MEASURING GREATNESS

MATTHEW 11

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

"Be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." ~ William Shakespeare

One modern wag paraphrased this quote and said, "Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

 

Here's a question for you. Outside of the Lord Jesus, who, in your opinion, was the greatest person to ever live? Noah? Moses? Joshua? Ruth? David? Elijah? Elisha? Esther? Isaiah? Daniel? One of the twelve? Peter, Paul or Mary?

Note one answer which the Lord Jesus Christ would give in verse 11, Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

 

How can there be none born of woman greater than John and yet the least in the kingdom be greater than him? As always the Scriptures have the answer. Brother Roloff once said, "There is not a question asked in the Scriptures that is not also answered in the Scripture." I have never found that statement to be wrong in my experience and study.

 

I. WHY THE WORLD OFTEN MISSES GREATNESS

 

1. They Have Rejected the Standard of Greatness  [v. 11-15]

 

2. They Want It Their Way NOT the Right Way [v. 16-17]

 

3. They Are Wildly Inconsistent and Hypocritical [v. 18-19]

 

II. THINGS THAT MADE JOHN GREAT [v. 2-11]

 

1. He Endeavored Honorably to Settle His Doubts [v. 2-6]

Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe help thou mine unbelief.

 

2. He Endured Hardship to Serve His Master [v. 7-9]

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ

 

3. He Endeared Himself to the Saviour with His Attitude [v. 10-11a]

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

III. THE GREATNESS OF THE LEAST [v. 11]

 

1. A New Nature Without Competition [Rm. 7:14-25]

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 

2. A New Mind Without Carnality or Limitations [Rm. 8:6-7]

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 

3. A New Body Without Corruption [Rm. 8:21-23, 1 Cor. 15:50-54]

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.