Divine Wrath in the New Testament, Part 2

In this part of the sermon: Expounding Matthew 18, Martin vividly describes Jesus's gentle interaction with a child to teach humility, immediately followed by severe warnings of judgment (millstones…

Martin vividly imagines Jesus's gentle interaction with a little child in Matthew 18, beckoning him to stand before the disciples, to highlight Jesus's winsomeness before contrasting it with His stern warnings.

Now, generally speaking, little children are very skittish, around, austere, magisterial people. And I can just picture the Lord Jesus who was very much at home with children and with his children. And I can just picture the Lord Jesus with whom children were very much at home. Perhaps getting down on one knee, and I'll not do it here because I'll get out of sight,

11:31 - 11:54 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Don't you be wiser than the Son of God.

The image of a millstone tied around a neck and being drowned in the sea is compared to mafia-style concrete block slayings, emphasizing the brutality of the judgment Jesus describes.

And here's the thing that has struck me in my preparation, the immediate contrast. It's like thunderbolts dropping out of a clear blue sky at noonday. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me, but whoso shall cause one of these little ones, that they leave on me to stumble, it is profitable for him that a great millstone, not the little millstone, but the great millstone, the one that it took a big ox to turn, it were profitable that a great millstone should be hanged about his neck and he should be sunk into the depths of the sea. That immediately brings to my mi...

14:59 - 16:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin reflects on the balanced portrayal of Jesus as both the gentle friend of children and the thundering denouncer of sin. He shares personal anecdotes about children's…

Martin shares his personal joy in hugging and kissing children after services, contrasting his thundering preaching style with his tender interactions, to show that a pastor can embody both sternness and love, just as Jesus did.

Is he a Jesus who is only gentle? And a friend of children? And I do not despise that to me. One of my greatest joys as a pastor is my hugging and kissing time with all the kids every Sunday.

19:54 - 20:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin reflects on the balanced portrayal of Jesus as both the gentle friend of children and the thundering denouncer of sin. He shares personal anecdotes about children's…

He recounts how visitors, accustomed to his authoritative preaching, are often shocked to see him tenderly interacting with children, illustrating the common misconception that a preacher cannot be both stern and loving.

Do you see any contradiction between those two things? I'll let you in on a little secret. Many a time I've seen when visitors have come amongst us and they've had little or no exposure to our total life here as a congregation. They've sat under the Word and if God has been pleased to bring that Word with some authority, and searching penetration, I've caught them out of the corner of my eye standing there with their jaw down when they see me at the door hugging the kids and they see the kids lined up for their kisses.

20:44 - 21:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Smile God loves you. My friend. You better believe the word of God. Which says tremble. Almighty God is angry.

The phrases "Smile God loves you," "Things go better with Jesus," and "Try Jesus" are used as examples of superficial, lulling "bumper sticker religion" that misrepresents the true state of humanity as "children of wrath."

In a path dictated by a fallen world. A path dictated by our own depraved passions and appetites. And in that condition. Don't believe what the bumper sticker says to you.

41:42 - 41:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that being under the wrath of Almighty God is a frightening thing, a present reality.

Divine wrath is described as a "gathering cloud weighted down of the Almighty" about to burst upon the sinner's head, emphasizing its imminent and inescapable nature.

That's a frightening thing to be under the wrath of Almighty God. You're under it now. Right now, sitting in this building, sitting in your homes, sitting in your car, as your living room roof is above you, as sure as the roof of this church building is above us, divine wrath like a gathering cloud weighted down of the Almighty is about to burst upon your head. No wonder John said, Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

51:58 - 52:33 Read in full sermon