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 Now open your Bibles up to Matthew chapter 16. Matthew chapter 16. Which if you've got a black church Bible.

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! It's on page 821.

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 I just am reminded that Shemesh's funeral is on Friday. It will be here at 12.30pm.

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 And at 2 o'clock in Charleston Kensington Cemetery in Hanwell.

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 So please do pray for that. I think it will be a full house.

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 If you can come I think that would be wonderful.

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 There's going to be need for refreshments and different things. We'll be in touch about that.

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 And I do pray that the Lord will bring great good out of this.

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 Matthew 16.

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 I do think that Jesus would ever turn his back on someone and walk away from them.

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 Would he ever do that?

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 Would he ever turn his back on someone and walk away from them?

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 And maybe you've done that at some point.

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 You've been arguing with your spouse or your parents or children or a friend.

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 And the stress of the situation is just a bit too much.

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 And you've turned around and you've walked out of the room.

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 And that happened to you. Somebody walked out on you.

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 And you pressed their buttons.

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 And they just turned and walked.

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 And typically we react like that because we have got infinite reserves of patience.

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 And a moment comes, doesn't it, when we're worried that we're going to say or do something that we might regret.

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 And we're really frustrated so we walk away.

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 But thankfully Jesus is not like us.

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 Jesus is infinitely, eternally, unchangeably patient.

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 He displays perfect patience.

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 You look at how he deals with the disciples.

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 He sticks with them, doesn't he?

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 Even when they get it wrong again and again and again.

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 Which is even more clearly in the way that he treats us.

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 And those of us who are his disciples today.

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 Lots of times when you and I have made a complete mess of living as a Christian.

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 And when we're ashamed of what we've done and how we've lived and what we've thought and what we've said.

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 And the Lord Jesus, he abounds in love.

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 And he's always willing, always willing to give a fresh outpouring of grace to his failing followers.

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 That's no excuse, is it, for ignoring his will deliberately.

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 That would be to throw his death back in his face.

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 But the Lord Jesus is wonderfully patient as we fail.

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 So do you think he would or could ever get to a stage where he'd deliberately turn and walk away from someone?

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 And if so, what would it take for Jesus to do that?

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 What level of provocation would it take?

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 Well it happens, doesn't it, in verse 4.

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 Jesus tells these Pharisees and Sadducees, both religious leaders of his day.

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 He tells them what he thinks of them and then he walks away.

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 And he walks away, not in a fit of pique or impatient, proud anger.

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 But it is a decisive moment in Matthew's Gospel.

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 It marks something.

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 It's a dramatic step.

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 It's Jesus' last meeting with these opponents in the Galilean area.

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 He's debating on and off with them for the last few chapters.

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 But this is the moment when he walks away.

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 That's it.

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 And so what prompts him to take such a dramatic step?

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 And the passage centers around, doesn't it, two key statements.

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 Can you see them in verse 4?

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 He denounces the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

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 And the second is in verse 6 where he warns his disciples about the danger of his opponents' teaching.

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 And the tone of the passage, which I think we've got to ask ourselves again and again in Matthew's Gospel.

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 What's the tone?

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 What's the feeling of this passage?

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 Well, do you remember last week?

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 It was one of joy, wasn't it?

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 It was one of super, abundant, generous grace.

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 Grace that makes our hearts warm.

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 And makes us leap and makes us sin.

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 We talk about the kind of people Jesus loves.

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 And there's enough grace to go around.

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 That he performed miracles.

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 And healing.

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 Many people.

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 And he was full of compassion.

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 And grace.

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 And he extended his love.

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 To outsiders.

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 To outcasts.

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 To the nations.

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 The tone last week is a tone of joy and celebration.

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 But today we see another side of his character.

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 And as Jesus draws a line in the sound that says, enough is enough.

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 There are some uncomfortable truths here.

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 And this side of Jesus isn't so popular.

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 This morning.

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 Two points.

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 First point.

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 Number one.

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 The case for Jesus is already proven.

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 The case for Jesus is already proven.

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 Look at verse one.

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 The Pharisees and the Sadducees.

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 They came to Jesus to test him.

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 And they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

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 The Pharisees and the Sadducees.

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 They are the two dominant groups of religious leaders.

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 But they're hardly friends.

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 They disagreed about all sorts of stuff.

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 They couldn't stand each other in many ways.

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 But here they lay aside their differences.

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 And they work together.

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 It was at that moment, wasn't it?

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 When the Tories, the Conservative Party and Labour had talks over Brexit.

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 Two sides that can't agree on anything.

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 And yet came together.

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 It was newsworthy.

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 It would be like Leave and Remain getting together.

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 Unimaginable.

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 And everybody takes note.

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 Because it's so rare, isn't it?

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 When two opposing sides agree on anything.

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 The last time the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they worked together.

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 Was when they travelled together from Jerusalem.

