Jesus, the friend of sinners
Expository Preaching Outline on Matthew 11:16-19 – But to whom shall I liken this generation? It is like the children who sit in the marketplaces and cry out to their companions, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang lamentations for you, and you did not weep. For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon. The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified by her children.
Introduction to Matthew 11:16-19
They say that a dog is man’s best friend. No matter what you do to him, he still loves you just the same. There are times when I’m at odds with everyone at home, but our puppy comes and reminds me that he still cares about me. If you had a million dollars and a dog, you’d have a million “friends” and a dog. If you lost the million and had nothing left, those “friends” would disappear, but the dog would still be by your side. He doesn’t care about money, titles, position or privilege. All he wants is the privilege of being close to his master. If you call its name, it’s happy. If you pet it, it thinks it’s in heaven. His love is selfless and eternal. It is as constant in its love as the sun in its course across the sky. Of all the animals in God’s creation, there is no greater friend to man than the dog.
Unfortunately, most people don’t experience this kind of devotion in human friendships.
On our journey through life, we make and lose friends. That’s how things work! Thank God for the friends you have and pray for those who are no longer around. But as you walk, remember that there is a Friend who surpasses all the friends you will make or lose throughout your life. He was called the “friend of sinners” by His enemies. In the entire Bible, there is no sweeter name given to the Lord Jesus Christ than this. He is the Friend of the friendless!
When we look at the Word of God, we come across the word “friend” many times. In several of these texts, the Bible gives us a definition of what a true friend is. Today, I want to apply the test of God’s Word to the Lord Jesus and show that He is the Friend of sinners! Take a look at some of the characteristics that prove this to be true.
I. John 15:12-13 – A TRUE FRIEND SACRIFICES HIMSELF
“12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You will be my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.”
A. Maybe you have a friend you’d do anything for. Or maybe you’ve been lucky enough to have a friend who would do anything for you. If so, rejoice, because a friend like that is rare!
B. These verses teach us that Jesus loved us so much that He was able to die in our place on the cross. Even when we were His enemies and lost in sin, He still died for us (Romans 8:7; 5:6-8).
C. Many people think they need a friend with money, power, prestige or influence. But in reality, the sinner needs a Friend who can save him from his sins and deliver him from hell. Jesus, and only Jesus, is that Friend! Thousands could have died, but no other could have paid the price for the sinner. Jesus died so that sinners could live in him! The just died for the unjust. Jesus proved that He is the sinner’s best Friend!
II. Proverbs 17:17 – A TRUE FRIEND LOVES
“The friend loves at all times; and for anguish the brother is born.”
A. A characteristic of true friendship is a love that is unaffected by problems, misunderstandings or harsh words. It’s a love that transcends all that and continues to function as if nothing had happened. Such a love between two human friends is almost non-existent!
B. Jesus, on the other hand, demonstrates this kind of love without wavering! Look at His promise in Jeremiah 31:3: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” The term of this love is eternity. There is nothing man can do to alter God’s love for him. Even though we are unworthy and deeply flawed, He loves us with an unconditional and eternal love! (Romans 8:31-39).
C. Jesus is a true Friend because he loves us unconditionally. He places no limits on His great love for us. If you remember nothing else in any sermon, remember this: “God loves you!”
III. Proverbs 18:24 – A TRUE FRIEND IS FAITHFUL
“The man who has many friends may come to ruin, but there is a friend closer than a brother.”
A. We’ve all been betrayed by someone we thought was our friend. It’s never easy, and the pain never goes away completely. But what a joy it is to find a friend who doesn’t abandon you in difficult times!
B. Jesus is a faithful Friend. The day will never come when He won’t be by our side to guard, guide and comfort us. He is a Friend who “comes closer than a brother”!
C. As well as comforting us in times of sorrow, Jesus has promised us that he will be with us until the end of our journey (Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20). He has also sent us the Holy Spirit, who carries out a wonderful ministry of comfort in our lives (John 14:16-18).
IV. Matthew 11:19; Luke 19:7 – A TRUE FRIEND ACCEPTS
“The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified by her children.”
“And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying that he had come in to be the guest of a sinful man.”
A. In these passages, people criticized Jesus for spending time with people with bad reputations. Thank God for those who love us, despite our faults.
B. Jesus loves us as we are. He doesn’t ask us to change before he loves us. He simply loves us (Psalm 103:14).
C. This is no excuse for living a life of sin. Jesus expects his children to live in holiness. But when we fail, he doesn’t discard us. He reaches out to us in our time of need and reminds us that he still loves us.
D. He loves us despite our faults! We never have to earn His love. According to the Scriptures, we are “accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).
V. Proverbs 27:6 – A TRUE FRIEND CORRECTS
“Faithful are the wounds made by a friend, but the kisses of the enemy are deceitful.”
A. Rare is the friend who lovingly confronts you when you make a mistake. A friend who corrects you is a true friend!
B. Jesus is a Friend who corrects us when we are wrong (Hebrews 12:6-11).
VI. Matthew 26:50 – A TRUE FRIEND FORGIVES
“But Jesus said to him: Friend, why have you come? Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and seized him.”
A. In any friendship, there will be times when feelings are hurt. Happy is the friend who has the power to forgive and forget.
B. Jesus is a forgiving Friend! How many times have we failed and, like the prodigal son, returned to Him in repentance? When we do, we find a Friend who loves us despite our faults (1 John 1:7-2:1).
VII. John 15:15 – A TRUE FRIEND IS OPEN
“I no longer call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”
A. There are few friends with whom we can share our deepest secrets without fear of them getting out.
B. Jesus is that Friend! We can tell Him anything, and He will never betray our trust (1 Peter 5:7).
C. His friendship is a two-way street. Just as He wants us to trust Him, He also wants to share His truths with us. He has a plan for our lives and will guide us into that truth if we are willing to walk with Him as a friend (John 13:16).
Conclusion of Matthew 11:16-19
Robert Louis Stevenson told the story of two sisters in Edinburgh who, after a fight, shared their apartment with a line of chalk on the floor, living in hostile silence for years. How silly!
It’s sad when we isolate areas of our lives and don’t allow Jesus to enter them. He wants to be our Friend. If we lower our defenses and allow Him in, He will be the best Friend we’ve ever had.
Yes, Jesus is the Friend of sinners. But how true is this in your life? I invite you to come to Him today and seek His friendship. He is already your Friend.
Expository Preaching Outline on Matthew 11:16-19 – But to whom shall I liken this generation? It is like the children who sit in the marketplaces and cry out to their companions, and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang lamentations for you, and you did not weep. For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon. The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified by her children.
More Preaching Outlines
