th day of the month, Exodus 12:6, “And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.”

D. The blood was applied according to the Word of God, Exodus 12:7, “And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.”

E. “When I see the blood,” Exodus 12:13, “And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

IV. BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH UNTO THEE

A. Rejoice greatly for the King is coming, Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

1. Jesus does not ride in on a magnificent white horse.

2. He does not come in beautiful royal robes.

3. The King, the Lord of host, was seen upon a throne, high and lifted up, but there was none of that here, Isaiah 6:1-3, ” In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2-Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3-And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

B. The King is coming riding on an ass.

1. The Lord instructed his disciples, Matthew 21:1-3, “And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2-Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3-And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.”

2. The Lord fulfilled the Scriptures, Matthew 21:4-5, “All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5-Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.”

C. Who is this? Matthew 21:10-11.

1. He was called the “Prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.” He was not their beloved, Song of Solomon 5:9, “What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us?”

2. But He was rejected as King, John 1:11, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

CONCLUSION

Thank the Lord not everyone rejected the Lamb of God as King. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

WHO IS JESUS?–MATTHEW 1:18-25

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
WHO IS JESUS?
MATTHEW 1:18-25
Introduction:

This week the world will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. However, the world does not know our Lord. All of this is mere religion that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ.

Men and women will get drunk, prostitute themselves and sin in every way imaginable in Christmas parties. They will see the “baby Jesus” in dramas and films and hear preachments about “the birth of Christ.” However, none of this will affect the heart of these people. WHY? Because they do not know who Jesus is.

I. THE “BABY JESUS” IS NOT THE SAVIOR.

A. It is truth that Jesus was born of a virgin, Isaiah 7:14, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

B. It is true that Jesus is the Promised Savior, Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

C. It is true that he was born in Bethlehem of Judah, Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

D. But Jesus as a Baby CANNOT SAVE anyone.

II. JESUS THE GOOD TEACHER IS NOT THE SAVIOR

A. The One who taught the truth in the Temple, Mark 14:49, “I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.”

B. The One who fed the multitudes, Matthew 14:14-21; Luke 9:10-17.

C. The One who calmed the raging waters of the sea, Mark 4:36-41.

D. All of this is part of His story.

III. THE JESUS ON THE CRUCIFIX IS NOT THE SAVIOR.

A. The Crucifix is the symbol of Sin, Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2-God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

B. The Crucifix is a symbol of Judgment, Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

C. The Crucifix is a symbol of Suffering, Matthew 16:21, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”

D. The Crucifix is NOT a symbol of Salvation.

IV. JESUS, THE ONE WHO ROSE FROM THE DEAD, IS THE SAVIOR.

A. Jesus was born exactly as it was said earlier in this message, Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

1. He was born of a VIRGIN, Isaiah 7:14.

2. He was born in BETHLEHEM, Micah 5:2.

3. He was the PROMISED SAVIOR, Isaiah 19:20.

B. He was the good TEACHER of the Truth; He taught ALL of the Truth, John 8:40, “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not.”

1. He FED the multitudes as the Scriptures say.

2. He CURED the sick and RAISED the dead.

C. Jesus DIED ON THE CROSS according to the Scriptures.

1. He SUFFERED because of our sins on the Cross.

2. He PAID for our sins on the Cross, John 19:30, “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”

3. He DIED for our sins that we might live, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

D. But HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD for our justification, Romans 3:25, “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 5:18, “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

1. He overcame death, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56-The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57-But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2. He justifies those that trust in Him, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

CONCLUSION

Jesus invites the unbeliever to believe in Him. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

WHILE THEY WERE EATING–MATTHEW 26:26-30

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
WHILE THEY WERE EATING
MATTHEW 26:26-30
Introduction:

The Lord had just observed the Passover with His disciple, the members of the first church. Now He takes the elements of that Passover and gives them new meaning and established the ordinance of The Lord’s Supper.

I. JESUS TOOK BREAD AND GAVE IT A NEW MEANING

A. Jesus had said, “I AM the Bread of Life, John 6:48, “I am that bread of life.”

1. This is the Bread of God, John 6:33-34, “For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34- Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.”

2. This was the “living bread,” John 6:51, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

B. Now He says of the bread, “This is my body,” v. 26; 1 Corinthians 10:17, “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”

1. The bread represents His body, our Passover, 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.”

2. When we eat this bread we are testifying that we belong to Him and have eternal life, John 6:53-54, “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

II. JESUS TAKES THE CUP OF WINE AND GAVES IT A SPECIAL MEANING

A. The wine represents His blood, the blood of the New Covenant, v. 28.

1. This is the OLD covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, Exodus 24:7-8, “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.”

2. His blood is the blood of the New Testament, Hebrews 9:14-15, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

B. Here we see a visible reminder of an event about to take place, Matthew 20:28, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

1. He ransomed us by shedding His own blood, Colossians 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

2. We have been justified by His blood, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

CONCLUSION

The Lord put a new meaning to the elements of the Passover. The Bread represented His body that became the sacrifice for sin. The wine represented His blood that was shed for our redemption and justification.

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE?–MATTHEW 6: 19-34

Art Davison MATTHEW 0 Comment
WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE?
MATTHEW 6: 19-34
Key verse: v. 21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Introduction:

Note that the verb in v. 21 is in the PRESENT TENSE. Our future depends on where we have our treasure.

In these verses Christ gives us the SECRET to the blessings of God, that is, the secret to a happy and productive future. Happiness is not in the things of the world, but rather in the things of God.

Consider these thoughts:

I. OUR TREASURE IS THAT IN WHICH WE PUT OUR CONFIDENCE.

Proverbs 18:10-11, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and are safe. The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.”

A. The Name of the Lord

1. STRONG DEFENSE, my high tower, Psalms 62:2, “He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.” Note v. 6, “He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.”

2. A place of SAFETY, Psalms 62:8, “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.” Psalms 37:39, “But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.”

B. The money of the wealthy,… Deuteronomy 8:11-14, 17-18.

1. Is his strong city.

2. Is a high wall in his imagination.

a. The rich man of Luke 16:19-31.

b. The rich young ruler of Luke 18:18-27.

c. Zaccheus made the right choice,

Lucas 19:1-10

II. OUR TREASURE IS IN WHOM WE SERVE.

Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

A. He will HATE the one {God}, John 15:23-25, 23-He that hateth me hateth my Father also.  24- If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.B. And LOVE the other {the world} — I John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

25-But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

C. He will DEDICATE HIMSELF to one, Galatians 5:16-17, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17-For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

D. And DESPISE the other. That is what we are seeing today! Man has dedicated himself to his own interests and despises the things of God, especially God’s people!!!

III. OUR TREASURE IS IN THE THINGS OF GOD.

Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

A. First the Kingdom of God.

1. The things of God.

a. His will in our lives.

1) Seek God’s will.

2) Do God’s will.

b. His blessings in our lives.

2. The things of man.

b. The Promise of God. Our Father knows that we need all these things, v. 32-b.

c. The promise is: “and all this things shall be added unto you.”

d. What we need to do is put things into the proper perspective–GOD FIRST!!!!!!

B. The Blessings of God Depend on US! Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

1. The Lord honors those who serve Him with a perfect heart. 2 Chronicles 25:2, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.” That was Amaziah, king of Judah.

2. God blesses those who faithfully serve Him.

CONCLUSION

WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE???!!!

IS YOUR TREASURE IN THE LORD OR IN THE WORLD?

The Bible says you cannot serve TWO MASTERS.

WHO IS YOUR MASTER TODAY?

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”