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 To pass judgement on the ministry of John the Baptist.

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 They united together then.

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 Because they were anti-John the Baptist.

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 And do you remember what happened to him?

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 Well he ends up dead a few chapters with his head chopped off.

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 And here again things feel ominous.

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 Verse one.

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 And they came to test him.

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 And that's the same word.

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 We've seen that word before, haven't we?

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 We've seen that in Baptist Gospel.

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 Well do you remember?

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 The devil came to test Jesus.

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 To tempt him in the wilderness in chapter 4.

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 And that incident, by now, is deliberately being echoed.

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 To say something shocking.

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 That these religious leaders.

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 Despite all of their credentials.

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 Are in fact engaged in the same work as the devil.

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 And what they want is a sign from heaven.

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 They want a sensational miracle.

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 To prove his authority and identity once and for all.

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 And I say that the tactic is identical as the devil.

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 You'll listen to the devil as in Matthew chapter 4.

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 Do you remember what the devil said?

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 He said, if you really are the son of God.

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 I'll tell these stones to become bread.

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 They say, in Matthew 16.

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 Give us a sign from heaven.

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 Different words, exactly the same argument.

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 And they think that they're in a win-win situation.

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 Because either Jesus will try.

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 And try and do a really big miracle and fail.

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 Or he will refuse.

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 And either way, his popularity starts to fall into a win.

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 But because we've read Matthew's Gospel.

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 We are in no doubt about his power, are we?

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 I hope we're not.

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 Let's go into chapter 1 and verse 23.

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 They are the early chapters of Matthew.

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 And in those early chapters.

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 We are introduced to the big themes.

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 So look at chapter 1 and verse 23.

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 We've been in on the secret, haven't we?

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 Right from the start.

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 Chapter 1 and verse 23.

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 What's Matthew's Gospel about?

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 Behold, the virgin Mary shall conceive and bear a son.

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 And they shall call his name, Emmanuel.

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 Which means, what does Emmanuel mean?

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 God with us.

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 We've been in on the secret ever since.

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 Chapter 1 and verse 23.

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 And so in the intervening 15 chapters.

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 As you read Matthew's Gospel.

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 And we'd love you to take Matthew's Gospel home with you and read it.

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 We've seen Jesus authenticating that claim.

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 He has made God-like claims.

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 He has backed them up with God-like conduct.

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 And he has matched it all with God-like character.

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 So that it's already been proved beyond any reasonable doubt in Matthew.

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 That the carpenter's son really is Emmanuel, God with us.

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 But none of the build-up of the evidence which we've noticed has been enough for the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

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 Here they are demanding yet another sign.

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 And it's a clever request as if it's at first it sounds so, so spiritual.

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 They are saying, we are very open-minded to Jesus.

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 You must want us to believe, don't you?

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 So give us a sign.

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 But behind the veil of their request.

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 These guys aren't sincere and open-minded at all.

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 They're not pursuers of truth.

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 They are deliberately despising the signs that Jesus has already given.

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 The ones that have met and relieved the needs of the desperately sick and needy.

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 And they are insisting on a sign to gratify the curiosity of the crowd.

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 They're behaving like children in the playground who block their eyes.

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 And put their hands over their ears.

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 And say, I can't see you and I can't hear you.

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 They're blind and deaf to the truth that's staring them in the face.

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 And they make this request out of malice and spite.

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 But Jesus isn't into the game of performing little magic shows.

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 For those who have already set their hearts against him.

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 Verse 2.

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 Verse 16.

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 He answered them, when it's evening, you say it will be fair weather, the sky is red.

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 And in the morning it will be stormy today.

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 For the sky is red and threatened.

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 You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky.

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 But you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

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 Red sky at night, shepherds delight.

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 Red sky at morning, shepherds warning.

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 That's basically it.

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 But Jesus is making two slightly different points here.

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 The first point is in verse 2 and 3, it's that you're not very clever.

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 And then in verse 4, you're actually wicked.

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 And the principle in verse 2 and 3 is one we're really familiar with.

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 We know how to interpret the skies.

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 And it's children we talked about in Sunday school.

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 And you go out into the playground and there's one of those really black, heavy, thick clouds.

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 And a little wind blowing.

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 And what do you think?

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 You think it's about to rain, don't you?

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 I mean, you know that.

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 And people do that in the city, don't they?

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 Some of you work with economic data.

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 And you can see with economic data what is going to happen.

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 In work you have sales, sales forecasts.

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 And so that you can see what it will look like in the next few months.

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 We do this in sports, don't we?

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 So a football team spends tens of millions of pounds in the summertime.

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 And then they lose their first eight games on the bounce.

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 Well, if they carry on losing the games, what is going to happen?

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 What will happen?

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 The manager will lose his job, won't he?

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 We know that.

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 We do this all the time.

