Jesus was causing some to be offended by him

JESUS WAS CAUSING SOME TO BE OFFENDED BY HIM
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Matthew 11:6
New InternationalVersion
Blessedis anyone who does not stumble on accountof
me."
New Living Translation
And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall
away because of me.”
English StandardVersion
And blessedis the one who is not offendedby me.”
Offended Because Of Christ? BY SPURGEON
“And blessedis he who is not offended because ofMe.”
Matthew 11:6

THE connectionof the passageassistsus in feeling its force. Johnhad sent his
disciples to ask the MasterwhetherHe was, indeed, the Messiah. The Savior,
after giving abundant proof that He was the Sent One who had long been
promised, then adds, “And blessedis he who is not offended because ofMe.”
Had John begun to suspecta stumbling block in reference to the Nazarene?
Did he question if so lowly a Personcould, indeed, be the promised Christ?
Had he expectedMessiahto be a glorious prince with an earthly kingdom?
Was he staggeredto find himself in prison under Herod’s power? Was John,
himself in doubt and did the Savior, therefore, say, “Blessedis he who is not
made to stumble concerning anything about Me”?
There have been many suggestions as to why John sent his disciples and,
perhaps, we shall never know why. And we need not wish to know, seeing it
did not please God to leave it on record. Some have said he sent the
messengersforhis own sake, forhe was then under a fainting fit of unbelief. I
hardly think so and yet, it is possible, for John was an Elijahlike man–a man
of stern iron mold–and such men are apt to have occasionalsinking of a
terrible sort. With most of the children of God, their weaknessis most seen
where their strength lies. Elijah failed in courage thoughhe was one of the
most courageousofmen! After he had slain the priests of Baal, he was afraid
of a woman–afraidof Jezebel–andfled to hide himself. He said, “Let me die! I
am no better than my fathers.”
It seems to be a law of Nature that the strongestmen should have the worst
fits of weakness.Martin Luther’s life is remarkable as illustrating this. He
fainted as few men everfainted–his despair, on some occasions, wasalmost
equal to his confidence at other times! So it is possible that John, being of that
class ofmen, after having boldly confronted Herod and declaring, “It is not
lawful for you to have your brother’s wife,” may have fainted in spirit when
he found himself shut up in prison with no known and manifest tokenof
Messiah’s kingdomcoming. Prison may have been a severe trial to the
Baptist–we are all affectedby the atmosphere in which we dwell.
Today has been a very heavy day to many a spirit because the atmosphere has
been loaded with damp and smoke. I believe that there is more than a little
truth in the rhyme–
“Heaviestthe heart is
In a heavy air,
Every wind that rises
Blows awaydespair.”

Now John the Baptist, after living in the wilderness in the open air by the
riverside, must have felt a strange difference when he was shut up in the close,
oppressive dungeon of Herod–and the body may have helped to act upon the
soul. And so the mind, after its extraordinary tension in the greatservice to
which John was called, may have been draggeddown by the half-stifled body
till faith began to tremble. And so it may be that John, for his own
satisfaction, found it necessaryto ask, “Are You He that should come, or do
we look for another?” If so, the Savior well said, “Blessedis he that is not
offended because of Me,” for, after all, notwithstanding his severe trial and
deep depression, John was not really offended because of Christ. He was not
actually scandalizedbecause ofthe Lord whose forerunner he had been, but
he held on to his testimony and sealedit with his death. Blessedis his memory
as that of one who was not offended because of Christ!
Others, however, think that John sent these disciples not at all for his own
sake, but for theirs. That strikes me as being the more probable. He wishedto
transfer them from himself to his Lord and he, therefore, bade them go and
enquire for themselves. He felt that the answerwhich Jesus would be sure to
give would be the best means of convincing He was, indeed, the Messiah, by
working miracles in their presence and preaching the Gospel, then said to
them, “And blessedis he who is not offended because of Me. You see Me here
despisedand rejectedof men, notwithstanding that I work miracles. You see
that I am called Beelzebuband treated with the utmost scorn. You shall be
blessedif, believing Me to be the Christ of God, you follow Me without being
staggeredat anything you see, orannoyed at anything you are calledto bear
for My sake.”
Whatevermay have been John’s motive, the text will, I trust, serve us for a
useful purpose. May we be among the number of those who are blessed
because we are not offended because ofChrist. And let us now look at various
characters thatwe may know to which class we belong. First, there are some
who are so offended because ofChrist that they never acceptHim as their
Savior at all. Secondly, there is another class ofpersons who, after professing
to acceptHim and apparently casting in their lot with Him, are, after all,
scandalized. They find stumbling blocks and go back and forsake the way
which they professedto tread. But then, thirdly, there are others who, by the
Grace of God, take Christ as He is with all their hearts and are not offended
because ofHim. These are they that are blessedin very deed and shall enter
into eternalblessedness in Heaven!
1. First, then, I shall try to speak and God help me to speak effectually,
TO SOME WHO ARE SO OFFENDEDBECAUSE OF CHRIST

THAT THEY NEVER TRUST HIM AT ALL, OR ACCEPT HIM AS
THEIR SAVIOR. Let us tell the reasons why some men do not receive
Christ and are offended because ofHim. O that the Spirit of God may
drive these unreasonable reasons from their souls and lead them to
Jesus!Some in His ownday were offended with Him because ofthe
humbleness of His appearance. Theysaid, “He is the sonof a carpenter.
His father and His mother we know and His brothers, are they not all
with us? When Messiahcomes,we know not from where He is, but as
for this Man, we know from where He is.”
He came among them as a mere peasant. He wore the ordinary raiment of the
people. A garment without seam, woven from the top throughout, servedHis
purpose. No soft raiment and gorgeousappareldecoratedand distinguished
Him. He did not affect any dignity. He came with no chariotand horses and
pomp of a prince. He was meek and lowly. Even in the grandestday of His
triumph, He rode upon a colt, the foal of an ass and, therefore, they said, “Is
this the Son of David? Is this the King, the glorious One of whom Prophets
spoke in ages long gone by?” And so they were scandalizedand offended
because ofHim because there was a lack of that earthly glory and splendor
for which they had looked.
Men feel the same today. There are some who would be Christians, but then
Christianity must be a very respectable thing–andif the Truth of God is to be
found among poor people, well, then, the Truth of Godmay be for them, but
they will not go with them to hear a plain preacherand mix with common
people! If the Truth of God walks the streets in silver slippers, then they do
not mind acknowledging it and walking with it–but if it toils in rags through
the back streets and by miry pathways–thenthey say, “I pray you have me
excused.” The religion of Jesus Christ never was, nor ever canbe, the religion
of this present evil world. He has chosena people out of the world who believe
it, but the world itself has always hated it. Did not our Lord tell us (John
14:17), concerning the Spirit of Truth, that the world cannot receive Him
because it sees Him not, neither knows Him? Wheneveryou find a religion
which unites itself with pomp, show and worldly power, if there is any truth in
it at all, it has, at any rate, deterioratedfrom the standard of its purity and is
not according to the mind of Christ.
But there are some who are so fond of everything that is fashionable–
everything that is greatand famous–that, if the Lord Jesus Christ is despised
and rejectedof men, they despise and rejectHim, too. Ah, but I hope that I
address some to whom the Lord has given a nobler spirit! I hope some men
and women are here, tonight, who will never rejectthe Truth because it is

unfashionable, or refuse to follow Christ because He is despised. No, but the
noble spirit says, “Is it right? Then I will espouse it. Is it true? Then I will
believe it in the name of God. Though it may mean poverty and shame, yet
that is the side on which I will enlist.” There is a nobler chivalry than all the
chivalry of war–it is the chivalry of the heart that dares be nailed to the Cross
with Christ soonerthan turn aside to seek flowerypathways and follow the
trail of the serpent. Many rejectChrist because ofthe humbleness of His
exterior. Who is on the Lord’s side and will dare declare it before a scoffing
world?
Again, there are others who rejectHim because ofthe fewness ofHis
followers. Theylike to go where many go and they say, “Well, but there are so
few that go that way, I do not wish to be singular.” Yet every honestheart
must admit that truth could never yet be decided by votes, for, as a rule, it has
been in the minority. If we are to count heads we must go to the Pope, or the
Sultan, or the Brahmin. For my part I think that a minority of one with Christ
is strongerthan a majority of fifty millions againstHim, for Christ, the Son of
God, in His own Person, sums up a total greaterthan all the multitudes that
ever can be againstHim! There are some who quite forgetthat our Lord has
said, “Broadis the way that leads to destruction and many there are which go
in that way.” And again, “Straitis the gate and narrow is the way which leads
unto life, and few there are that find it.”
The way that leads to eternallife, though it is the King’s highway, is often as
little frequented as a country lane. If you must be on the side of the majority,
then you will certainly be on the side of deadly error unless there should come
some happier times when the Lord has more greatly increasedthe number of
His people than at the present! May you be spared to see suchdays, but those
days have not come as yet–and if you will not go with the Lord until the
multitudes are with Him–you will perish in your sin! Do not, I pray, stumble
at Him because ofthis. Some are offended with Christ for quite another
reason, namely, because ofthe grandeur of His claims. He claims to be God
over all, blessedforever. He counted it not robbery to be equal with God,
though He made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a
Servant.
Now some spirits quibble greatly at this. They did so in His own day. They
took up stones to stone Him because He made Himself equal with God. Proud,
carnally wise minds cannot endure the doctrine that the Redeemeris co-equal
and co-eternalwith the Father, very God of very God! To my mind it is a
reasonwhy I acceptHim! If He were not God, how could He save me? The
weight of my sins would staggerall the angels and cherubim and seraphim if

they should try to lift it! I must have a God to save me, or savedI can never
be! And to me it is the greatestconsolationpossible that He who was the son
of Mary is also the Son of God–thatthough human, evenas we are human, sin
excepted–He was altogetherDivine. Oh do not–do not be offended with Him
because ofthis, but rather rejoice in Immanuel, God With Us–and trust your
soul into His hands!
A certain number of unconverted men are grievouslyoffended with our Lord
because ofHis Atonement. This which to us is the very centerof all His
excellence–thatHe saves us by standing in our place and bearing the wrath of
God on our behalf–this is dreadfully kickedat by some. And I have heard
these fastidious people finding fault with ministers for talking too much of the
blood. They cannot endure the term, “the precious blood of Christ.” We shall
never listen to their fastidiousness,not for a single moment! And if we knew
such to be present, we would go out of our way, on purpose, to shock them
because we think that no respectshould be shown to such a wickedtaste!If
the doctrine of the Atonement is kickedat, the answerof Christ’s minister
should be to preach the Atonement again and again and again in the plainest
possible terms–and declare with even greatervigor and frequency the glorious
substitutionary Sacrifice ofour Lord Jesus Christ in the place of His people!
This is the very heart of the Gospeland should be preachedin your hearing at
leastevery Lord’s Day! Leave that out? You have left out the life of the
Gospel, for “the blood is the life thereof.” Without shedding of blood there is
no remission and, therefore, as remissionis the greatprivilege of the Gospel,
we have no salvationto declare and we have no remissionto preach unless the
blood–
“From His riven side which flowed”
is continually setforth before you Oh, why should men quibble at that which
is their salvation? If they ever are redeemed, it must be, “not with corruptible
things as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.” If they ever
are cleansedfrom all sin, it must be because ofthat Divine declaration, “The
blood of Jesus ChristHis Son cleansesus from all sin.” May we never stumble
at Christ because ofHis Cross, forthat were to rejectour only hope! That
were to quarrel with our life! That were to insist upon shutting the gates of
mercy upon our own souls!That were to become enemies to our best Friend
and to ourselves!Godsave us from such an infatuation as that!
We have found a goodmany, also, who are offended because ofChrist for a
different reasonaltogether, namely, because of the graciousness ofthe Gospel.
It has too much free Grace in it for them. They would like a mingle-mangle of

