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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 69 : Rebuking of the cities

Text: Matthew 11
18 June 2023

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 18 JUNE 2023
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 11

Subject: Rebuking of the cities

20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:
21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But 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, 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.
24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

Matthew 11:20-24

1. The mighty works of the Lord Jesus

a) Miracles
b) Casting out of demons

2. The cities that the Lord Jesus visited

a) Chorazin
b) Bethsaida
c) Capernaum

3. These were major cities of Galilee

a) They were so privileged
b) The Lord Jesus ministered among them from time to time
c) Capernaum was an exalted city in the days of the Lord Jesus

4. The response of these cities

a) Inertia
b) Unresponsive
c) Unrepentant
5. Cities in the path that had rejected God’s messengers
a) Sodom and Gomorrah (Cf. Genesis 19)
b) Tyre and Sidon (Cf. Isaiah 23)
c) If they had seen the miracles of the Lord Jesus, they would have repented
6. Judgment of the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum
a) The day of judgment would come to them
b) The cities would have no excuse
c) They would be judged

THE DOCTRINE OF JUDGMENT

1. Is Judgment a Biblical doctrine?
Yes!

2. On what basis would God judge?

a) Our responses
i) Negative
ii) Positive
b) The wisdom that is needed
i) To understand the Lord’s word to us
ii) To respond to Him humbly
iii) To repent and to believe
c) The reality of Judgment must cause us to be sober and wise

THE PROBLEM OF SITTING ON THE FENCE

1. Non-committal stance

2. Wait awhile approach

3. Is this wise?

a) It could be subtle rejection
b) It is polite denial
c) It is not as safe as one may think!