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 We look at things around us and we draw the appropriate conclusion.

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 And that's what makes the ignorance of the Pharisees and the Sadducees all the more surprising and culpable.

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 They've been completely unwilling to interpret the signs of the times in front of them.

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 The data that Jesus has given them of who he is.

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 He's been tested and verified even with the most basic analysis.

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 Even the most basic analysis would have told them that this is a man who is very, very different.

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 This man is Emmanuel, God with us.

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 But somehow they've missed the point completely.

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 Notice with me that Jesus doesn't tell the crowds that the pathway to belief involves closing your mind to the irrational.

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 I think we've got to keep saying that.

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 Jesus says to believe in him is not so that you just start to believe something irrational.

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 It's not a leap of blind faith.

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 It's certainly not a leap in the dark.

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 The only thing you get from a leap in the dark is a broken ankle.

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 You don't leap into the abyss of ignorance.

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 Some people have got that impression of Christianity.

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 I could never be a Christian because I'm the kind of person that needs evidence before they believe something.

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 I hear that often.

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 But you know Jesus' complaint is not that they refuse to suspend their desire for evidence.

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 It's that they refuse to believe what the evidence tells them.

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 And that Jesus shows is that they're not as clever as they think they are.

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 And it means actually that they're wicked.

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 Look at verse 4.

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 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.

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 What we've seen as we've gone through Matthew's Gospel over this past year is

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 the Lord Jesus keeps telling us

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 you're either with Jesus or you're against him this morning.

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 There is no middle ground.

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 There is no fence to sit on.

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 There is no no man's land.

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 And Jesus is the good God to whom we should be faithful.

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 And he has proven it time and time again.

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 So if we don't accept him on his terms

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 then we are not on the side of good.

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 We are on the side of evil.

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 And we've shown ourselves to be wicked and adulterous before God.

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 They're very strong words aren't they?

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 And there comes a point

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 when you will refuse to know Jesus for the last time.

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 And he will turn his back.

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 And he will walk away.

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 And that happens when somebody refuses and refuses to accept the evidence of history.

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 Accept the evidence of a changed people.

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 Accept the evidence of his word.

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 And when somebody persistently refuses to recognize Jesus as their Lord.

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 And the Pharisees and the Sadducees they reach that point in this passage.

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 And in Jesus' mind the case has already been proven.

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 They had access to more than enough evidence.

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 And they will not accept it.

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 They say no we do not want anything to do with it.

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 And so he walks away.

00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:03.600
 And it's really interesting the way that Matthew structures his gospel.

00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:06.600
 And that from now on there are very very few miracles.

00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:09.600
 And there are a couple of additional miracles.

00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:12.600
 And they are healings for a very specific purpose.

00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.600
 But in large part from here on in the miracles stop.

00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:19.600
 They're not needed.

00:16:20.600 --> 00:16:23.600
 Because 15 chapters have been sufficient evidence.

00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:28.600
 There is though, as he indicates in verse 4, one more sign.

00:16:29.600 --> 00:16:30.600
 Just one.

00:16:30.600 --> 00:16:31.600
 Just one.

00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:33.600
 For them it was in the future.

00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:34.600
 For us it's in the past.

00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:37.600
 And Jesus calls it the sign of Jonah.

00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:41.600
 The story of Jonah from the Old Testament.

00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:43.600
 A prophet of God who ran away.

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:46.600
 And when God told him to go and preach in Nineveh.

00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:47.600
 He took a boat in the opposite direction.

00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:50.600
 And the key details of the story are this.

00:16:52.600 --> 00:16:53.600
 Jonah died.

00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:54.600
 I think he does.

00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:55.600
 Lots of people think he nearly died.

00:16:56.600 --> 00:16:58.600
 But he spent three days buried in a large fish.

00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:01.600
 And then finally he returns from death.

00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.600
 Or his brush from death.

00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:06.599
 And the fish spits him out.

00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:12.599
 And he proclaims to Jonah to Nineveh to repent.

00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:14.599
 And there's this incredible revival from it.

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:17.599
 And so there's this pattern of Jonah.

00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:20.599
 Who is a little picture of Jesus.

00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:23.599
 Three days in the big fish.

00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:25.599
 And then resurrected.

00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.599
 To life.

00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:32.599
 And so the sign of Jonah is what?

00:17:32.599 --> 00:17:33.599
 It is.

00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.599
 Well what was Jonah's message?

00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.599
 It was repentance.

00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.599
 It was repentance.

00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.599
 Turn to God.

00:17:38.599 --> 00:17:39.599
 Turn from your sin and turn to God.

00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:42.599
 The repentance might be preached in his name.

00:17:43.599 --> 00:17:44.599
 To all the nations.

00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.599
 Well Jesus spent three days in the tomb.

00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.599
 And he is risen from the tomb.

00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:50.599
 He bursts out of the tomb.