Grace and works. You will constantly hear it saidthat the doctrine of
Justificationby Faith is very dangerous and ought to be preached with great
caution. Occasionallyour secularpapers, which, as you know, understand a
greatdeal about religion, will instruct us as to what we should preach. The
moral virtues ought to be our main theme and Justificationby Faith should be
so qualified as to be virtually denied. It is very wrong, they say, to sing that
hymn–
“Nothing, either greator small,
Nothing, Sinner, no!
Jesus did it, did it all,
Long, long ago.”
And to tell the sinner that until he believes in Jesus Christ–
“Doing is a deadly thing:
Doing ends in death,”
is regardedas a crime so manifest that it needs only to be mentioned and
every reader of the paper will be dreadfully shocked!And yet the editor of the
paper, or the writer, probably calls himself a Protestant, and Justificationby
Faith is the one doctrine upon which all Protestantismturns! Very likely the
writer of the stinging article calls himself a churchman and yet even the
doctrine of the Church of England about that matter is as plain as words
could possibly make it.
Yes, and then they suppose us to be some modern sectof revivalists that have
newly sprung up, although we are preaching that which is and always was the
Gospel–the doctrine by which you may test whether a Church stands or falls–
salvation, not by the works ofthe Law–but according to the Grace of God!
Crowds of people cannotendure Grace!And as to the term, “free Grace,”
they say that it is a tautologicalexpression!It may be so, but it is a very
expressive term and because they do not like it, I always intend to use it! It
will do them goodto be made to know that we mean it and, therefore, use
doubly strong language. It shall not only be, “gratis,” whichis free, but, “free
gratis!” And we will, one of these days, put something else on to make it
plainer still, if possible, and say, “free, gratis, for nothing!”
Salvationthrough eternal love, salvationthrough mercy alone–salvation, not
of merit, salvation, not of the will of man, nor of blood, nor of the flesh–but
salvationby the eternal purpose of Divine Sovereignty!Salvationby the will
of God, who has said, “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I
will have compassiononwhom I will have compassion”–this we will, by the
Grace of God, always preach! Grace free as the air, spontaneous, undeserved,

but given of God because He delights in mercy! Yes, they kick againstthis but,
if they knew themselves, they would know that nothing else will ever suit the
sinner but this!
He who has broken the Divine Law is never in a right state of heart till he feels
salvationby himself to be hopeless!When he is shut up in the condemned cell
and hears the sentence readagainsthim condemning him to die and knows
that nothing he can do, can, by any possible means, reverse that sentence–and
then sees Jesusinterposing in all the freeness ofHis love and saying, “Now you
have nothing to pay. I frankly forgive you all”–then, I say, he realizes that
Free Grace is the glory of the Gospel!Do not be offended with it, I pray you,
or you will be offended with your own life!
Then, on the other hand, there is another class ofpersons who are offended
with our blessedLord and Masterbecause ofthe holiness of His precepts.
Alas that there should be traitors in the camp who canget on very well with
Grace and Free Grace, but then, alas, they turn it into licentiousness andtake
liberty to sin because ofthe freeness ofDivine Mercy. If you begin to declare
that, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” If you preach, as Jesus
did, that he who forgives not his brother abides in death. If you tell them that
the omissionof these outward virtues will prove that the inward life is absent.
If you declare that the axe is laid to the root of the trees and every tree that
brings not forth goodfruit is cut down and castinto the fire. If you go on to
insist upon it that there must be the outward marks and evidences ofsaintship
or else the pretense of experience is a mere lie–then, by-and-by, they are
offended and exhibit a bitter spirit!
Oh that none of us may actso. The highest holiness is the delight of the true
Believer. If he could be absolutelyperfect, he would rejoice above measure! It
will be his Heavento be perfect–andthe one thing he strives after here below
is to get the mastery over all sin–notthat he hopes to be savedby that, but
because he is saved and, being saved, out of love to Jesus Christ he desires to
adorn the doctrine of God His Saviorin all things! May we never be offended
by the purity and perfection of our Lord and His teaching! I might continue
this long list of things by which men have been offended with Christ–some
because the Gospelis so mysterious, they say, and others because it is so very
simple that it is not deep enough for such greatintellects as theirs. Men, if
they want to be offended because ofChrist, will be sure to find something or
other to quarrel with. They stumble at this stumbling stone, “Whereunto
also,” says the Lord very solemnly, “they were appointed.” They put this
stumbling block in their own way and God appoints that they shall fall.

My dear Hearers, I cannot stay longeron this subject, but if there are any of
you that are offended because ofChrist, I pray the Lord will make you feel
your extreme folly and wickedness. Offendedwith the Redeemer? What
madness!May you go and confess this insult to your Savior and acceptHim at
this very moment as your All in All!
II. Now I want to speak to professing Christians. THERE ARE SOME WHO
JOIN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST WHO, AFTER A TIME, ARE
OFFENDED.Now, why is it that some who profess to know Him are offended
because ofChrist? Well, with some it is because the novelty wears off. Very
earnestservices were held and they were greatly affected. They thought that
they repented and believed, so they joined the Church. Now the goodmen who
held the services are gone and everything seems rather flat after such
excitement. And so they have gone back again. They jumped into religion like
a man into a bath–and they have jumped out again, put on their clothes–and
gone back to the world and to what they were before!
Persons ofthis sort are very plentiful just now. If they were ever born again
they were born with a fever upon them. And if you do not keepup the heat
and let them live in an oven, they will die. We know that such hothouse plants
will never pay for the fuel used in forcing them–we are grieved that it is so,
but we have seenit so often that we do not wonder at it so much as we used to
do! Hot weatherbreeds flies and warm showers bring out reptiles. There are
not a few who professedto become Christians and who thought that they were
always going to be happy. The evidence that they gave of being Christians was
“that they felt so happy.” I do not know that mere happiness is any evidence
of being a Christian at all, for many are living far from God and yet account
themselves very happy–while some of those who live near to God are groaning
because they cannotget nearer still!
Yet a joyful feeling is regardedby many as conclusive evidence of salvation!
And they add to this the notion that as soonas ever they believed in Jesus
Christ the conflict was all over and there remained nothing more to be done in
the wayof resisting sin and denying the lusts of the flesh. They dreamed that
they had only to start on pilgrimage and getto the CelestialCity in a very
short period of time–they thought they only had to draw the swordfrom the
scabbardand all Canaanwas conqueredin an hour! Very soonthey find that
it is not so. Their old corruptions are alive. The flesh begins to pull a different
way from that which they profess to have chosen. The devil tempts them and
they are so disappointed by their new discovery that they become offended
with Christ altogether!A sudden victory would suit them–but to carry a cross
before winning a crownis not to their mind.

Others of them have met an opposition they did not expectfrom their
adversaries, while from their friends they have not met with all the respect
that they think they ought to have. Their friends and acquaintances have
laughed at them! Their workmates in the shop have jeeredat them! They did
not count on this–they never counted the cost–andso they are offended
because ofChrist. Is it not a strange thing that we who begin our religion at
the Cross, if we begin aright, should ever be astonishedthat the Cross keeps
close to us, or should be surprised that the world treats us with disdain? But
so it is. Persecutionarises andmany are offended.
It is not that the world burns them to death or puts them in prison. No, no–
they only make a joke or two–orthey give them the cold shoulder and shut
them out of society. But the poor creatures are so thin-skinned that they
cannot endure even these light afflictions and so they are offended and miss
the blessing. When they joined the Christian Church everybody was so gladto
see them at first, as we always are when there is a new-born child. But many
more new converts have come since then–and the former ones feel that they
are not pampered so much as they were–andso they become annoyed and
under one pretense or another slink away. Because Christ’s people do not
carry them about as wonders and cry, “Hosanna,” overthem all their days,
they are ready to go back to the world and complain that they have been
disappointed with religion and with Christians!
Oh, but this is evil! This is a wrong spirit which must by no means be
displayed! Yet I fear it is to be seenin many places. This is an offense which
ought never to arise. We have known some who have become offended
because ofChrist, or were in greatdanger of it because they beganto find that
religion entailed more self-denial than they had reckonedupon. The precepts
of our blessedMastercome very close home to their consciencesand gallthem
somewhat. He told them that the yoke was easyand that the burden was light–
and so it is to the meek and lowly in heart–but they are not changedin heart
and, therefore, they find the burden heavy and the yoke galling. I do not
wonder that it is so, for that which is the delight of the renewedheart is
bondage to the unregenerate spirit, and self-denials, which really are no
denials at all to the man who is born again, are an iron bondage to those who
still remain in their unregenerate state–theygetoffendedand they go away
from the Masterwhom they professedto serve.
I have known some goodsouls almostoffended at the Masterthrough the
hard speeches ofthose who ought to have encouragedthem. I was speaking
not long ago with a young lady who had, for some, time been devoting herself
very earnestlyto the cause ofChrist. I do not know one who had done more

