(Text and Audio)
Title: A Tale of Two Cities
Today sermon deals with a very interesting passage, and I’m going to treat it a bit differently in my presentation because of that.
In an extremely mathematical way, I’d like for us to work through this passage in the following manner:
First I want us to read the passage, pray over it and draw this introduction to a close.
Next, I’d like to offer you only two exegetical insights into this passage, but they are both immensely powerful.
Then I’d like for us to consider and discuss exactly 3 conclusions we come to after reading this passage.
Then, the real fun will begin, as I will ask you 4 questions based on those conclusions.
Again, that’s one intro, 2 observations, 3 conclusions, and 4 questions. Everyone got it?
Introduction: Why do we compare ourselves to others? In what ways do we compare ourselves to others? How can this be a good thing? How can it be a bad thing?
(read/pray)
Observation One:
“in sackcloth and ashes”
This is not just repentance. This is real, painful repentance. How do we know that?
Because, this is certainly a reference throughout scripture as a reference to true, deep, abiding repentance. Nowhere is this made more clear than in the book of Jonah where we see the city of Nineveh repent. “Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let every man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands…” (Jonah 3:6-8)
Observation Two:
The Comparison of two sets of cities
Tyre and Sidon vs. Bethsaida and Chorazin
Jesus said that Bethsaida and Chorazin were MORE guilty than Tyre and Sidon because they had heard the World proclaimed, even though Tyre and Sidon had a reputation of being exceedingly evil cities…
Sodom vs. Capernaum
Then Jesus amplifies this thought by comparing Capernaum (a city where Jesus did much of his ministry) to Sodom. Jesus calls Capernaum worse than Sodom, which of course was destroyed for their exceedingly evil ways. And Jesus has used this language before. In fact, just a chapter earlier, in Matthew 10:15, as Jesus is sending out the 12 for the first time without him, he tells the apostles to “shake the dust from their feet in the unresponsive cities…for it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement than in that city!” For the Jews, this was a certain wake up call. They thought they were responsive, holy cities, and Jesus tells them Sodom is more Holy than they are!
Conclusions:
- God chooses to reveal himself more in some places than others.
- When God reveals himself to you, it comes with an expectation of response.
- There is a stricter judgment for those who have heard.
(Discussion?)
Questions:
- Which type of city are you?
- Are you more like Sodom (practicing wickedness in ignorance of the Truth)?
- Are you more like Capernaum (having heard the Truth but unwilling to repent in sackcloth and ashes)?
- What do you think God’s expectation is of your response? (Hint: you are hearing the Gospel clearly preached right now…and have been if you’ve been coming here long…)