00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.599
 He's vomited out of the tomb.

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:56.599
 And repentance is preached in his name to all the nations.

00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:58.599
 So do you see what Jesus is saying?

00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:03.599
 He's saying that the sign of Jonah is the proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus.

00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:08.599
 The sign of Jonah is the proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus.

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.599
 It is the crowning proof of the Christian faith.

00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:11.599
 For the Christian faith.

00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:15.599
 I'd love to talk to you about that.

00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.599
 I'd love to talk to you about the evidence.

00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:19.599
 And we could discuss it.

00:18:19.599 --> 00:18:23.599
 I could give you the evidence that people are better qualified to read than I am.

00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:26.599
 We could get Joanna to take you to the British Museum.

00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:28.599
 And show you some of the evidence.

00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:33.599
 We could get you to read books written by lawyers who wrote books who were determined to disprove the resurrection.

00:18:34.599 --> 00:18:35.359
 Like Frank Morrison.

00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:36.679
 Like Lee Strobel.

00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:41.039
 And as they looked at the evidence of the resurrection they were wonderfully convinced by the evidence.

00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:44.000
 The evidence is right there in front of you.

00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.599
 And of course it is brilliant.

00:18:46.599 --> 00:18:49.259
 It is really right for you to ask a thousand questions on that.

00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:50.240
 It's a really, really good thing.

00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:53.039
 And I hope you do that.

00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:56.460
 I hope children of this church.

00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:57.000
 I hope you think.

00:18:57.339 --> 00:18:59.379
 I hope you realise that we want you to ask questions.

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:02.159
 We don't want you to just blindly accept everything.

00:19:02.519 --> 00:19:03.960
 We want you to have an inquisitive mind.

00:19:08.599 --> 00:19:09.980
 But after all of that.

00:19:12.420 --> 00:19:15.879
 We still close our eyes to Jesus and refuse to accept Him.

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.720
 Then eventually you will walk away.

00:19:19.779 --> 00:19:22.980
 And the fault of our unbelief will not lay with Him but with us.

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.920
 That's the first point.

00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.559
 The case for Jesus is proven.

00:19:28.379 --> 00:19:28.779
 Secondly.

00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:31.879
 The second point is in verses 5-12.

00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:33.659
 The denial of Jesus is dangerous.

00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.720
 The denial of Jesus is dangerous.

00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:38.440
 The scene changes.

00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:42.839
 And so Jesus is now alone with His disciples across the lake.

00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:47.599
 And He takes the opportunity to warn them about the parals of false teaching.

00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:48.779
 The warning comes twice.

00:19:48.899 --> 00:19:50.139
 Can you see it in verse 6?

00:19:50.140 --> 00:19:53.759
 Watch and beware.

00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:55.759
 There's a double warning there.

00:19:57.480 --> 00:20:02.180
 Watch and beware about the yeast of the Pharisees.

00:20:02.300 --> 00:20:05.360
 The leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:07.719
 And then again in verse 11.

00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.039
 And the second warning.

00:20:09.699 --> 00:20:12.779
 Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.479
 Be on your guard.

00:20:16.219 --> 00:20:19.279
 It's not the first time that Jesus has told His followers to be on their guard.

00:20:19.319 --> 00:20:19.799
 His disciples.

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.500
 About something.

00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.159
 In fact He's said it three times.

00:20:23.379 --> 00:20:23.779
 Already.

00:20:24.959 --> 00:20:27.419
 And on each occasion it's very serious indeed.

00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:30.600
 There are people out there.

00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:34.620
 Who are very, very overprotective.

00:20:35.840 --> 00:20:37.860
 You know when you go to someone's home.

00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:43.300
 And they're just very, very protective of their stuff.

00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:46.440
 And kind of terrified that your children are going to trash it.

00:20:46.600 --> 00:20:47.140
 Or something like that.

00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:49.220
 Or you go to the playground after school.

00:20:49.220 --> 00:20:51.420
 And there's a man.

00:20:52.120 --> 00:20:54.680
 And she's rightly nervous about her child.

00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:57.819
 But she's very, very overprotective.

00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.720
 But we know what that's like, don't we?

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.579
 We understand that.

00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:04.640
 And we know that there are people who are irrational.

00:21:05.600 --> 00:21:06.319
 And paranoid.

00:21:07.240 --> 00:21:09.299
 Over their fears of what will happen.

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:11.299
 And so they become overprotective.

00:21:11.420 --> 00:21:12.200
 We know that.

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:14.900
 But Jesus is no paranoid fantasist.

00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:19.039
 He only tells His disciples to be aware.

00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:20.640
 When there's a serious threat to them.

00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:23.360
 And so far in Matthew.

00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:25.799
 He has warned them about self-righteous spiritual pride.

00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:26.799
 At the start of chapter 6.

00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:29.059
 And he's warned them about false prophets.