than she had done in her own sphere, but she was in greatdistress because the
person with whom she had workedfor many months had spokenvery bitterly
of her. Thoughshe had been his best helper, he seemedto regard her as his
worstenemy! And as she told me what he had said, I was very sorry, but the
worstpart about it was the temptation which the devil put in her way. The
Evil One whispered, “Nevertake a prominent place again! Give up your
work. You are said to be eagerto help–now be quiet and do nothing.”
Now, it will happen to all of us, more or less, that if we try to be zealous in the
Master’s cause we shallbe misunderstood. Wet blanket factories are pretty
numerous and some benevolent Brother is sure to bring one of these articles
for our use. He thinks that it will do us good, but it is mischievous to our
spirits. Blessedis he who cannot be offended in that way. It may encourage
you to know that, generally, those whom God largely blesses have to go
through a greatfight at first, from their own brothers and sisters. Look at
David. He was to bring home giant Goliath’s head, but those elder brothers of
his all said, “Becauseofthe pride and the naughtiness of your heart, you are
come to see the battle.”
They recommended him to stay at home with his sheep, even as they told us to
keepclearof a pulpit–but God did not mean that he should remain hidden. If
the Lord means to bless you, some of His very dear people will be for putting
you back among the sheep–but do not be scandalizedat Christ on that
account!Stand firm as you have done. Press forward! Be not disgustedor
discouraged, but, on the contrary, remember that opposition is very often the
sign of coming success. Press forward, for, “Blessedis he that is not offended
because ofMe.” Moreover, many young Christians are greatly staggeredby
the ill conduct of professors. Ithink that there is no worse trial to a babe in
Christ than to see elderly Christians walking inconsistentlyand living in a
lukewarm state–andevenspeaking as if they were antagonistic to all earnest
attempts to spread the kingdom of Christ. If you are one of God’s children
you will not die at their hands any more than Josephat the hands of his
brothers! If the Lord has, indeed, quickenedyou with spiritual life, you will
press on and work for the Masterand not be ashamed.
It has frequently occurred to me to deplore that some professors fall back
through trials of Providence. We occasionallymiss members of the Church
because they were pretty well-to-do when they joined with us, but things have
gone badly with them and they feel as if they could not show themselves. They
will even saythat they have not any clothes fit to worship in. I have often told
you that any clothes are fit to worship in as long as you have paid for them!
Clothing, be it fine or threadbare, is nothing to me! As far as I am concerned,

I really do not know what people wear. It never strikes my eye–I am too busy
looking at your faces, whenI can see you–to even notice what you may happen
to wear. Come, oh come, to the House of God, my suffering Brothers and
Sisters!Neverlet the devil prevail upon you to stay away!
If your shoe leaks. If there is a hole in the elbow of your coat. So what? The
Lord does not look at that, nor do we! You come along. We shall be glad to see
you, the most of us, and if there are some who will not be glad, they are
nobodies–do not take any notice of them! But never stay awayfrom the House
of God because ofyour shabbiness. What can it matter? When you begin to
get low in circumstances do not be proud and say, “I can’t dress as I once did,
or make such a dash as I did and so I shall not go.” Why, you are still the
same person–a man is a man notwithstanding the little or the much which he
possesses–andwhen earthly comforts are going, you ought to seek heavenly
comforts all the more! And the poorer you get in substance, the richer you
ought to seek to be in Divine Grace!“The poor have the Gospelpreachedunto
them.”
But I know that this is a temptation. I have heard it saidthat in Jamaica in the
Negro churches, when wagesare low, attendance at the means of Grace begins
to decline. I know that it is so, but so it ought not to be. Do not be offended
with Christ! If He choosesto let you be poor, be satisfiedto be poor! Yes, if
you getto be as low as Job who saton a dunghill, scraping himself with a
piece of an old pot, yet learn to say with the heroic Patriarch, “ThoughHe
slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” If He is not ashamedof me, I will not be
ashamedof Him, or ashamed to follow, even in rags, the standard of Him who
hung upon the cross and triumphed there for me! “Theyparted His garments
among them, and for His vesture did they castlots.” I cannot be worse clad
than He! Be not ashamed of Him, then.
III. The last head is that THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE NOT OFFENDED
BECAUSE OF CHRIST AND THEY ARE DECLARED TO BE BLESSED.
They are so because if God had not blessedthem they would not be found
clinging to their Lord, but would have gone back like others. Apart from
anything else, it is a blessedthing to have Grace enoughgiven you to hold fast
to Christ under all circumstances.If you were not one of those whom He has
chosenfrom before the foundations of the world. If you were not one of those
whom Christ speciallyredeemed with His blood. If you were not one of those
in whom the Holy Spirit has placed a new heart and a right spirit you would
go back. But if you hold out to the end, you have in that the evidence that the
Lord has loved you with an everlasting love!

Oh, you that are on and off with Jesus, whata poor hope yours must be! You
that can run with the hare and hold with the hounds. You that try to serve
God and Mammon–you have no marks of being God’s children! But those of
you who put your foot down for Christ and cannot be moved–you who have
said unto your souls, “ByHis Grace I will not depart from following the
Lord”–you have, in that very fact, the evidence of being blessed!And then you
shall find a blessednessgrowing outof your fidelity. I believe that persecuted
ones have more blessednessthan any other saints. There were never such
sweetrevelations ofthe love of Christ in Scotlandas when the Covenanters
met in the mosses andon the hillside.
No sermons everseemedto be so sweetas those which were preachedwhen
Claverhouse’s dragoonswere out and the minister read his text by the
lightning’s flash! The saints never sang so sweetlyas when they let loose those
wild bird notes among the heather. The flock of slaughter–the people of God
that were hunted down by the foe–thesewere they who saw the Lord! I
guarantee you that in Lambeth Palace there were happier hearts in the
Lollards' dungeon than there were in the Archbishop’s Hall! Down there
where men have lain to rot, as did Bunyan in Bedford Jail, there have been
more dreams of Heaven and more visions of celestialthings than in the courts
of princes! The Lord Jesus loves to revealHimself to those of His saints who
dare take the bleak side of the hill with Him. If you are willing to follow Him
when the wind blows in your teeth and the snow flakes come thickly till you
are almostblinded, and if you can say–
“Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I’ll follow where He goes,”
you shall have such unveilings of His love to your soul as shall make you
forgetthe sneers of men and the sufferings of the flesh! God shall make you
triumphant in all places!
You know this already by experience, do you not? You that are His people
must know that whenever you have had to suffer for Christ it has been a
blessedthing for you. Wheneveranybody jeeredat you and you have felt it for
the time, yet, if you have been able to bear it well, it has brought many a sweet
reflectionafterwards. Somebody pushed goodMr. Kilpin into the gutter and
slapped him at the same time and said, “Take that, John Bunyan!”
Whereupon the goodman took off his hat and said, “I would take 50 times as
much as that to have the honor to be called John Bunyan.” Learn to look
upon insults for Christ in the same light and when they callyou by an ill name
reply, “I could bear a thousand times as much as that for the pleasure of being
associatedwith Christ in the world’s derision.”

But what blessednessawaits youif you are not offended because ofJesus!You
are blessedwhile you are waiting for Him, but your best reward is to come! In
that hereafter, when the morning breaks on the everlasting shore, how will
they be ashamedand disgusted with themselves who sought their own honor
and esteemand denied their Lord and Master! Where will Demas be then,
who chose the presentworld and forsook his Lord? Where will that sonof
perdition be who chose the 30 pieces ofsilver and sold the Prince of Life?
What shame will seize upon the coward, the fearful, the unbelieving, the
people who checkedconscienceand stifled conviction because a fool’s laugh
was too much for them! Then they will have to bearthe Savior’s scornand the
everlasting contempt of all holy beings.
But the men who stoodmeekly forward to confess their Lord–who were
willing to be set in the pillory of scorn for Christ, ready to be spit upon for
Him, ready to be called ill names for His sake, readyto lose their character,
their substance, their liberty and their lives for Him–oh how calmly will they
awaitthe GreatAssize when loyalty shall receive honor from the greatKing!
How bright will be their faces whenHe that sits on the Throne will say, “They
confessedMe before men, and now will I confess them before My Father
which is in Heaven. These are Mine, My Father,” He will say, “they are Mine.
They clung unto Me and now I acknowledgethem as My jewels.”
These are they that followedthe Lamb where ever He went. They read the
Word and what they found there they believed! They saw their Lord’s will in
the Scriptures and they labored to do it. They were faithful to conscienceand
to conviction–andthe Spirit dwelt in them and guided their lives. They shall
be the Redeemer’s crownand the beloved of His Father. They were the poor
of this world–they were consideredto be mere idiots by some–andwere
thought to have gone mad by others. But they are the Lord’s own elect!Jesus
will say, “Theywere with Me in My tribulation. They were with Me in the
midst of a crookedand perverse generationand now they are Mine, and they
shall be with Me on My Throne. Come, you blessedof My Father, inherit the
kingdom prepared for you from before the foundations of the world.”
Oh, you are happy, you people of God who lose goodsituations because you
cannot do dishonestthings! You who cannot break the Sabbath and therefore
shut the shop and lose a large part of your incomes! You who, for Christ’s
sake, dare to be singular and are not ashamedto be called“puritanical” and
to be pointed out as hypocrites! You who bravely refuse to indulge in the
intoxicating cup and utterly turn aside from evil companions!You who will
not be found in the haunts of vice which men call pleasure!You, who, though
you may think a thing to be lawful will, nevertheless, denyyourselves because

it is not expedient and will avoid the appearance ofevil! You who try to put
your feet down in the footprints of Christ and follow Him in all things–you are
and shall be truly blessed!! With all your faults and imperfections which you
mourn over, your Lord is not ashamedof you and He will confess you at the
last!
Oh, may you all be true adherents of Jesus!I setup a standard tonight and
will try to act as recruiting officer. Who will be enlisted into the army of
Christ tonight? Is any young man ready to say, “I will”? Yes, but count the
cost!Are you prepared to be ridiculed? Are you prepared to suffer? Are you
willing to put up with the hatred of your own family soonerthan forsake God
and His Christ and the Truth? We will not have you if you won’t! Christ will
not acknowledge you if you won’t! It must be a thorough coming to Him.
“Come you out from among them and be you separate, says the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing. And I will receive you and will be a Father unto
you, and you shall be My sons and daughters.”
Who is on the Lord’s side?–Who?Let your hearts answer, for there shall
come a day when that same word shall thunder over all the earth, “Who is on
the Lord’s side? Who?” Many then will rue the day in which they were
ashamedto confess a persecutedChrist! May we be on His side tonight–first
trusting Him, relying upon Him, alone, for salvation–andthen surrendering
ourselves to Him to be His forever. Amen.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The ClassesChristHelped
Matthew 11:5
R. Tuck
The point of the answersentby our Lord to John is usually thought to be the
proof he was giving of his Divine power; he was opening the eyes of the blind;
he was making the lame walk;he was cleansing the lepers;he was unstopping
the ears of the deaf; he was raising the dead. Must he not, then, be the
Messiah? Nicodemus properly argued, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a
Teachercome from God, for no man cando these miracles that thou doest,

