Honor Among God’s People (Matthew #99)

Request for honor (vss 20-21)

  • From her standpoint, it’s a reasonable request.
  • From Christ’s standpoint and in reality, it’s an uninformed request.

Sacrifice before honor (vss 22-23)

  • Not everyone gets a throne or crowns. Crowns and thrones are held by those who have mastery over a realm.
  • The cup
    • Matthew 26:27-28 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
    • John 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
    • 1 Corinthians 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
  • The baptism
    • Romans 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Dominance is honor among Gentiles (vss 24-25)

  • The great ones in the world exercise authority and practice authority.
  • 1 Samuel 8 as the greatest political discourse describing the life cycle of heathen nations. It describes the inevitable growth of the government and it’s oppression of its people.
  • This is what’s wired into the nature of man; to find dominance and practice dominance.

Honor in God’s economy (vss 26-28)

  • But in God’s economy it’s never been that way. Greatness has never been associated with dominance or the exercise of authority.
  • The most honored man in a Bible believing congregation is a pastor. The most honored man among God’s people are the ones who labor in the word of God, prayer, and the oversight of souls. 1 Timothy 5:17. Men who have given up their occupations in this world to serve and feed a flock.
  • 1 Peter 5:1-4
  • The most honored man among God’s true people in Jesus’ day was the LORD Jesus Christ himself. He was honored such that men followed him, giving up their own lives, afflicted people sought the LORD for help. Now, the world didn’t honor Jesus Christ, but the LORD said this is not how the world operates anyway.
  • Moses followed this pattern according to Hebrews 11:24-26, that would lead him to fame in Israel as he labored to shepherd the national flock.
  • What follows is the healing of two blind men in verses 30-34 as an example of ministry. It’s set in contrast to the attitude of the people.