00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.079
 That would devour them.

00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:31.160
 Halfway through chapter 7.

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:33.059
 And about enemies of the gospel.

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:34.740
 Who would have them flogged in chapter 10.

00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:36.039
 And now he says.

00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:36.940
 Beware of the yeast.

00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:38.259
 Beware of the leaven.

00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:41.759
 Beware of the teaching of the Pharisees.

00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:42.819
 And the Sadducees.

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:45.740
 And it's not uncharacteristic.

00:21:45.880 --> 00:21:46.000
 Is it?

00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:48.140
 The disciples missed the point at first.

00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:49.900
 And they say.

00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:53.120
 Well we thought he was talking about bread.

00:21:56.320 --> 00:21:56.940
 Andrew says.

00:21:57.600 --> 00:21:57.880
 John.

00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:00.020
 Did you bring the path lunch?

00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.440
 And he said.

00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:00.600
 No.

00:22:00.620 --> 00:22:01.280
 Judas has got it.

00:22:01.340 --> 00:22:01.780
 And Judas says.

00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:02.060
 Well no.

00:22:02.120 --> 00:22:03.400
 I thought Bartholomew had it.

00:22:04.140 --> 00:22:04.580
 What do you mean?

00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:05.020
 I didn't have it.

00:22:05.020 --> 00:22:05.720
 I thought you brought it.

00:22:05.780 --> 00:22:07.220
 There's this funny little argument.

00:22:07.360 --> 00:22:07.700
 That goes on.

00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:09.100
 Where they're completely misunderstanding.

00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:11.600
 Well who brought the bread?

00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:14.719
 It's bizarre isn't it?

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.579
 They seem to have forgotten.

00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:17.399
 That in the previous section.

00:22:17.699 --> 00:22:18.639
 And in the chapter 4.

00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:21.659
 Here's a man who feds 5,000 with.

00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.519
 Five fish.

00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.740
 A couple of loaves.

00:22:24.939 --> 00:22:26.879
 And 4,000 with seven loaves.

00:22:26.959 --> 00:22:27.619
 And a couple of fish.

00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.240
 With almost nothing.

00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:31.919
 It's a sign isn't it?

00:22:31.939 --> 00:22:34.119
 Of how his followers have got so much to learn.

00:22:35.719 --> 00:22:37.480
 And Jesus rebukes them.

00:22:37.579 --> 00:22:38.179
 Can you notice that?

00:22:38.199 --> 00:22:39.319
 But he doesn't turn away from them.

00:22:39.919 --> 00:22:40.779
 Do you notice that distinction?

00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:45.279
 They've still got loads and loads to do.

00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:46.799
 And they should have learnt this by now.

00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:47.819
 In many ways.

00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.559
 And Jesus does rebuke them.

00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.639
 But he doesn't turn his back on.

00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:52.700
 And walk away.

00:22:53.859 --> 00:22:56.000
 He works with those who are his disciples.

00:22:56.099 --> 00:22:57.240
 Is this about your testimony and mine?

00:22:58.460 --> 00:22:59.639
 But the big lesson is this.

00:22:59.639 --> 00:23:03.359
 He's warning us about the teaching.

00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:04.919
 Of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

00:23:06.059 --> 00:23:07.200
 And there's no doubt.

00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:09.039
 This warning from Jesus was brutal.

00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:13.039
 So remember he's talking about the most highly respected.

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:16.599
 The most well qualified spiritual authorities of the time.

00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:21.659
 It's the equivalent of a council of the leading churchmen.

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.639
 And academic.

00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:24.059
 And bishops.

00:23:24.399 --> 00:23:25.500
 And archbishops.

00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:26.700
 And cardinals.

00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:27.779
 And moderators.

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.119
 And lecturers.

00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:30.439
 And professors of theology.

00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:32.660
 And they all arrive.

00:23:33.660 --> 00:23:34.900
 To put Jesus on trial.

00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.080
 To test them.

00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:39.799
 But he responds by telling his ragtag band of followers.

00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:41.220
 To disregard their teaching.

00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:46.600
 And to give their exclusive attention and allegiance to him.

00:23:46.599 --> 00:23:50.019
 Now that would be a big enough thing to say.

00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:51.919
 But in describing their teaching as leavens.

00:23:51.919 --> 00:23:53.179
 Jesus is going even further.

00:23:53.719 --> 00:23:56.419
 Elsewhere he uses the metaphor of the yeast.

00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:57.319
 Positively.

00:23:57.959 --> 00:24:00.879
 To describe the influence and the growth of his kingdom.

00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:03.860
 But here it's described entirely negatively.

00:24:04.260 --> 00:24:06.500
 He's saying their teaching is like cancer.

00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:10.360
 He's saying it is deeply toxic.

00:24:10.359 --> 00:24:13.619
 And that even a little bit of it.