exceptGod be with him." And yet it may be that this was not our Lord's
precise point. Indeed, John knew all about these miracles, and it was because
he could not make up his mind about them that he sent the inquiry. It may be
that our Lord fixed the attention of the messengers onthe kinds of persons for
whom he was working, and the characterofthe work he was doing for them.
And we can see that just this would be the most suggestive and helpful answer
for John. It would show him that Jesus was Messiahin a spiritual sense. "It
might seem, at first sight, as if the thing that would make fitting impression on
John was the display of Divine powerin these miracles of healing and
restoration. It would seemas if John would be bound to argue that he must be
Divine who could do such mighty works. But that is only the surface-teaching
of the miracles. The prominent thing in our Lord's response is his pointing out
who it is gets the benefit of his work;it is as if he had said, "See all you can,
but be sure to notice and to tell John this - it is the blind who are being
blessed;it is the lame, it is the lepers, it is the deaf, who are being blessed;it is
the poor who are being savingly blessed." It is as if the Lord had said, "Be
sure and point out to John the characterof my work;that will be an all-
sufficient answerto his question." Jesus workedfor those who were sufferers
because ofsin. He came to be "Godsaving men from their sins." Jesus did not
touch national disabilities, socialstruggles,classweaknesses, orpolitical
contentions;these things formed no sphere for him. Where sin had been, there
he went. Where sin was, there he came. What sin had done, that he strove to
remedy. So the suffering made for him a sphere. The ignorant, the poor, the
perishing, were ready for his gospel. - R.T.
Biblical Illustrator

And blessedis he, whosoevershallnot be offended in Me.
Matthew 11:6
The prejudices againstChristianity considered
J. Tillotson, D. D.
I. THOSE PREJUDICESAND OBJECTIONSWHICH THE WORLD HAD
AGAINST THE SAVIOUR AND HIS RELIGION AT THEIR FIRST
APPEARANCE;also to inquire into those which men at this day insist upon;
and to show the unreasonablenessofthem.
1. That Christianity was a greatinnovation, and contrary to the received
institutions of the world.
2. They objectedagainstthe plainness and simplicity of the doctrine.
3. That it wanted demonstration.
4. That the low and suffering condition of our Saviour was unsuitable to one
that pretended to be the Sonof God.
II. To considerTHE PREJUDICES AND OBJECTIONSWHICH MEN AT
THIS DAY INSIST UPON AGAINST OUR SAVIOUR AND HIS
RELIGION.
1. Some that relate to the incarnation of our Saviour.
2. To the time of His appearance. Whydid He not come sooner?
3. That we have not now sufficient evidence of the truth of Christianity.
4. That the terms of it seemvery hard, and to lay too greatrestraints upon
human nature.
5. That it is apt to despoil men, and to break the vigour and courage oftheir
minds.
6. The divisions and factions that are among Christians.
7. The wickedlives of the greatestpart of the professorsofChristianity.
III. HOW HAPPY A THING IT IS TO ESCAPE THE COMMON
PREJUDICESMEN ARE APT TO ENTERTAIN AGAINST RELIGION —
"Blessedis he," etc. This will appearif we consider—
1. That prejudice does many times swayand bias men againstthe plainest
truths.
2. Prejudice will bias men in matters of the greatestconcernment, in things
that concernthe honour of God and the goodof others and our own welfare.

3. The consequencesofmen's prejudices in these things prove many times
fatal and destructive.
4. There are few in comparisonwho have the happiness to escape and
overcome the. common prejudices which men are apt to entertain against
religion.
(J. Tillotson, D. D.)
Taking offence at the gospel
T. Sherlock, D. D.
I. WHAT ARE THE OFFENCESWHICH ARE GENERALLY TAKEN AT
THE GOSPELOF CHRIST?
1. The poverty and meanness in which our Saviour appearedwas the earliest
objectionto the gospel. This prejudice arises from a false conceptionof the
powerand majesty of God, as if the successofHis purposes depended upon
the visible fitness of the instruments He made choice of; or as if the majesty of
God wants the little supports of outward pomp as that of man does. But would
the advantages withrespectto men have been greaterhad Christ appeared in
greatersplendour? The majesty of Godmust be veiled to be seenby the
human eye. But did not Christ give sight to the blind, and triumph over
death? Do princes and greatestmenperform such works? Do these not
manifest Divine power?
2. The next offence is that men do not find the wisdom they seek afterin the
gospel.(1)But this objection must rise to our creation, with God for not
making us wiserthan we are.(2)This objectiondoes not affectthe practice of
religion.(3)That the gospelhas given us the greatestevidence for the certainty
of those things that canbe desired.
3. The last offence is that the gospelcontains mysterious truths.(1) This
objectiondoes not reachthe gospeluse of the word, nor can affectthe
mysteries contained in the gospel.(2)Thatthe use of the word, which is liable
to this objection, does not in any way belong to the gospel;nor are there any
such mysteries in the gospelas may justify the complaint made againstthem.
(T. Sherlock, D. D.)
Offended with Christ
C. H. Spurgeon., The Pulpit.

I. THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE SO OFFENDEDIN CHRIST THAT
THEY NEVER, TRUST HIM AT ALL OR ACCEPT HIM AS THEIR
SAVIOUR.
1. Some in His own day were offended with Him because ofthe humbleness of
His appearance. Theysaid, "He is the sun of a carpenter."
2. There are others who rejectHim because ofthe fewness ofHis followers.
3. Some are offended with Christ because ofthe grandeur of His claims. He
claims to be God.
4. Some are offended with our Lord because of His atonement.
5. Some are offended because ofthe graciousnessofthe gospel. They prefer
works.
6. Some are offended because ofthe holiness of His precepts. They like liberty
to sin.
II. THERE ARE SOME WHO JOIN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
WHO AFTER A TIME ARE OFFENDED.
1. Becausethe novelty wears off.
2. Becausethey thought that they were always going to be happy.
3. Becausethey have met an oppositionthey did not expectfrom their
enemies.
4. Becausethey beganto find that religion entailed more self-denialthan they
had reckonedupon.
5. Becauseofthe hard speechesofthose who ought to have encouragedthem.
6. Becauseofthe ill conduct of professors.
7. Through trials of providence.
III. THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE NOT OFFENDEDIN CHRIST, AND
THEY ARE DECLARED TO BE BLESSED.
1. Apart from anything else it is a blessedthing to have grace enoughgiven
you to hold fast to Christ under all circumstances.
2. Then you shall find a blessedness growing outof your fidelity,
3. But what blessednessawaitsyou.
(C. H. Spurgeon.)
I. WHO ARE THE PERSONSTHAT ARE OFFENDEDAT CHRIST?
1. Those who discredit the authenticity of His Word.

2. Who deny the Divinity of His Person.
3. Who rejectthe efficacyof His atonement.
4. Wide despise the influences of His Spirit.
5. Who backslide from the professionof His name.
II. THE THINGS AT WHICH THEY ARE OFFENDED.
1. The meanness of His birth.
2. The sufferings of His life.
3. The simplicity of His doctrines,
4. The poverty of His followers.
5. The ignominy of His death.
III. THE BLESSEDNESSOF THOSE WHO ARE NOT OFFENDED AT
CHRIST.
1. Divine peace (Psalm119.).
2. Divine comforts (Psalm 89:16).
3. Divine care (1 Peter5:7).
4. Divine honours (1 Samuel2:30).
5. Eternal reward,
6. To be offended at Christ displays the greatestignorance.
(The Pulpit.)
The offence of Christ
E. Thompson, M. A.
I. WITH REGARD TO THOSE THINGS WHICH RENDER THE
REDEEMER AN OFFENCETO THE WORLD.
1. The mysterious constitution of His nature.
2. The humbling tendency of the doctrines.
3. The exclusive characterofHis religion.
II. THE BLESSEDNESS OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT OFFENDEDIN THE
SAVIOUR. HOW is it that some embrace the Saviour, and others are
offended at Him? The reception of Him is the result of Divine illumination.
III. THE BEST MEANS OF ATTAINING THIS BLESSEDNESS.

1. EarnestPrayer.
2. Seek Godin His Word.
3. A holy life.
(E. Thompson, M. A.)
Offences againstChristianity no just grounds for infidel
S. Jenner, B. A.
ity: —
1. The objections grounded on the nature of the religion, and what it has
effected.
2. On the controversies aboutit.
3. On the conduct of its professors.
(S. Jenner, B. A.)
Offended in Christ
Zachary Pearce.
The fact that our Lord directed His reply to John himself, for his personal
satisfaction. Johnknew that Jesus was Messiah, but he did not know that His
kingdom was to be a spiritual, not a temporal one. Two objections were taken
againstChrist of old. Jews pretendedthat His condition of life was too low
and mean for what their prophets had taught them to expect;and the Gentiles
objectedto His doctrine, as not displaying enough of what they called wisdom.
He should have come as a philosopher, or as a temporal king. But He did
come, unassistedby human power, or dignity, or wisdom, and thus He was —
I. Enabled to be the pattern of all virtue.
II. The spreadof His kingdom in so short a time, the more fully displays the
hand of God.
III. His miracles acquire a greaterdegree ofevidence, and —
IV. What He taught is now not liable to be chargedwith those suspicions,
which royalty and conquestwould justly have raised.
(Zachary Pearce.)
Offences takenat Christianity

John Hodge.
I. It is not to be expectedthat a religion, though truly Divine, should be
entirely exempt from everything of difficulty, or liable to no manner of
objection.
II. Not a few of the offences takenat religion, at that of Jesus in particular,
may, they do in fact, arise entirely from men themselves, rather than from any
real occasionthat religion gives for them.
III. Many of the particular occasions ofoffence takenat the Saviour had been
themselves actually predicted.
IV. No objections brought againstChristianity should be considered alone;
they, and the evidence it produces in its favour, should be consideredtogether.
The chief objections are —
(1)The needlessnessofany supernatural revelation;
(2)the want of universality in Christianity;
(3)the weaknessofthe evidence produced in its favour;
(4)the difficulties found in some of the peculiar and sublime doctrines of the
gospel;
(5)the disagreements among those who profess the gospel;
(6)the stress which Christianity lays upon faith;
(7)the difficulties of its precepts;
(8)the inconsistencies ofprofessors.
(John Hodge.)
MessageofChrist to one beginning to be offended
Bishop W. C. Magee.
John, in prison, hears of the greatprogress of the kingdom he has heralded,
and cannotunderstand why he is left unaided, seemingly unpitied, to perish.
Not for want of power, surely; the hand that healedthe sick could open the
prison. If for want of will, canthis be the real King? Why does the axe not
smite the overshadowing tree of wickedness;why does the fan not winnow the
evil from the good? So he sends his message ofremonstrance and indignation.
To this Christ gives a twofold answer. He bids John's disciples tell their
master of His works and of His word, of His miracles and of His teaching.

