July 9, 2023
Passage Read: Matthew 11-12
Meditation Verses: 11:21-22
Thought
Tyre and Sidon would have repented long ago if they had seen the miracles that Jesus was doing. But He didn't do them there. He didn't go where people would have repented, but went to the lost sheep of Israel. And by implication, despite the large number of people following Him, He implies that not many repented. Thousands of people followed Him. How big were the towns around there? Yet He says that none of the cities where He did miracles repented. In fact, they would all be condemned by people and places far from them, unclean gentiles who did repent, who did seek the Lord. What is Jesus looking for and not finding? He's not finding whole communities and cities proclaiming a fast and putting on sackcloth like the Ninevites did. People are impressed by Jesus, but they're not convicted and repentant.
Application
Jesus is not deceived by all the attention. People crowd Him, they want to see miracles, but they don't hear His call to repentance. They don't fear God, they don't fear judgment, they don't repent in sackcloth and ashes. God has come near and is doing miraculous things among them, so they think everything is good with them and God. They think they're favored, so need to do nothing but enjoy the blessing. When they should be cut to the heart and grieving over their waywardness. True repentance is being ashamed of myself in the presence of a holy God, falling upon my face, apologizing profusely for my rebellion and sin, pleading for mercy and help to change my ways, and hating my old ways enough to rid myself of them. Jesus is looking for real repentance and won't be deceived by appreciation. He is looking for dramatic, thorough repentance. That's what I need to have and also what I need to look for in others.