00:24:13.699 --> 00:24:15.159
 Even a little taste of it.

00:24:15.539 --> 00:24:16.559
 Can take hold.

00:24:16.699 --> 00:24:17.679
 And it will be deadly.

00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:20.419
 Just one spark on a dry field.

00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.679
 Of grass.

00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:23.000
 And the whole thing can go up.

00:24:24.879 --> 00:24:25.819
 He says beware.

00:24:25.919 --> 00:24:26.599
 Guard against it.

00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:29.219
 Guard against it every bit.

00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:31.079
 As much as you would defend your sheep against the wolf.

00:24:31.179 --> 00:24:32.740
 So two implications as we close.

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.879
 The first implication is this.

00:24:36.939 --> 00:24:37.359
 Number one.

00:24:37.459 --> 00:24:38.539
 That doctrine matters.

00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:41.399
 That doctrine matters.

00:24:44.399 --> 00:24:45.859
 One of the things that winds me up.

00:24:46.099 --> 00:24:47.259
 Is I'm idea people say well.

00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.399
 Christ unites.

00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:52.039
 But doctrine divides.

00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.559
 I'll hear it at the funeral.

00:24:57.379 --> 00:24:58.599
 On Friday from different people.

00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:01.700
 God doesn't really believe in.

00:25:02.099 --> 00:25:03.619
 God isn't really interested in.

00:25:03.920 --> 00:25:06.399
 What you believe is the kind of person you are.

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:10.220
 And we're all united.

00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:15.099
 Of course biblically speaking.

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:18.139
 Unity is always in the truth of the gospel.

00:25:18.140 --> 00:25:23.920
 And the reason why that statement winds me up so much.

00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.840
 That Christ unites.

00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.320
 That doctrine divides.

00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:28.600
 Is it is dangerously misleading.

00:25:31.600 --> 00:25:33.560
 It is possible isn't it.

00:25:33.580 --> 00:25:36.800
 To obsess so much about little points of doctrine.

00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:38.700
 And to look for things.

00:25:38.700 --> 00:25:39.980
 To argue with others.

00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.600
 And to separate others.

00:25:41.800 --> 00:25:43.780
 From others in an overzealous way.

00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.580
 In an ungracious way.

00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:46.419
 That is possible.

00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:47.919
 You'll have to search that hard as you.

00:25:48.299 --> 00:25:49.759
 But that is a million miles away.

00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.720
 From saying Christ unites.

00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.699
 But doctrine divides.

00:25:53.939 --> 00:25:54.859
 People who say that.

00:25:54.939 --> 00:25:56.039
 Means something much stronger.

00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:58.480
 That whether somebody believes.

00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.980
 In the teaching of God's word.

00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.079
 Whether they believe in.

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:02.859
 The key doctrines.

00:26:03.019 --> 00:26:03.960
 Of scripture.

00:26:04.179 --> 00:26:04.619
 In salvation.

00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:05.480
 Well that doesn't matter.

00:26:07.079 --> 00:26:08.000
 You have to leave.

00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:08.740
 Robust.

00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:10.159
 Theological conversation.

00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:10.659
 At the door.

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:12.119
 For the sake of the broadest.

00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:13.039
 Coalition of unity.

00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:14.419
 But Jesus thinks differently.

00:26:14.420 --> 00:26:17.300
 He cares enough.

00:26:17.300 --> 00:26:18.180
 About true doctrine.

00:26:18.600 --> 00:26:19.759
 To warn his disciples.

00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:20.779
 About those who.

00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:22.460
 Teach false doctrine.

00:26:23.900 --> 00:26:24.779
 And clearly.

00:26:25.000 --> 00:26:25.920
 He wants them.

00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.539
 And you and I.

00:26:26.620 --> 00:26:27.779
 To be able to spot the difference.

00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:28.680
 And it's a warning.

00:26:28.820 --> 00:26:29.100
 That comes.

00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:29.980
 Right the way.

00:26:30.060 --> 00:26:30.900
 Throughout the New Testament.

00:26:31.380 --> 00:26:32.660
 So Jude calls.

00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:34.340
 People who teach falsely.

00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.580
 Godless men.

00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:37.740
 Whose condemnation.

00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:38.740
 Was written about long ago.

00:26:39.140 --> 00:26:39.840
 Peter calls.

00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:41.140
 Those who teach falsely.

00:26:41.140 --> 00:26:41.980
 About Christianity.

00:26:42.500 --> 00:26:43.340
 Brute beasts.

00:26:43.339 --> 00:26:45.000
 And springs without water.

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.299
 Paul calls them.

00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:47.379
 Savage wolves.

00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:48.740
 And mutilators of the flesh.

00:26:49.159 --> 00:26:50.019
 John calls them.

00:26:50.279 --> 00:26:50.679
 Deceivers.

