Sabbath Accusations
Did the Pharisees criticize Jesus for breaking their Sabbath rules?
At that time Jesus passed through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick and eat some heads of grain. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” (Matthew 12:1-2 HCSB)
Was Jesus more concerned with feeding the hungry than the letter of the law?
But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? (Matthew 12:3-4 KJV)
Did Old Testament priests work on the Sabbath, yet were innocent?
Or have you not read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the Sabbath, and yet are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. (Matthew 12:5-6 NASB)
Is something more important than legalistic Sabbath observance?
If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. (Matthew 12:7 NIV)
What gave Jesus the right to make these decisions regarding the Sabbath?
For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:8 NKJV)
Were the Pharisees looking for a reason to accuse Jesus?
Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) (Matthew 12:9-10 NLT)
What did Jesus say to their motives?
He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.” (Matthew 12:11-12 WEB)
Did Jesus let their critical attitudes hold Him back from doing good?
Then Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did and it was made healthy, just like the other one. The Pharisees went out and met in order to find a way to destroy Jesus. (Matthew 12:13-14 CEB)
Did Jesus wait around to be harassed?
When Jesus found out what was happening, he left there and large crowds followed him. He healed all of their sick, but warned them not to tell anyone about him. So God's promise came true, just as Isaiah the prophet had said (Matthew 12:15-17 CEV)
What was Isaiah’s prophecy about Jesus?
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope. (Matthew 12:18-21 ESV cp. Isaiah 42:1-4; 61:1)
How did the crowds react to Jesus?
Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see. And all the crowds were astounded and said, “Perhaps this is the Son of David!” (Matthew 12:22-23 HCSB)
Accused for Healing
Did the religious leaders repent of their rotten accusations?
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. (Matthew 12:24 KJV)
How did Jesus answer the accusations in their hearts?
And knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he has become divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? And if by Beelzebul I cast out the demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or, how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. (Matthew 12:25-29 NASB)
Accusing the Holy Spirit
Was their criticism of Jesus forgivable? Were they far too close to falsely accusing the Holy Spirit’s work through Jesus?
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but 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. (Matthew 12:30-32 NIV)
Did Jesus speak quite bluntly at times?
A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. (Matthew 12:33-34 NLT)
Are we justified by faith alone or also by our words?
The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:35-37 WEB)
Signs
Is faith about seeing a sign?
At that time some of the legal experts and the Pharisees requested of Jesus, “Teacher, we would like to see a sign from you.” But he replied, “An evil and unfaithful generation searches for a sign, but it won’t receive any sign except Jonah’s sign. (Matthew 12:38-39 CEB)
What was Jonah’s sign?
He was in the stomach of a big fish for three days and nights, just as the Son of Man will be deep in the earth for three days and nights. (Matthew 12:40 CEV)
Will the nations judge these religious leaders?
The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. (Matthew 12:41-42 ESV)
Are those who reject Christ like a man healed of demon possession, but does not repent and fill his life with godly things? Eastern meditation seeks to empty the mind. Biblical meditation seeks to fill the mind with godly thoughts. Is there demonic danger in an empty mind?
When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ And returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. Then off it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man’s last condition is worse than the first. That’s how it will also be with this evil generation. (Matthew 12:43-45 HCSB)
Jesus’ Family
Did Jesus have brothers and sisters?
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. (Matthew 12:46-47 KJV)
What object lesson did Jesus teach from this?
But Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:48-50 NASB)
Jesus earlier taught that He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. Here He said that among fellow believers we have a new family, sometimes closer than our physical family.
Just like Jesus, Christians are often falsely accused. Even if physical family members reject us and our beliefs, we have a heavenly family and a Father who always accepts the faithful. Let’s not lose hope, but trust that God has a plan for all. You decide!
