This past Sunday, in my portion of the sermon, I mentioned how the chief priests and elders started a conspiracy that spread among the rest of the Jews that Jesus’ disciples snuck around in the night and stole the body of Jesus from the tomb and was not resurrected. This is in reference to the passage in Matthew 28:11-15, which says, 

“Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.” And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.”

This conspiracy was spread because it finds its foundation in the disbelief of the Jews that Jesus was the Son of God. When you read and study Matthew’s gospel, you can’t help but see how the purpose and theme of Matthew’s account is to prove that Jesus is the Messiah and the son of God. As you read and study through the book and then conclude with these events surrounding the resurrected Lord, you can’t help but still question. 

WHY DIDN’T THE JEWS BELIEVE JESUS?

It is fascinating that the Son of God came to live among humans but yet was rejected by His own people, who have been anxiously awaiting His arrival for thousands of years. Jesus was born into the nation of Israel, who were a people that were chosen by God to receive the commands and laws of God and were told of the coming of a Messiah, A savior who would be born among them. Still, these same people rejected him when he came and lived among them. John 1:11 says, “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.”

Jesus gives one reason for their disbelief in John 10:26-27 “But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;”

The Jews claimed God as their God, but they had not honestly and wholeheartedly submitted to His will. 

Peter tells us that the Israelites struggled with Jesus as the Messiah because they were not obedient to God first and foremost. 

For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,” and, “A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed  (1 Peter 2:6-8).

The author of Hebrews consistently shows us the correlation between faith and obedience. 

  • Hebrews 3:18-19 – And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
  • Hebrews 4:1-2 – Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
  • Hebrews 4:6 – Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,
  • Hebrews 4:11 – Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

What the Hebrew author is giving us is a snapshot that fades from unbelief to disobedience for the reason the Jews were not able to enter into the rest God provided. It is obvious the writer sees these as one and the same. 

Now the reason should be apparent to us. Do you know someone who claims to be a Christian, but their life does not reflect it? They don’t attend worship regularly, or perhaps they do things that Christians should not do. They say things that Christians should not say. They have a terrible attitude or display an attitude of not really caring about pleasing God. Their behavior is not in line with the Christian life. How can a person claim to be a person of faith but are not willing to surrender to God’s will? When a person who claims to be a Christian is disobedient to God, they prefer to live in a fantasy where God accepts them anyway. This cannot be further from the truth. 

Jesus taught the truth to the Jews and brought to life their self-delusion. Instead of accepting His message and repenting, the Jews turned away, and God’s word was not found in their hearts. 

I wonder, if we were to hear the truth exposed to us by Jesus, how would we respond?

Would we do better than the Jews?

In some areas… maybe.

In others areas… you decide for yourself.

I love you,

Alex