00:26:50.919 --> 00:26:52.159
 And antichrists.

00:26:55.679 --> 00:26:56.559
 And so that is why.

00:26:56.639 --> 00:26:57.139
 We're unashamed.

00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.439
 I hope.

00:26:57.519 --> 00:26:57.879
 In saying.

00:26:58.000 --> 00:26:58.799
 That it's quite wrong.

00:26:58.879 --> 00:26:59.679
 To try and separate.

00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:01.279
 A deep understanding.

00:27:01.279 --> 00:27:02.319
 Of God's word.

00:27:02.859 --> 00:27:03.899
 On the one hand.

00:27:04.339 --> 00:27:05.240
 From a deep love.

00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.659
 Of Jesus.

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.259
 On the other.

00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.720
 They're not two different things.

00:27:08.799 --> 00:27:09.819
 They are two sides.

00:27:10.619 --> 00:27:11.639
 Of the same coin.

00:27:11.640 --> 00:27:12.620
 And both sides.

00:27:12.680 --> 00:27:13.280
 Are indispensable.

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:16.280
 You cannot reach.

00:27:16.280 --> 00:27:16.800
 God's word.

00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.640
 Properly.

00:27:18.180 --> 00:27:19.140
 Without it leading you.

00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:19.980
 To an ever.

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.100
 Deeper love.

00:27:21.180 --> 00:27:21.600
 For Jesus.

00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:23.759
 And you can't.

00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:24.140
 Grow.

00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:25.460
 In deeper love.

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:26.180
 For Jesus.

00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:27.980
 Apart from.

00:27:28.060 --> 00:27:28.560
 God's word.

00:27:28.640 --> 00:27:29.240
 Because that is where.

00:27:29.320 --> 00:27:29.720
 We need to.

00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:32.140
 And studying.

00:27:32.580 --> 00:27:33.360
 God's word.

00:27:33.560 --> 00:27:34.520
 Without love.

00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:35.300
 For Christ.

00:27:35.980 --> 00:27:36.960
 Is arid.

00:27:37.180 --> 00:27:37.640
 Barren.

00:27:38.020 --> 00:27:38.700
 Intellectualism.

00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:40.580
 And trying to love.

00:27:40.580 --> 00:27:41.059
 Jesus.

00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.600
 Without God's word.

00:27:43.000 --> 00:27:44.380
 Is sentimentalism.

00:27:45.500 --> 00:27:46.400
 And neither.

00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.360
 Is authentic.

00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:47.860
 Christianity.

00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:48.840
 Because doctrine.

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:49.799
 Matters.

00:27:52.140 --> 00:27:53.240
 The final implication.

00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:53.620
 Is this.

00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:54.039
 That Jesus.

00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:54.700
 Is everything.

00:27:55.440 --> 00:27:56.120
 He is everything.

00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.620
 I've tried to ask this week.

00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.019
 What is it.

00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.600
 About the teaching.

00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:02.299
 Of the Pharisees.

00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:03.160
 And the Sadducees.

00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:03.960
 That believe.

00:28:04.059 --> 00:28:05.019
 Very different things.

00:28:05.640 --> 00:28:06.640
 That got Jesus.

00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.660
 So worked up.

00:28:07.660 --> 00:28:08.460
 What was it.

00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:11.000
 What is it.

00:28:11.060 --> 00:28:12.100
 About the different teaching.

00:28:12.100 --> 00:28:12.980
 Of the Pharisees.

00:28:13.060 --> 00:28:13.920
 And the Sadducees.

00:28:13.920 --> 00:28:14.700
 That made.

00:28:15.380 --> 00:28:15.740
 It.

00:28:16.300 --> 00:28:17.200
 So dangerous.

00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.640
 And in the context.

00:28:20.759 --> 00:28:20.900
 Actually.

00:28:20.980 --> 00:28:21.560
 It's quite obvious.

00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.920
 Because for all of their differences.

00:28:23.080 --> 00:28:24.840
 The thing that these two religious groups.

00:28:25.060 --> 00:28:25.740
 Had in common.

00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.500
 Is that they had taken.

00:28:27.759 --> 00:28:28.140
 Against.

00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:29.080
 The person.

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.720
 And the work.

00:28:29.779 --> 00:28:30.720
 Of Jesus himself.

00:28:32.820 --> 00:28:33.720
 They'd written him off.

00:28:35.080 --> 00:28:36.519
 They'd shut their eyes.

00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.639
 To his signs.

00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.599
 They'd block their ears.

00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.220
 To his teaching.

00:28:39.720 --> 00:28:41.299
 They aren't with Jesus.

00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.559
 And for Jesus.

00:28:42.559 --> 00:28:44.139
 They are against Jesus.

00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:48.079
 And the reason.

00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:49.259
 That that is so serious.

00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.119
 Is because Jesus.

00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:50.819
 Is everything.