I. MIRACLES, i.e., not merely things to wonder at, but signs that the
supernatural kingdom of righteousness wroughtby a power, a will, a voice
outside of and acting on nature; telling us that this order of nature may yet be
completely changedfor a higher and better, in which it shall be as unnatural
for man to suffer, sorrow, and die, as it is now natural. But the exercise ofthis
powerwas limited. Only some of the sick were healedand dead raised. To
assure us that eventually all shall be, we need, besides the evidence of Christ's
works, the declarationof His —
II. WORD — "to the poor the gospelis preached." Why is this significant?
Becausepoverty is only another word for human imperfection and weakness.
The life of humanity on earth is a life of struggle with nature. In proportion as
man subdues the earth, progress, civilization, and wealth increase. Butall are
not equally fitted for this struggle;hence, while the strong frame, keen
intellect, resolute will, conquer circumstances, the weak sufferand hunger.
But in the kingdom of heaven there is a gospelfor the poor. God has another
world, in which to redress the inequalities of this, where the poor shall hunger
and thirst no more, and where God shall wipe away the tears from all eyes.
This gospelfor the poor is no myth or mirage begottenof the fevered thirst of
man's soul. Deeprootedin historic fact lie the reasons ofthis promise. The city
of God that is to come down from heaven has had its foundation-stone laid
already upon earth. The gospelfor the poor is the gospelof the resurrection.
He who preaches it, stands beside an open grave. Moreover, the glory to come
is linked with presentsuffering as its result and fruit. The law of the heavenly
kingdom requires that the sin which hinders our happiness should be burnt
out by sorrow, and that we should bear the chastening cross in this life. While
the rich man is told that if he would walk heavenwardhe must be ready to
part with riches and become poor at Christ's bidding, the poor man is
comforted with the knowledge that weariness,sorrow, toil, suffering, and
disappointment, if takenup as a cross, if lifted as a burden the Saviour has
appointed, will bear rich fruit in heaven. Thus, out of suffering comes joy; out
of sorrow, eternalpeace;and so the trials of the poor man in this world are
made his spiritual wealthin the world to come.
(Bishop W. C. Magee.)
Offended by faithful preaching
Mr. Dodd, having preachedagainstthe profanation of the Sabbath, which
much prevailed in his parish, and especiallyamong the more wealthy
inhabitants, the servant of a nobleman, who was one of them, came to him and

said, "Sir, you have offended my lord to-day." Mr. Dodd replied, "I should
not have offended your lord, except he had been conscious to himself that he
had first offended my Lord; and if your lord will offend my Lord, let him be
offended."
The ready way to blessedness
T. Manton, D. D.
I. WHAT IT IS TO BE OFFENDEDIN CHRIST.
1. It supposes some offerand revelation made to us, that grace is brought
home to us and salvationoffered to us.
2. It implieth such an offence that either they are kept off from Christ, or else
drawn awayfrom Him.
II. UPON WHAT OCCASIONS MEN WERE OFFENDED IN CHRIST.
1. They were displeasedwith His Person.
2. They were offended at His doctrine.
3. The great stumbling-block of all was His sufferings.
III. WAS IT NOT PROPER TO THAT AGE ONLY? There is danger still: —
1. Because, thoughthe name of Christ be had in honour, yet the stricter
professionof godliness is under reproach.
2. It may happen that the stricter sortof Christians are the poorer, and so
may be despisedof men.
3. Though men be not distasted againstChristianity as a whole, yet in part, at
some of its ways.
4. There is no man but if he run up his refusal of Christ to its proper principle
he will find it to be some dislike, either from the inward constitution of his
own mind, or the external state of religion in the world.Whatis likely to
offend since Christ's exaltationinto heaven?
1. The many calamities which attend the professionof religion.
2. They may take offence at Christ's doctrine, at the purity, self-denial, the
simplicity, the mysteriousness ofit.
IV. THE KINDS OF THIS SIN OF BEING OFFENDED IN CHRIST.
1. There is an offence with contempt, and an offence with discouragement.
2. There is an offence ofignorance, and an offence of malice and opposition.

3. There is a total, and there is a partial, offence.
V. How is IT TRUE THAT THOSE THAT ESCAPE THIS SIN ARE IN THE
READY WAY TO SALVATION?
1. He that is not offended but evangelized, hath the powerand virtue of the
gospelstamped upon his heart.
2. The esteemproduceth uniform obedience.
3. We are better fortified againsttemptations to apostasy — errors, scandals,
and persecutions.
VI. MAKE USE OF THIS CAUTION. Take heedof being offended in Christ.
1. Who are in dangerof it.
2. The heinousness of it.
(1)It is unreasonable.
(2).Natural.
(3)Dangerous.
3. What shall we do to avoid it?
(1)Geta clear understanding;
(2)a mortified heart;
(3)a fervent love.
(T. Manton, D. D.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(6) Blessedis he.—The words at once confirm the view that the question
which the messengershad brought came from the Baptist himself, and show
how tenderly our Lord dealt with the impatience which it implied. A warning
was needed, but it was given in the form of a beatitude which it was still open
to him to claim and make his own. Notto find a stumbling-block in the
manner in which the Christ had actually come, that was the condition of
entering fully into the blessedness ofHis kingdom.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:2-6 Some think that John sent this inquiry for his own satisfaction. Where
there is true faith, yet there may be a mixture of unbelief. The remaining
unbelief of goodmen may sometimes, in an hour of temptation; call in
question the most important truths. But we hope that John's faith did not fail
in this matter, and that he only desired to have it strengthened and confirmed.
Others think that John sent his disciples to Christ for their satisfaction. Christ
points them to what they heard and saw. Christ's gracious condescensions and
compassions to the poor, show that it was he that should bring to the world
the tender mercies of our God. Those things which men see and hear, if
compared with the Scriptures, direct in what way salvationis to be found. It is
difficult to conquer prejudices, and dangerous not to conquer them; but those
who believe in Christ, their faith will be found so much the more to praise,
and honour, and glory.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
And blessedis he ... - The word "offence"means a "stumbling-block." See the
notes at Matthew 5:29. This verse might be rendered, "Happy is he to whom I
shall not prove a stumbling-block." That is, happy is he who shall not take
offence at my poverty and lowliness of life, so as to rejectme and my doctrine.
Happy is the one who can, notwithstanding that poverty and obscurity, see the
evidence that I am the Messiah, and follow me. It is not improbable that John
wished Jesus publicly to proclaim himself as the Christ, instead of seeking
retirement. Jesus replied that he gave sufficient evidence of that by his works;
that a man might discoverit if he chose;and that he was blessedor happy
who should appreciate that evidence and embrace him as the Christ, in spite
of his humble manner of life.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
2. Now when John had heard in the prison—Forthe accountof this
imprisonment, see on [1261]Mr6:17-20.
the works ofChrist, he sent, &c.—Onthe whole passage, seeon[1262]Lu
7:18-35.
Matthew Poole's Commentary
Ver. 4-6. We must imagine these disciples of John to have stayed with Christ
some time, and to have seenhim work some of these miracles, and to have
heard him preach, and seenthe greatsuccessofhis ministry, and then to have
left him with this answer. Luke therefore addeth, Luke 7:21, And in the same
hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and
unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then he repeateththe answerwhich
we have here, in which our Saviour refereth unto his works as sufficiently

testifying of him, John 5:36,37 10:25,37,38.We read not that these disciples
saw any dead personraised while they were with Christ, but it appeareth
from Luke 7:18, &c. that the report of such a miracle was the occasionof their
coming to Christ.
The question is, how the sight of these things done by our Saviour could be a
sufficient argument to confirm to them that he was the Messias, especially
considering that his apostles did the same things?
Answer: First, it was prophesied by Isaiah, Isaiah35:4-6, that when God
should come to save them, the eyes of the blind should be opened, and the ears
of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue
of the dumb sing: and Isaiah61:1, that the Messiahshould preach good
tidings to the meek, that is, the poor, Luke 4:18, which Christ, Luke 4:21,
applied to himself. So that the fulfilling of these promises argued that the
Messiaswas come, andno other was to be lookedfor, whether these things
were done by him or by his disciples.
Secondly, the disciples as yet had done no such things, so as his doing of them
plainly evidencedhis Divine power; the others did them but as his disciples,
by his powerand authority.
Thirdly, it is more than probable, that when the disciples did them, they used
some such form as Peter used, Acts 3:6, In the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazarethrise up and walk. We find Peter, Acts 3:12, very wary that the
people should not mistake in thinking they did it by their own poweror
holiness.
And the poor have the gospelpreachedunto them. Gr. ptwcoieuaggelizontai,
which may be translated, the poor preach the gospel, in an active sense, as the
word is used Luke 2:10; or, the poor are gospelized, taking the word in a
passive sense, as Hebrews 4:2 1 Peter1:25 4:6. In the passive sense it may be
understood either of a more external receptionof the gospelupon preaching,
or of a more internal receptionof the gospelby faith. In all senses it was true
of the times of the Messiah,

