A Warning to Modern Day Pastors and Preachers from Matthew 11:20-30

This is a message for pastors. I am discharging this message to you. You’ve been duly warned.

Matthew 11:20-30 is one of the most sobering, yet hopeful sections of Scripture in all of Matthew. Jesus gives a stern warning to three cities (Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum) that should have repented because of his testimony. Listen to what he says:

Matthew 11:20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21″Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22″Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

23″And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24″Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Why is Jesus speaking so harshly against these cities? Because they would not repent! Their hearts were hardened. They would not turn from their wickedness. Jesus even used “Woe!” The word “woe” is used to express grief, regret, or distress. Can you imagine if Jesus were to say that to you? How would

you

respond? It is my prayer that you would respond with repentance!

This message is repeated many times throughout Scripture. One prominent is Luke 16, with the story Jesus tells of the rich man and Lazarus. Bear in mind: this is not a parable. In no other parable does Jesus use a proper name to describe any of the participants. He calls the poor beggar Lazarus, signifying that this was a real event, not a parable simply meant to impart meaning. The events Jesus describes actually happened.

You know the story. Lazarus died as did the rich man. Lazarus goes to Abraham’s bosom, and the rich man goes to Hell. At first, the rich man is thinking only of his own torment, and asks if his tongue could be cooled. After he is told that he’s not going to receive any reprieve from his punishment, he asks that someone be sent to his five brothers to warn them of impending doom if they don’t change their ways. (Even from Hell, the man wants an evangelist sent to his brothers.) But he is told the following:

Luke 16:27 “And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house– 28for I have five brothers–in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29″But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’

Notice that Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; Let them hear them” Let’s translate that to today for us: WE have the Scriptures. We have the testimony of God’s saints. We have the very WORD OF GOD! What gives me chills are the two following verses:

Luke 16:30 “But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31″But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Does this not convict you? Oh that we would truly understand this teaching! They will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead! In our generation, Jesus’ resurrection is being attacked, especially by some of those in the emergent movement (process theology) camp. Phyllis Tickle has even said that it’s possible to be a Christian without believing in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. What rank heresy! Repentance is necessary for true Christian faith, as well as believing in the physical resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Back in Matthew 11, three cities were mentioned. The precise location of Bethsaida and Korazin are not known today, but we know of Capernaum. Bethsaida means “a house of hunting or of game.” It was probably located near the Galilean sea banks. We also know from Scripture (John 1:44) that Phillip, Andrew, and Peter were from Bethsaida.

However, we DO know something of the cities (Tyre and Sidon) that these unrepentant villages were compared to. Tyre and Sidon were opulent, wealthy places. 2 Chronicles 2:11-16 lists these cities as places where building materials for Solomon’s temple were derived. These cities were very old and yet Jesus is saying that these cities would have repented if they’d seen the miracles in them that were performed in Bethsaida and Korazin.

What would have caused them to repent? The Mighty works of Jesus Christ!

In our culture, what mighty works have been done? What has Christ done for us? Has Christ been proclaimed here? Of course! Do you realize that westernized countries are overrun with Bibles? We have churches everywhere. Pastor, what of Jesus have you shown forth to this wicked generation?

But WOE to us! We kill 3,700 babies A DAY in the US due to abortion alone. The figures below from AbortionNO should shock you into how wicked our nation is:

UNITED STATES
Number of abortions per year: 1.37 Million (1996)
Number of abortions per day: Approximately 3,700

Who’s having abortions (religion)?
Women identifying themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the U.S.; Catholic women account for 31.3%, Jewish women account for 1.3%, and women with no religious affiliation obtain 23.7% of all abortions. 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as “Born-again/Evangelical”.

Did you catch that? Add it up: 55.4% of the women having abortions (OVER HALF) of them either claim to be Protestants, or “Born-again/Evangelical.” What wickedness!

Why? Why does this happen? I blame many pastors for this tragedy. In an effort to be culturally relevant, many pastors are preaching “feel-good” messages aimed at increasing church attendance, rather than preaching messages of holiness, righteousness, and what we must do to live lives that are pleasing to God!

You see, in whatever direction culture turns, the church is not far behind. Don’t believe me? Just go to Youtube and do a search for church humor. The videos that result should be revolting. We pastors have turned church into an entertainment center and as a result, MEN are not being taught to be the biblical, Godly leaders of their homes that they should be. Because of the lack of Biblical men in the church today, women (our daughters and wives) are coming to their own conclusions about whether life is sacred, and how important careers should be, instead of how precious life is. Christian women today are making decisions to kill their children because they truly believe that it’s for the best.

WAKE UP! Woe to us, American pastors!

In Leonard Ravenhill’s book “Why Revival Tarries”, he says the following on p. 20:

“The tragedy of this late hour is that we have too many dead men in the pulpits giving out too many dead sermons to too many dead people.”

I wholeheartedly agree! Pastors and preachers need to be alert, and sober-minded. What is it going to take for us westernized Christians to wake up and realize we’ve fallen into a pit? When are we going to repent with sackcloth and ashes and turn away from our wickedness?

Matthew 11:23 “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24″Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Did Jesus really say that it would be MORE tolerable for the land of Sodom? Yes, He did! Oh, that we would wake up! This is not some sort of word game we Christians are playing. This isn’t a time to just nod in mental assent to the teachings of Christ! This is absolute spiritual warfare between those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ, and those who oppose Him.

Jesus now THANKS God the Father that these things were hidden:

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26″Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27 “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

Has Christ revealed the Father to you? Do you realize your need for repentance? Pastors, are you teaching your flock the truths of the Bible? Are you broken in prayer for your sheep? Do you realize the peril they are in if they perish without Christ?

Yet still, we must praise the Lord! He continues to offer us redemption! Even though we are wicked, even though we murder our children daily, Christ has come! He offers us rest!

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”

Rest from what? From the yoke of legalism, for one.

I love to evangelize. I love sharing the Gospel with someone for the first time. It’s so exciting to me, knowing that I have been given an opportunity to share the love of Christ with someone who may not believe. Most of the time, if I ask someone, “Why should God allow you into Heaven?” the answer I receive is: “Because I am a good person.”

My answer to them? No you’re not! Even if someone managed some sort of humanistic change and they were able to stop sinning from this moment forward until their life ended, they would still wind up in Hell for their hardness of heart because of the unforgiven sins of their past. We must NEVER presume to say that God OWES US salvation! God forbid it! We all deserve punishment for our past. If you think that you can just be good from this day forward consider this verse:

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
You’re not good. There is but one who’s good, and that’s God. And it is this self-same God who offers us salvation through the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus rescues us from that yoke of self-righteous legalism. He rescues us from our sin and wickedness. The Holy Spirit removes our stony hearts, and gives us hearts that beat for him!

Matthew 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30″For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

What are you yoked to? Are you yoked to the Law, or to Christ? If you are yoked to the law, you’re yoked to the entirety of it.

Galatians 5:1It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?

Pastors, are you preaching weak sermons that are meant to attract goats? Or are you preaching with unction, praying and pleading that the Lord would draw His own elect unto Himself? Do you soft-pedal the Gospel, like Rick Warren, Robert Shuller, Joel Osteen, and others? Or do you preach God’s word with the power of the Holy Spirit?

I am laying this charge at your feet, pastors. The sheep are not being fed, so instead they turn to wickedness. Are you going to be faithful to preach God’s word and stand firm, come what may?