Today, out of Matthew 12: 1-45 To begin, the Pharisee had established 39 categories of actions forbidden on the Sabbath (based on interpretation of God’s law and Jewish custom).Harvesting was one of these laws. In verse 1/2 you see they were not harvesting for profit, but because they were hungry. Just a “good” reason to confront Jesus.
Then in verses 3 & 4 Jesus confronts them about the Bread of the Presence in the temple that was replaced every week and the old loaves were eaten by the priests. David ate this bread and Jesus basically was saying if you condemn me then you must condemn David. Oops! Jesus is not making friends with the Pharisees!
The Pharisees had lost the meaning of the Sabbath, a day to rest and worship the LORD, instead they were demanding the letter of the law be followed by their interpretation. They were so leagalistic about religious rituals they missed the whole purpose of the Temple – bringing people to God. Oh, wow, do we see this in churches around America today?!?!
Notice in verse 8, when Jesus said he was master of the Sabbath, he claimed to be geater than the law and above the law. To the Pharisees this was heresy. They could not see this because of their laws and narrow mindedness.
3 He (Jesus) answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Verses 9-14 — Then Jesus goes on to heal a man’s hand when? Yes, on the Sabbath. Don’t you know the Pharisees were going nuts about this time. They were putting their laws above human need. Jesus struck a blow when he asked if a sheep fell into a well would you leave it or pull it out. Ohhh, as the kids say BURN!
Jesus had aggressively confronted the Pharisees, knew what they planned, but HIS time was yet to come. Jesus could read the Pharisees like a book and knew what they were planning. He left the area and many followed. He healed the sick among them. Jesus told the people healed to not tell others as he did not want people coming to him for all the wrong reasons. Verses 15-21.
To me, what comes next is really awesome. The religious leaders, who are so mired in the law cannot see anything but the law and themselves and are throwing darts of accusation at Jesus about where HE gets his power. They say Jesus gets his power from Satan. Jesus’ response is great. Here it is in verses 25-37
Verses 9-14 — Then Jesus goes on to heal a man’s hand when? Yes, on the Sabbath. Don’t you know the Pharisees were going nuts about this time. They were putting their laws above human need. Jesus struck a blow when he asked if a sheep fell into a well would you leave it or pull it out. Ohhh, as the kids say BURN!
Jesus had aggressively confronted the Pharisees, knew what they planned, but HIS time was yet to come. Jesus could read the Pharisees like a book and knew what they were planning. He left the area and many followed. He healed the sick among them. Jesus told the people healed to not tell others as he did not want people coming to him for all the wrong reasons. Verses 15-21.
To me, what comes next is really awesome. The religious leaders, who are so mired in the law cannot see anything but the law and themselves and are throwing darts of accusation at Jesus about where HE gets his power. They say Jesus gets his power from Satan. Jesus’ response is great. Here it is in verses 25-37
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Yep, a house divided cannot stand. Then, yes, and then the Pharisees said if you are who you are show us your authority with a miraculous sign. Oh, the nerve if these guys. Even if Jesus showed “another” sign, of which they had seen plenty to believe in IF, yes IF they wanted to, yet they continue to test Jesus. Then in verses 39-43 Jesus tells it like it is. Look at the beginning of verse 39: An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Nineveh saw the truth of God, however, the Pharisees did not. In verses 43-45 Jesus was describing the attitude of the nation of Israel and the religious leaders in particular. Cleaning up one’s life without filling it with God leaves plenty of room for Satan to enter. Unfulfilled and complacent people, such as the Pharisees, are easy targets for Satan. And as we studied yesterday, the demons and satan know they cannot win but want to take as many as possible to hell with them.
Be strong and agressive for Jesus my friend. Let the Holy Spirit be your pilot.