Judgment and Invitation

MEMORY VERSE: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” —Matthew 11:28,29

MATTHEW 11:20-30

JESUS’ remarks concerning the judgment day, as recorded in verses 20-27 of this lesson, reveal that the traditional concept of the future day of judgment is completely false. According to tradition, the judgment day is a short period of twenty-four hours during which saints and sinners will be brought before the divine judgment seat to be sentenced. The theory is that the believers will be rewarded with a home in heaven, and that the unbelievers will be sentenced to an eternity of torture in a hell of fire and brimstone. Actually this whole procedure would seem to be useless, for the claim is that the eternal destiny of every human is unalterably fixed at death.

But how different are the implications of Jesus’ remarks! He upbraided the people of certain cities of Israel because of their refusal to accept the message he presented to them, and to repent of their sin. Then he explained that it would be more tolerable for the people of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom in the day of judgment than it would be for these Israelites who rejected him.

The people of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom were not worshipers of the true God. Not much is known about the religion—or lack of religion—of the people of Tyre and Sidon, but we know that the city of Sodom was destroyed because of the wickedness of its citizens. Jesus asserted that if the same mighty works had been done in these three cities as he had performed in the Jewish cities mentioned, they would have repented. But God made no effort to bring about their repentance. They were allowed to die in their sins.

Despite this, Jesus assures us that it will be tolerable for them in the day of judgment, more tolerable than for the people of Israel who rejected him. This clearly reveals that the day of judgment is not a time for the mere pronouncing of sentence based on past works, but rather that it is a time when all will be given an opportunity, based upon a knowledge of the issues involved, to turn to God and to serve him, if they will.

This is also made clear in John 5:28,29 where Jesus states that those who have done good will come forth from death to a “resurrection of life,” and that those who have done evil shall come forth “to a resurrection of judgment.” (Revised Version) The Greek word here translated judgment in the Revised Version is krisis. It has essentially the same meaning as our English word crisis. Those who have died in unbelief, such as the Sodomites, as well as all others from Adam on down, will face a crisis when awakened from the sleep of death. They will be enlightened and given an opportunity to believe and obey. If they choose this course they will be restored to human perfection and live forever. If they choose, willfully, to turn away from Christ, and to disobey the laws of his kingdom, they will be returned to death, “destroyed from among the people.”—Acts 3:23

In that judgment or probation period it will be more tolerable, or favorable, for the Sodomites and others who had such a meager understanding of God, than it will be for the Israelites, who were more enlightened, and especially the Israelites, of Jesus’ day to whom Jesus, the Light of the world, had ministered. But even these will have an opportunity to repent and be blessed in the judgment day.—Rom. 11:25-33

Our Memory Verse refers to those who “labor and are heavy laden.” This very aptly describes the position of the Israelites under the Mosaic Law. This Law was the measure of a perfect man’s ability, and the Israelites, even as all other people, were imperfect, members of a fallen and condemned race. In addition to the burden of the Law, the Israelites of Jesus’ day had heavy burdens placed upon them by their religious rulers, the scribes and Pharisees.

To these Jesus extended the invitation, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” On other occasions Jesus explained to his listeners that if they wished to be his disciples they would have to deny self, and take up their cross and follow him.—Matt. 16:24

To do this means to walk in a difficult and narrow way of sacrifice. This is not an easy way, but the assurance that their best efforts, even though imperfect, are acceptable through Christ, makes the burden light.

QUESTIONS

Explain the difference between the traditional judgment day and the day of judgment taught in the Bible.

Why will it be more tolerable for the Sodomites in the day of judgment than for unbelieving Israelites?

Why is Jesus’ yoke easy, and his burden light?

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