Year Two, April 25

All That the Father Gives Me Will Come to Me1

The remarkable portion of Scripture that we are about to read contains in a small space three great truths: Human responsibility, the sovereignty of electing love, and the free proclamation of the gospel. If we cannot understand how they all work together, we must, nevertheless, believe them and wait for clearer light.
  

Matthew 11:20-30

20Then [Jesus] began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

Therefore it is clear that they should have repented. Jesus would not have found fault with them for not repenting if they were not expected to repent.

21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (This is a very mysterious statement. It says that his mighty works were not done among those who would have repented, but were done among those who refused to repent. The way of the Lord is far above our understanding.) 22But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. (The open sin of the Sidonians was shameful in the extreme and yet they were not as guilty as those who had deliberately refused the gospel. Therefore their punishment would be less.  The Lord goes on to make the same point with another illustration.) 23And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Sodom’s doom is fearful beyond imagination. What will be the doom of those who openly despise the gospel? Our Lord then changed his subject and spoke about sovereign grace.2

25At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

 The creator of election is God the Father. The Lord of heaven and earth has the right to choose to whom he will reveal himself. And to whom does he reveal himself? Little children. And what reason does he give for his choice? Only that it was his “gracious will.” Next, our Lord explains that he, himself, is the great means by which the blessings of electing love flow down to those whom he has chosen. The doctrines of grace are as true as the fact of our responsibility. The two truths agree as one, even though few can see where they meet. Salvation is God’s gift and the result of his grace alone.3 Damnation is each individual’s fault and their fault alone.

The third part of our reading contains a full, free, personal, invitation to sinners to come to Jesus now. No ministry is complete where this is kept in the background. As we read it may we feel the drawing influence of the Holy Spirit and find rest in Jesus right now.

28“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Is there one here, who has until now refused the invitation? Let them come now! Come, and welcome. Remember it is not to outward religious acts or to priests that you are to come, but to Jesus himself. He, and he alone can give perfect rest to all who are obedient to him.)

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¹ John 6:37

² sovereign grace - A term indicating that salvation is entirely the result of God’s mercy and grace. A person is incapable of contributing anything to their own salvation.

³ Spurgeon is in his element here. “Sola gratia” (Latin for “Grace alone”). One of his most popular books, “All of Grace” continues to be available in many editions.