1. The poor preached the gospel;nor was this a mean evidence that the
Messiahwas come, to see a few poor fishermen at his call leaving their nets
and their friends, and following one calling them to preach a new doctrine to
the new world.
2. The poor had the gospelpreachedto them; nor was this a less evidence of
Christ to be the Messiah, considering the prophecy, Isaiah61:1, and the
contempt of the poor amongstthe Jews, John7:49.
But that the poor, who commonly are the more ignorant and rude sort of
people, should vouchsafe to hear the gospel, and be turned into the likeness of
the gospelupon Christ’s preaching to them, this was yet a higher evidence.
Many by poor understand the poor in spirit. The binding up of broken hearts,
and bringing glad tidings to souls sadden on spiritual accounts is a great effect
of the Divine power. It followeth, And blessedis he, whosoevershallnot be
offended in me. It is not improbable that our Saviour here reflects on the
disciples of John, who out of a greathonour for their master took many
occasions to be offended at Christ. One while because he and his disciples did
not first so often as they and the Pharisees, as Matthew 9:14;another while
because so many followed him, John 3:26. But the words spokenhave a
further reference than to John’s disciples. The Lord Jesus and his doctrine
are to many a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence, according to the
prophecy, Isaiah8:14 Isaiah 28:16 Luke 2:34 Romans 9:33 1 Corinthians 1:23
1 Peter2:6. The Jews stumbled at the meanness of his personand parentage,
and the meanness of his followers. The Gentiles, not at these things only, but
his ignominious death. At this day many stumble at the sublimeness and
strictness of his doctrine, &c. Christ speakshere with reference to all, and
pronounces that man a blessedman, who shall so take offence at nothing,
whether respecting his person, his life, or his death, his doctrine, or his
followers, as to deter or discourage him from embracing him, and believing in
him as the Saviour of lostsinners, that shall by faith receive him.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
And blessedis he whosoevershallnot be offended in me. The Jews were
offended at Christ's parentage and birth, at the poverty of his parents, and at
the manner of his birth, by a virgin; and at the place of his birth, which they
thought to be Galilee;at his education, because he had not learnt letters, and
was brought up to a mechanicalemployment; at his mean appearance in his
public ministry, in his own person, and in his attendants: his company and

audience being the poorer sort, the more ignorant, and who had been loose
and scandalous persons, publicans and sinners; at the doctrines he preached,
particularly, which respectedhis own deity and eternity, the distinguished
grace ofGod, and living by faith upon his flesh and blood. The disciples of
John also were offended in him, because he and his disciples did not fast, and
lead such an austere life as they and their masterdid; because ofthe meanness
and obscurity of Christ's kingdom; the imprisonment of John, and the many
reproaches, afflictions, andpersecutions, which did, and were likely to attend
a professionof Christ: this our Lord knew, and had a peculiar respectto them
in these words; but happy are those persons, who, notwithstanding all these
difficulties and discouragements, are so far from stumbling at Christ, and
falling from him, that they heartily receive him and believe in him, make a
professionof him, and hold it fast; greatly love, highly value, and esteemhim,
and are willing to part with all, and bear all for his sake:these are blessed,
notwithstanding all their sufferings for him even now; they have spiritual
peace, joy, and comfort in their souls, and shall be happy in the full enjoyment
of him to all eternity.
Geneva Study Bible
And blessedis he, whosoevershallnot be offended in me.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Expositor's Greek Testament
Matthew 11:6. μακάριος (vide Matthew 5:3), possessedof rare felicity. The
word implies that those who, on some ground or other, did not stumble over
Jesus were very few. Even John not among them! On σκανδαλίζω vide ad.
Matthew 5:29. ἐν ἐμοί, in anything relating to my public ministry, as
appearing inconsistentwith my Messianic vocation.
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
6. And blessedis he] Blessedare all who see that these works of mine are truly
the works ofthe Messiah. Some had thought only of an avenging and
triumphant Christ.
blessed]A term that denotes spiritual insight and advance in the true life.
Bengel's Gnomen
Matthew 11:6. Μακάριος,blessed)A rare felicity. That very circumstance,
that many should be offended in Him, was foretold as a sign of the
Messiah.[514]He loadedothers with benefits; He Himself was weak, poor,

despised.—ὃς ἐὰν, whosoever)especiallyofthe disciples of John, who saw the
difference betweenhis mode of living and that of our Lord. See Matthew
11:18-19.
[514]Isaiah 52:14. That very fact was an argument likely to be easily
appreciated, especiallyby the disciples of John. See Matthew 11:18, with
which comp. Matthew 11:19.—V. g.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 6. - And blessedis he, whosoevershallnot be offended (Matthew 5:29,
note) in me; shall find none occasionofstumbling in me (RevisedVersion).
But exhibits perfecttrust under delay and disappointment (James 1:12).
Vincent's Word Studies
Be offended (σκανδαλιοθῇ)
See on Matthew 5:29. Rev., shall find none occasionofstumbling. Compare
Wyc., shall not be slandered.
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
"When Jesus Disappoints Us"
Matthew 11:1-6
Theme: Jesus is a Savior who disappoints our expectations, but does more
than we expected.
(Delivered Sunday, March 12, 2006 atBethany Bible Church. All Scripture
quotes, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New King James Version.)
This morning, we come to a turning point in our study of the Gospelof
Matthew, and of the story it tells us of Jesus'earthly ministry.
Prior to this point, Jesus'earthly ministry was - for the most part - warmly
received. Many marveled at His teaching, and wonderedat the miracles He
performed. But when we come to Chapter 11, we find that Jesus beganto
experience opposition. We find that the people to whom He came did not
receive Him. The Pharisees andthe religious leaders beganto bring

accusationsagainstHim. Even members of His own family beganto turn
againstHim; and the people of His own hometownrejectedHim. We find that
His teaching became more and more controversialin the minds of those who
heard it. His authority became increasinglychallenged. His actions became
increasinglyviewed as a threat to the religious culture of the day. The
opposition againstHim grew and grew; until, eventually, He was betrayed
into the hands of wickedmen, and He died alone upon a despisedcross - with
His few remaining followers having abandoned Him.
If I may put it this way - with the utmost reverence - Jesus, atthe end of His
earthly ministry, proved to be a greatdisappointment to those who followed
Him and expectedso much from Him.
But then, three days later, He rose from the dead - just as He promised; and
now ever lives as our Savior!
He always exceeds expectations!
* * * * * * * * * *
Before we begin our look at Matthew 11, let me share another story with you.
Do you remember the story of the two disciples as they walkedalong the road
to Emmaus, shortly after Jesus had been crucified? It's found in Luke 24. As I
read that story, I can't help but notice the "disappointment" they felt over
Jesus.
Without their knowing it, Jesus had risen from the dead in victory; but their
eyes were restrained, and they didn't know that He had come along side the
road bodily and walkedwith them. They were mourning His death; and as
they strolled along, this fellow traveler - Jesus Himself - askedthem why they
were so sad. And they were astonishedat the question: "Are You the only
strangerin Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened
there in these days?" And when He asked whatthings they spoke of, they said,
"The things concerning Jesus ofNazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed
and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our
rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we
were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Yes, and certain
women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonishedus. When
they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seena vision of
angels who said He is alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the
tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see"
(Luke 24:19-24).

Now think of the disappointment they expressed. Theysaid, "But we were
hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel." They - like so many of
that day - were expecting Jesus to be the conquering, victorious Messiahthat
the Jewishpeople were hoping for and had long been expecting. They were
looking for Him to be a mighty military and political leader - one who would
overthrow the Roman govermnent, and bring a victorious end to their
occupationof the land; and who would then take up His rightful upon the
throne of King David, and restore the earthly kingdom of Israelto its former
glory and majesty.
Instead, what happened? Jesus - the One upon whom they had pinned their
hopes - was crucified on a humiliating Romancross like a common criminal;
and all their expectations of Him were abruptly cut short. Clearly, they still
loved Him; but just as clearly, they were disappointed in their hopes of Him.
And yet - ironically - there He was alive, walking along and chatting with
them! And as we read on, we find that He even rebukes them for
misunderstanding the situation as it really was. He says,
"O foolishones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have
spoken!Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into
His glory?" And beginning at Moses andall the Prophets, He expounded to
them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself (vv. 25-27).
They were disappointed with Jesus, yousee, because He hadn't fulfilled the
expectations that they had for Him. And yet, He rebuked them for not having
the right expectations, andfor not believing what the Scriptures had said
WOULD happen to Him! And so, He beganspeaking to them from the
writings of Moses - and on throughout the rest of the Scriptures. Point-by-
point He proved to them that, in dying on the cross, He actually fulfilled
everything that the Scriptures promised concerning the Messiah.
I would have loved to have heard that sermon; wouldn't you? The Bible tells
us that their hearts burned within them as He opened the Scriptures to them.
I believe that they began to see that the problem wasn't with Him - but with
them! They had not believed what the Scriptures had said concerning Him;
and so they had come to expect Him to do things that He had never promised
He would do. And naturally, when He didn't do what they expected Him to
do, they were disappointed with Him.
What humility of heart they must have experiencedwhen they finally came to
understand this, and to repent of their misunderstanding! And what joy must
have been theirs when He revealedHimself to them, and they realized that He
truly had done what He had promised - and more! And what even greaterjoy

still - and what glorious hope! - must have been theirs when they realized that
He truly WILL fulfill all the promises about Him that were yet to be
accomplished!
* * * * * * * * * *
Now;let's be honest this morning. Have you ever been disappointed with
Jesus? Didyou ever approachHim with a set of expectations, and find that He
did not fulfill them? Have you ever felt as if Jesus had let you down?
I'll never forgeta conversationI had with a woman once, many years ago. She
used to work in a place where I worked;and when she found out that I was a
Christian, she walkedup to me and really let me have it. "I was in to that
'Christianity' stuff once," she said;"but turned awayfrom it, and I'll never
return to it again. I want nothing to do with the kind of God you Christians
worship. He let me down when I needed Him most."
I was shocked;but I had the presence ofmind to ask her what she meant. She
told me that she had a sisterthat she loved very much. They were best friends.
But she came home one day to the horrible sight of her sisterin her room -
hanging by the neck at the end of a rope. "If there's a Godin heaven," she
said - in some of the most bitter tones I think I've ever heard - "then why did
He let my sister commit suicide? Why didn't He stop her? If that's your God,
then I want nothing to do with Him."
I wish I could make a really happy ending out of this story; but I'm afraid I
can't. I was still very young in the faith; and I didn't know what to say to this
poor woman. But if I could go back in time, I certainly would listen to her
pain for a while and weep with her over her loss. I'd ask about her sister's life,
and let her share with me what she loved about her. But then - after a whole
lot of tender and sympathetic listening; and after affirming her pain and
frustration over her loss - I think I'd want to gently let her know that she was
mad at Jesus for failing to keepa promise that He never made. She had an
unfair expectationof Him. She had expectedHim to violate the will of one of
her loved ones and to prevent her from ever doing anything harmful to
herself. And so, when He didn't do what she apparently expectedthat He had
a duty to do, she became disappointed with Him, grew to resent Him, and
finally came to rejectedHim.
That was just one incident. But since then, I have encountered many people
who became offended at Jesus in much the same sortof way - that is, because
He didn't do what they expectedHim to do. Some folks expectedthat, if they
asked, He would getthem out of some particular situation or problem they
had gotteninto; and when He didn't, they became disappointed in Him. There