00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:52.259
 He is the beginning.

00:28:52.359 --> 00:28:52.779
 And the end.

00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:53.440
 He is the alpha.

00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:54.220
 And the omega.

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:54.859
 He is.

00:28:56.619 --> 00:28:57.339
 The image.

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.259
 Of the invisible God.

00:29:00.299 --> 00:29:01.460
 He's God with us.

00:29:02.920 --> 00:29:03.859
 And to reject him.

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:04.759
 Is to reject God.

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:07.180
 Matthew's.

00:29:07.180 --> 00:29:07.579
 He's taught us.

00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.519
 That he is the center.

00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.440
 Of the universe.

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:11.240
 He is the center.

00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:11.720
 Of everything.

00:29:11.720 --> 00:29:12.579
 That God is doing.

00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:13.579
 In his universe.

00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.420
 And everything.

00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.859
 That God has ever planned.

00:29:15.920 --> 00:29:16.220
 To do.

00:29:16.339 --> 00:29:17.000
 In his world.

00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:18.019
 Centers on him.

00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:18.859
 And so anyone.

00:29:18.940 --> 00:29:19.619
 Who says anything.

00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.500
 That pulls you away.

00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:21.039
 From Jesus.

00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:23.460
 The Jesus of the gospels.

00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:24.579
 The Jesus of the bible.

00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:25.779
 Their views.

00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:27.220
 Are incredibly dangerous.

00:29:28.980 --> 00:29:29.740
 And their views.

00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:30.279
 Are not just.

00:29:30.359 --> 00:29:31.279
 A different interpretation.

00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.019
 Or tradition.

00:29:32.140 --> 00:29:32.740
 They are deadly.

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.379
 And toxic.

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.579
 They are spiritual cancer.

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:39.180
 And history shows.

00:29:39.279 --> 00:29:40.480
 That there will always be people.

00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.379
 In the church.

00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.660
 And around the church.

00:29:42.879 --> 00:29:44.119
 Who seek to draw.

00:29:44.440 --> 00:29:44.960
 Our hearts.

00:29:45.079 --> 00:29:45.859
 And our minds.

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:47.099
 Away from the simple.

00:29:47.240 --> 00:29:47.660
 Gospel.

00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:48.680
 Of Jesus Christ.

00:29:50.359 --> 00:29:51.379
 That has been taught.

00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:51.740
 And believed.

00:29:51.859 --> 00:29:52.619
 For 2000 years.

00:29:55.259 --> 00:29:56.079
 And very.

00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.759
 Very often.

00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:57.299
 Those people.

00:29:57.460 --> 00:29:57.779
 Will seem.

00:29:57.940 --> 00:29:58.940
 Deeply intellectual.

00:29:58.940 --> 00:30:01.480
 And enormously.

00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:02.360
 Authoritative.

00:30:03.620 --> 00:30:04.559
 Just as they did.

00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:05.259
 In Jesus day.

00:30:06.820 --> 00:30:07.799
 And sometimes.

00:30:07.920 --> 00:30:08.500
 They will deny.

00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:09.220
 The basic.

00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.180
 Truths.

00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:10.480
 About.

00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:12.019
 Who Jesus is.

00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:13.019
 And what it means.

00:30:13.100 --> 00:30:13.820
 To follow him.

00:30:15.420 --> 00:30:16.400
 And other times.

00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:17.740
 They will redefine.

00:30:17.860 --> 00:30:18.920
 What the message.

00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.640
 Of the kingdom.

00:30:19.720 --> 00:30:20.720
 Of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:21.120
 Is.

00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:23.019
 And they will always.

00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:24.000
 Sound plausible.

00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.539
 And they will always.

00:30:25.539 --> 00:30:26.539
 Sound credible.

00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:29.799
 But they will leave you.

00:30:29.899 --> 00:30:30.299
 Feeling.

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:32.500
 That you are not allowed.

00:30:33.579 --> 00:30:34.460
 To believe.

00:30:34.559 --> 00:30:35.539
 The simple gospel.

00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.799
 Of the Lord Jesus Christ.

00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:38.659
 Of Emmanuel.

00:30:39.659 --> 00:30:40.659
 God with us.

00:30:41.879 --> 00:30:42.859
 Of a saviour.

00:30:42.980 --> 00:30:43.539
 For sinners.

00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.519
 Who calls you.

00:30:45.579 --> 00:30:46.099
 To follow him.

00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:48.740
 And he says.

00:30:48.799 --> 00:30:49.319
 Those people.

00:30:49.319 --> 00:30:50.119
 Are very.

00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:51.379
 Very dangerous.

00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:53.700
 And so.

00:30:53.819 --> 00:30:54.399
 Beware of them.

00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.420
 Let's pray.

00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.119
 Let's pray.

00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:57.119


00:30:57.119 --> 00:30:57.119


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