SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 12
LORD OF THE SABBATH (vs. 1-14)
The disciples of Jesus were hungry and they began to pick some grain and eat them on the Sabbath day. When the Pharisees saw it, they said to Jesus: “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath” (v. 2).
Jesus replied: “When David and his companion were hungry, David entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread which was unlawful for them to do, but only for the priests. The priests in temple desecrated the Sabbath day and yet they were innocent. I tell you: the one greater than the temple is here. I desire mercy not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (vs. 3-8)
Then Jesus went into their synagogue and a man with a shriveled hand was there. The Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus by asking him this question. “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Jesus answered: “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” (v. 11-12). Jesus then told the man to stretch out his hand and he was completely restored.
GOD’S CHOSEN SERVANT (vs. 15-21)
Jesus withdrew from that place and many followed Him. He healed all their sick, which fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah as follows: “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.” (vs. 18-21)
JESUS AND BELZEEBUB (vs. 18-21)
A blind and mute demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus . All the people were saying: “Could this be the Son of David?” (vs. 23). Then the Pharisees said: “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives our demons!” (v. 24). Then Jesus said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against it self will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. And, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man” Then he can rob his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” (vs. 25-30)
Jesus warned them:
“Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (vs. 31-32)
To determine whether a tree is good or bad is recognized by its fruit. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things while the evil man brings evil things. All men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (vs. 33-37)
THE SIGN OF JONAH (vs. 38-45)
The Pharisees asked Jesus to share them a miraculous sign. Jesus refuted saying he would not give any except the sign of prophet Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of a huge fish for 3 days and 3 nights. So the Son of Man will also be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah. Queen Sheba of the South came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. Now one greater than Solomon is here.
If an evil spirit came out of a man and returned again, he will take 7 other spirits more wicked to go in and live there. The condition of that man is worst than before. This is how it will be with the wicked generation.
JESUS’ MOTHER AND BROTHERS. (VS. 46-49)
Someone told Jesus that his mother and brothers were standing outside waiting to speak to him. Jesus said: “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (v. 49)
THOUGHTS:
The Pharisees were concerned about keeping the Sabbath but about showing love to a man with a handicap condition. Jesus wants mercy not sacrifice. The Pharisees plotted Jesus’ death because they were outrage when Jesus overruled their authority. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy and their loyalty to religious system.
The Pharisees refused to believe that Jesus is God. They said he was in league with Satan. Jesus readily exposed the foolishness of their arguments by saying: “If Satan drives out Satan, how can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do you people drive them out? So, then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (vs. 26-28)
The Pharisees had blasphemed against the Spirit by attributing the power of Christ in performing miracles to Satan instead of the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable sin. It is the deliberate refusal to acknowledge God’s power in Christ.
What we say comes from our heart. It is very important for us to allow the Holy Spirit to fill our heart with new attitude and nature so that we can bring glory to God.
The Pharisees were asking for another miracle to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus knew they had already seen enough miracles and more miracles would not change them because they had decided not to believe in Him. Sometimes, we would also want to see miracles before we will believe in God. But there are already plenty of evidences – Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection and ascension and His work among the believers. Instead of looking for additional evidences, accept what God has already given.
The people of Nineveh were wicked but when Jonah when to preach, they repented. When Queen of the South – Queen Sheba learned of Solomon’s wisdom, she came from the ends of the earth to listen to him. Now, Jesus is greater than Solomon but the religious leaders instead of ignoring the truth and refused to accept Jesus. How about you? How do you respond to the evidences ands truth of God’s existence?
Jesus described the attitude of the Israelites and the religious leaders as just clearing up one’s life without filling it with God will leave plenty of rooms for Satan to enter. Theo first step we must take is to believe in Jesus as our Savior. the second step is to till up with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit so as not to become the targets of Satan.
When Jesus said: “Who is my mother and brothers, he was not denying his earthly responsibility to his earthly family. Instead, he was pointing out that Spiritual relationship are as binding as physical one, and he was paving the way for a new community of believers (the universal church) our spiritual family.