are many people sitting in a prison cellsomewhere - very disappointed and
bitter toward Jesus for that very reason.
Others have expectedthat, if they pray and ask Him, Jesus is obligatedto take
awaytheir illness - or the illness of some loved one. But many people have sat
in a funeral director's office somewhere -very disillusioned and disappointed
with Jesus for not fulfilling that expectation.
Others have heard from a preacheron television - or have read in a book
somewhere - that if you turn to Jesus and follow Him, He will most certainly
bless you with material prosperity and riches. They were even promised that
if they gave generouslyto some particular ministry, the Lord Jesus was
guaranteedto bless them a hundred times over. And yet, as a result, many
people have found themselves broke - and very disappointed with Jesus for
not fulfilling their expectation.
I've heard many such stories. Many times, in one way or another, I've been
told, "I've tried trusting Jesus;and I found that He didn't help me. It doesn't
work to trust Him." Those kind of stories break my heart. But I have say this
with love; the problem is never with Jesus whenHe disappoints our
expectations. The problem is always with us and our expectations of Him. We
expectedHim to do something that He never said He would do. We expect
Him to fulfill our expectations on call. And yet, the plain fact is that He isn't
obligatedto fulfill the expectations we place on Him.
But on the other hand, the more I've gotten to know Him, the more He
surprises me. As I have gottento know Him better, I have found that He isn't
always what I expectedHim to be. But I have always found that He does
everything that He promises to do in a way that exceeds my feeble
expectations ofHim!
* * * * * * * * * *
I'm so glad, then, that the Lord has seenfit to include this morning's story in
the Scriptures. At first glance, it seems like a very bad piece of P.R. to have in
the Bible! After all, it tells us of how the man who was appointed by God to be
the greatestadvocateforJesus in His earthly ministry - a man who, in fact,
had been prophesied in the Old TestamentScriptures as the 'forerunner' and
'herald' of our Lord's earthly ministry - expresseda growing sense of
disappointment in Him.
And yet, the Lord took his doubts seriously;and answeredthem. And what
the Lord told Him in this passage gives encouragementto the rest of us who
have those times of doubt - those times when Jesus seems to disappoint us.

First, notice . . .
I. THE PROBLEM:JESUS DOES NOT ALWAYS FULFILL THE
EXPECTATIONSTHAT WE PLACE ON HIM (vv. 1-3).
The setting of this particular story was the completion of Jesus'commissionto
His twelve disciples. He was sending them out with orders to preachabout
Him to the cities of "the lost sheepof the house of Israel" (Matthew 10:6).
Jesus gives them many instructions and warnings throughout Chapter 10; and
then we read,
Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples,
that He departed from there to teachand to preach in their cities (Matthew
11:1).
I believe that the Holy Spirit intentionally included this particular story at the
beginning of Jesus'preaching ministry throughout these cities of Israel. As we
read on, we find that the people of Israel didn't receive Him or repent at His
preaching. In fact, we're even told - in verses 20-24, afterHis preaching
ministry was completed-
Then He beganto rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had
been done, because they did not repent: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you,
Bethsaida!Forif the mighty works which were done in you had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackclothand ashes.
But I sayto you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of
judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will
be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you
had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say to
you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodomin the day of
judgment than for you" (Matthew 11:20-24).
You would have expected, on a strictly human level, that the Messiahwould
have been warmly receivedby those who were waiting for Him. But the factis
that you would have had a wrong expectation. And the Bible prophesied long
ago that such would be the case. Isaiahwrote - in one of the clearestMessianic
prophecies in all of Scripture:
Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despisedand rejectedby men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteemHim (Isaiah 53:1-3).
No one, then, should have expectedthe Messiahto be well-receivedby His
own people at His first coming. The Scriptures never promised He would be.
In fact, they promised the very opposite.
* * * * * * * * * *
Matthew then goes onto suggestto us what was happening within the mind of
John the Baptistduring this time.
John had been thrown into prison (Matthew 4:12); and may have been in
prison for quite some time. He had served faithfully as God's prophet; and
had even confronted open sin in the life of the king. He had confronted Herod
Antipas - tetrarch of Galilee - because Herodhad married the wife of his own
brother in disobedience to the Scriptures (Matthew 14:4; Leviticus 18:16).
Luke, in his Gospel, puts it this way: "But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked
by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils
which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in
prison" (Luke 3:19-20).
Try to think with me what might have been going on in John's mind, as he sat
in prison for being a faithful prophet of God. He knew that he had indeed
been sent by God as "[t]he voice of one crying in the wilderness:'Prepare the
way of the LORD, Make His paths straight"' (Matthew 3:3; see also Isaiah
40:3). He knew that it was given by God for him to announce the coming of
the Messiah(John1:26-27;3:28) - and to point Jesus out to the people and
declare, "Behold!The Lamb of God who takes awaythe sin of the world!" (v.
29).
And what's more, He knew that this Coming One would be a conquering and
victorious Messiah. He told the people who came to be baptized by him;
"I indeed baptize you with water unto 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. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He
will thoroughly cleanout His threshing floor, and gatherHis wheat into the

barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:11-
12).
And yet, here he was languishing awayin prison; and he couldn't help but
notice that the mighty 'conquest' does not seemto have happened yet. His
disciples had apparently told him what Jesus was doing (Luke 7:18); but it
wasn't going the way he thought it was supposedto go. Where's the
winnowing fan? Where's the unquenchable fire? The things Jesus was doing
where certainly wonderful. He was healing people. But they are not at all what
John was expecting. He expected Jesus to be riding into Israelon a white
stallion. Instead, it seemedas if He were strolling acrossthe land with a first-
aid kit!
In fact, I would suggestto you that Jesus oftensurprised John. John
apparently couldn't tell that Jesus was the Son of God just by looking. It took
an act of the Holy Spirit to identify Him to John (John 1:33-34;see also Isaiah
53:2). And then, when Jesus came to John to be baptized by him, John clearly
didn't expect it. "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?"
he said (Matthew 3:14). In fact, Jesus didn't even acthow John thought the
Messiahshould act. John's disciples once came to Jesus and asked, "Whydo
we and the Pharisees fastoften, but Your disciples do not fast?" (Matthew
9:14).
And now, John sits in prison and sees thatJesus was not even behaving like
the conquering Messiahthat he - and all of Israel - expectedthe Messiahto be.
Perhaps, then, you can relate to John's doubts and growing disappointment
when you read,
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of
his disciples and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for
another?" (Matthew 11:2-3).
* * * * * * * * * *
So; there's the problem. We have expectations about Jesus;but He doesn't
always fulfill the expectations we place on Him. It seems to me, as I read the
Bible more and more, that we should getused to the fact that Jesus often
surprises us. Just when we think we know Him, we find that He is quite a bit
different from what we thought He was. He always proves to be more than we
thought He was;and He will always prove to be greaterthan our expectations
of Him were. He will always exceedour understanding.
Now, John was right about the things that He expectedJesus to do. He was
right to expect Jesus to be the "conquering Messiah" that He believed Him to
be. But the error of the Jewishpeople to whom He came - and the error also

of John, who was the greatestand the best of the Jewishpeople - was in
thinking that that was all Jesus was - a conquering Messiah. It's true that He
would eventually be the 'Conquering King' that the Scriptures promised He
would be; but first, He came to this earth to be the 'Suffering Sacrifice'that
the Scriptures ALSO promised Him to be.
This leads us then to acknowledgesomething that we, ourselves, shouldalways
remember when Jesus disappoints our expectations . . .
II. THE FACT: JESUS KEEPS HIS PROMISES IN GREATER WAYS
THAN WE EXPECTED (vv. 4-5).
Luke, in his Gospelaccountofthis story, tells us that the disciples that John
had sent actually spent time with Jesus whenthey came with this question.
Luke tells us that they were with Jesus "the very hour" that "He cured many
infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind gave sight" (Luke
7:21). I even secretlywonderif they watchedfor a while; and then had Jesus
turn to them and say, "Now, boys; you had some kind of question for me from
John. What was it?" How would it have been at such a time to say, "Lord, our
master sentus to You with doubts in his heart. He sentus to ask, 'Are You the
Coming One, or do we look for another?' But now that we have seenfor
ourselves, how could we everask such a thing?"
I greatly appreciate how Jesus deals with John's doubts. He loved John and
respectedhis sincere question. Our Lord didn't rebuke John for asking;but
He did give him the answerhe needed. We read;
Jesus answeredandsaid to them, "Go and tell John the things which you hear
and see . . ." (v. 4).
And if I may just offer a quick aside? Perhaps there's a lessonfor us in this.
Sometimes, our doubts and disappointments are alleviatedthrough the
experience of another brother or sisterJesus sends to us. Perhaps there are
times when doubts about Jesus are meant to be taken awaythrough the eye-
witness accounts offriends or loved ones who can testify - from personal
experience - that Jesus truly is the Son of God; and that He powerfully
changes the lives of those who trust Him.
He may not fulfill our own fallible expectations of Him; but if we listen to
others who love Him, we may well be reminded that He does so much more
than we expect!
* * * * * * * * * *
Jesus then goes onto pass on His messianic credentials to John. He tells the
disciples of John to tell him what they both see and hear - both what they have

watchedwith their own eyes, and what they have heard through the testimony
of others with their own ears:
". . . 'The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansedand the deaf
hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospelpreachedto them'"
(v. 5).
These, ofcourse, were all things that Jesus had done. The disciples of John
saw some of it with their own eyes;and they heard the testimony of much of it
from others. And I remind you that you and I have the same testimony
recordedfor us in the Scriptures; so that we, too, might believe in Him.
But there's more. The report of these things would have been tremendously
significant to any Jewishman or womanwho knew the Old Testament
promises about the Messiah. EveryJewishpersonwho was truly paying
attention, and who knew the Scriptures, would have remembered such
passagesas Isaiah29:17-18 and its promise of the glorious days of the coming
of the Messiah;
Is it not yet a very little while
Till Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
And the fruitful field be esteemedas a forest?
In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book,
And the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness (Isaiah
29:17-18).
Or perhaps they'd remember Isaiah35:4-6;
"Sayto those who are fearful-hearted,
'Be strong, do not fear!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
With the recompense ofGod;
He will come and save you.'
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Then the lame shall leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the dumb sing.
For waters shallburst forth in the wilderness,
And streams in the desert" (Isaiah35:4-6).

Or Isaiah 61:1-2; where the MessiahHimself prophetically speaks - words
that Jesus once evenclearly attributed to Himself during His earthly ministry;
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me,
Becausethe LORD has anointed Me
To preach goodtidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable yearof the LORD"
(Isaiah 61:1-2a;see also Luke 4:18-19).
I believe that when the disciples of John went back and told John these things
that they heard and saw, Johnremembered these promises;and his heart was
encouragedthat this - indeed - was the Messiahthat he and his people had
been waiting for. Jesus was truly doing what the Scriptures promised that the
Messiahwoulddo.
* * * * * * * * * *
And then - although we're not told this - I believe that John even remembered
more. I believe that the connectionthat he would have made in his mind to the
promises in the Book ofIsaiah would have also reminded him of another setof
promises made there concerning the Messiah's suffering. Perhaps John's
mind would have gone back to Isaiah53; where it says this about the Coming
One:
Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemedHim stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisementfor our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheephave gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressedand He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheepbefore its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressionsofMy people He was stricken.
And they made His grave with the wicked -
But with the rich at His death,
BecauseHe had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Yet it pleasedthe LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
BecauseHe poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercessionfor the transgressors(Isaiah53:4-12).
We're not told this of course - I'm only speculating. But I suspectthat John
reflectedon what was told him about the works of Jesus;and that he beganto
realize that this "Conquering Messiah"was so much more than what he had
expected. His expectations of Jesus were biblical - but (if I may put it this way)

not biblical enough. He now knew Jesus will prove to be the conquering King
of kings; but that Jesus must first come to serve as the suffering Sacrifice for
sinners - and truly be the Lamb of God.
I believe our doubts and disappointments with Jesus begin to disappear, when
we realize that He is so much greaterthan our expectations!He fulfills all His
promises;but always does so in ways that are greaterthan we could possibly
imagine.
* * * * * * * * * *
And I have to pause at this point and ask. Are you disappointed with Jesus?
Has He failed in some way to fulfill your expectations? Perhaps it's because
you have not really expectedenough of Him! Perhaps you've only lookedto
Him to provide something for you that you "want";but didn't realize that He
first comes to provide something that you "need". Perhaps you have not yet
trusted Him as what He first came to be - the Lamb of God, who sacrificed
Himself for our sins on the cross.
This leads us to one final thing. It's a word that Jesus spoke to John; but I
believe it is intended to be an encouragementto all who have doubts and
disappointments about Jesus:
III. THE ENCOURAGEMENT:BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO IS NOT
OFFENDED BECAUSE OF HIM (v. 6).
To John - and to all who have mistakenexpectations of Jesus that He does not
fulfill - He says,
"And blessedis he who is not offended because ofMe" (Matthew 11:6).
The word that is used here is the Greek wordskandalizõ;and it means "to be
causedto stumble" or to "be offended". The New International Version
translates it, "Blessedis the man who does not fall awayon accountof me."
And I believe that truly captures the spirit of Jesus'wordof encouragementin
this verse.
When Jesus disappoints someone's illegitimate expectations ofHim, it's easy
for them to turn awayfrom Him. It's easyfor them to think that He has let
them down; and so, they want nothing more to do with Him. Many, as you
know, have said just that. It was the attitude that even John the Baptist was
being tempted by. But here, Jesus encouragesthat man or woman not to give
up.
It's always dangerous to put words in the Lord's mouth; but I believe that it
really is as if He says to the disappointed man or woman, "Hang in there, dear
suffering one. I know I haven't been what you expected Me to be. I know you

think that I've let you down somehow. But the problem is not Me. The
problem is the expectations you have laid upon Me. Realize that I am much
greaterthan the little box you put Me into. Remember that I am not yours to
command. Repent of your expectations. Believe whatthe Scriptures say about
Me. Trust Me to do - not what you want Me to do - but what I have pledged
Myself in the Scriptures to do for you. And if you trust Me in that way, I will
never disappoint you. You will find that I will have accomplishedeverything I
said I would do, and more! You will find that I am far more than you ever
thought I could be; and that you will - in due time - be eternally satisfiedin
Me."
* * * * * * * * * *
Did you come here this morning in some way "disappointed" with Jesus? Do
you struggle with doubts about Him because He hasn't done what you have
wanted Him to do? Has He, in some deeply personaland painful way, grieved
you by fallen short of your expectations? Thenplease know you are not alone.
In fact, you are in goodcompany. Even the greatJohn the Baptist struggledin
the same way.
If that's your experience this morning, then please know that Jesus loves you.
And please allow me to offer you some counselfrom this morning's passage.
I recommend that, first, you step back and examine your expectations of Him.
Have you been expecting Him to do something for you, or be something to
you, that He never promised in the Scriptures? Remember - the
disappointment never comes from Him. It comes from our wrong and
unbiblical expectations aboutHim. Perhaps you have some "expectations"of
Him that you have createdin your ownmind, or that you have been taught
from those who misrepresentedJesus to you. Perhaps you have come here
today with some expectations of Jesus that you need to repent of and let go.
But second, I would urge you to go to the Scriptures and getto know Him
better. Find out what He is really like. Learn what He has truly promised to
do. He always surprises those who getto know Him. He is always greaterthan
our expectations;and He always does far more exceedinglyabundantly above
all that we could ask or think. His word assures us that He always fulfills His
own promises;and will always do so in ways that far exceedour greatest
expectations ofHim.
And third, remember His word of encouragement:"[B]lessedis he who is not
offended because ofMe." Hang in there. Don't give up. Hold on to Him and
never let go. Admit that you don't always understand Him, but that by faith
you will cling to Him.

If you embrace Him with all your heart as the Suffering Saviorwho died on
the cross foryou, then you can rest assuredthat He will never prove to be a
disappointment to you.
Misseda message?Check the Archives!
Copyright © 2006 BethanyBible Church, All Rights Reserved
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Matthew 11:1-6: “JohnThe Baptist Sends His Disciples To See If Jesus
ReallyIs The Christ”
by
Jim Bomkamp
Back Bible Studies Home Page
1. INTRO:
1.1. In this next sectionwe will begin to take a look at the man John the
Baptist, or as Jon Coursonrefers to him, ‘J The B’
1.1.1. In this first study we will look at him as a goodand righteous man,
really the best that everlived during the Old Testamenttimes, yet a man who
at a certain juncture in his life had real and honestdoubts about who Jesus
was
1.1.1.1.Having servedthe Lord faithfully for all of his life, and then during the
couple years of his ministry of proclaiming the need to repent and to be ready
for the coming of the Lord and His Kingdom, John had then found himself in
prison for condemning Herod Antipas for his adulterous relationship with
Herodias, and it was here in the isolationof months of time in a prison that he
beganto have doubts about whether or not Jesus truly was the Messiah

1.1.1.2.He servesas an encouragementfor us today since most goodpeople
experience doubts in certaintimes of their life
1.1.1.3.He also servesas anexample to us because whenhe had doubts he took
them to the Lord
2. VS 11:1 - “11:1 And it came about that when Jesus had finished
giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He departed from there to teach
and preachin their cities.” - Jesus departedfrom teaching His 12 disciples
and went to teachand preach in the synagogues ofGalilee
2.1. Jesus not only soughtto instruct His disciples when the opportunity
presenteditself, He also soughtopportunities to preach the gospelof His
coming Kingdom to the common people
3. VS 11:2-6 - “2 Now when John in prison heard of the works of
Christ, he sentword by his disciples, 3 and said to Him, “Are You the
ExpectedOne, or shall we look for someone else?”4 And Jesus answeredand
said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:5 the blind
receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansedand the deaf hear,
and the dead are raisedup, and the poor have the gospelpreachedto them. 6
“And blessedis he who keeps from stumbling over Me.”” - John the Baptist
sends his disciples to determine if Jesus reallyis the Christ or just a great
prophet
3.1. The question that we have here regarding these verses is whether or
not John the Baptist is really having serious doubt about whether or not Jesus
was the Messiah? Was he wondering if he had been reading things wrong all
along?
3.1.1. There are those who teach that John was sucha greatman of faith that
he couldn’t have been having serious doubts at this time, therefore he senthis
disciples with this question to Jesus for their sake, nothis
3.1.2. Ipersonally believe that John was having honest doubts about Jesus
3.1.2.1.Johnsurely had never really understood many of the concepts ofJesus’
first coming, for he like everyone else had probably thought that Jesus would
sooncome to power and conquer the nations as Israel’s king and establishHis

reign upon earth, yet it was seeming obvious by this time to John that Jesus
had no such plans in mind
3.1.2.1.1.Jesus’firstcoming was to be the suffering Messiahto die on the cross
for the sins of the world, yet had John really come to understand this and all
its implications? Probably not.
3.1.2.2.John, the wandering free spirit who had lived his life out among nature
had been sitting as a captive in a dinjy horrible prison now for many months,
and this prolongedsuffering causedJohn to have his faith tested
3.1.2.3.There is a poem called, ‘How Often’, that deals with Christians and
our doubting:
How often we trust eachother
And only doubt our Lord.
We take the word of mortals,
And yet distrust His word;
But, oh, what light and glory
Would shine o’er our days,
If we always would remember
God means just what He says
3.1.2.4.Anotherpoemfrom the GospelBannercalled ‘Faith And Doubt’ is as
follows:
Doubt sees the obstacles,
Faith sees the way!
Doubt sees the darkestnight,
Faith sees the day!
Doubt dreads to take a step.
Faith soars on high!
Doubt questions, ‘Who believes?’
Faith answers, ‘I!’

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