Matthew 12

Matthew 12:1

The purpose of Matthew’s Gospel is to present Jesus as King. In chapter 11, however, we saw the beginning of a rebellion against His authority as Israel failed to respond to His work among them. It is a rebellion that will lead to rejection and ultimately to Calvary. Realizing that, as a nation, Israel would not acknowledge He was Messiah, Jesus began speaking to people individually, saying, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Upon hearing this, the religious leaders would think, We don’t need His rest. We have our Sabbath. That is all the rest we need. But in reality, the Sabbath day had become anything but a day of rest, for the scribes had encumbered it with so many rules and regulations that the Talmud devoted numerous chapters to instructions for keeping the Sabbath. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.Heb_4:9 Even though the Sabbath day was established in the Book of Genesis, the author of Hebrews quotes Psalms 95, saying there remains a Sabbath for God’s people. The argument of Hebrews 4 is that the ultimate Sabbath encompasses much more than a singular day. God’s intent was much greater than just to give His people a vacation. Other people say, “The Sabbath is not a vacation, it’s location. It’s not so much a day, it’s a place.” The Jews thought the perfect location would be the Promised Land. But Hebrews 4 goes on to say that even after they were in the Promised Land, the Lord still spoke of a rest that was to come. The Promised Land didn’t satisfy the restlessness within them, and the Sabbath day didn’t bring them the refreshment for which they longed. So Hebrews 4 concludes that true rest comes neither from vacation nor location. It’s found in a Person. Jesus Christ is the Sabbath they sought. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.Col_2:16-17 In other words, don’t let anyone tell you that what you are looking for can be found in meats and drinks and holy days and Sabbaths. No, these Old Testament pictures are only shadows describing the reality, which is Christ. We don’t have a Sabbath day. We have a Sabbath God in Jesus Christ. He is our Rest. He is our Shabbat. But these were fighting words for the religious leaders and rabbis. And now the stage is set for chapter 12. The issue? The Sabbath. See now in your mind’s eye Jesus walking with His disciples, flanked by fields of wheat. With roads in that day few and far between, travelers would walk on pathways that wound their way through fields. The law made provision in Deuteronomy 23 for the hunger of such travelers. If you walked on a path through a man’s field, you could eat what grew along the path. Therefore, don’t be mistaken. Jesus and His disciples were not robbing some poor farmer of his crops. They were well within the legal boundaries of the provision of God’s Law.

Matthew 12:2

Here’s the question I have: What were these Pharisees doing in the field in the first place? They had broken their own rules by being more than three thousand feet away from their own homes on the Sabbath. But that’s the way Pharisees always are. They would go out of their way to find fault with others, and in so doing, err themselves.

Matthew 12:3

“Haven’t you been reading the Scriptures?” Jesus asked. “Don’t you know the story of 1 Samuel 21? When David and his men became hungry while fleeing from Saul, the priests gave him the showbread, which was not lawful for them to eat. Don’t you remember that story that shows love is more important than the law, relationship more important than ritual?” Jesus chose a particularly interesting illustration, for just as David was at that time rejected as king of Israel, so Jesus was also at this time rejected as King.

Matthew 12:5

Temple priests worked twice as hard on the Sabbath, their supposed day of rest, since twice as many sacrifices were offered to the Lord on that day. Jesus here is making an airtight case. “Don’t you know history?” He said. “David ate the showbread and was held blameless. Don’t you know the law? It requires the priests to work doubly hard on the Sabbath day.”

Matthew 12:6

“Finally,” Jesus asks, “don’t you know the Word?” as He quoted from the prophet Hosea. “Don’t you know the heart of your Father? He desires mercy more than sacrifice, love more than law, and relationship more than ritual.” Notice the ironclad case Jesus makes here. He points to Davida king they honored. He points to the priestswho worked on the Sabbath. He points to the prophet Hoseawho declared God loves mercy more than sacrifice. In validation of His own actions, Jesus identifies with a prophet, the priests, and a king. Jesus is ingeniously driving a point home to those who had ears to hear. “I am the King of kings, the great High Priest, the Prophet of God. I am the Anointed One. I am Messiah.”

Matthew 12:8

“It all speaks of Me,” declares Jesus. “It all points to Me.” When you read the Scriptures, don’t get hung up in the regulations, rituals, and technicalities. They are all shadows that point to Jesus. Look for Him and become enamored with Him as you see Him on every page. Jesus is Lord of alleven of the Sabbath day.

Matthew 12:9

He went into their synagogue. Their synagogue was no longer His synagogue. What a tragedy when a church is no longer His churchwhere Jesus is no longer honored and loved, exalted and worshipedbut where He is simply a mascot. “Oh yeah. We believe in Jesus. Now let’s get down to the real matters of the church. We must plan for our Christmas bazaar.” What a tragic loss. What tremendous love. Although it was no longer His synagogue, He still came in. I love the Lord for this. He doesn’t give up. He continues on, time and time again.

Matthew 12:10

Keep in mind that in their regulations, the Jews specifically said you could do no healing on the Sabbath day. Let’s say a man was bleeding to death. You could put a tourniquet around him to prevent him from dying, but you could put no ointment on the wound that might bring healing. Jesus asks, “Why is it that your regulations say if a sheep falls into a pit on the Sabbath, it’s okay to bring him out, but a man cannot be healed on the Sabbath?” That’s what the law always does. When you become all bound up in regulations, traditions, and religious rituals, your heart becomes cold and hardened towards people. You constantly judge them and find fault with them. Religion apart from relationship will make you a pompous, snooty, holier-than-thou Pharisee.

Matthew 12:13

How I love this incident! “Stretch out your hand,” said Jesus. The man could have said, “I can’t! It’s paralyzed.” But he didn’t. He simply stretched it out; and as he obeyed, his hand was healed. There’s power in the Word, gang. Dare to act, and you’ll be able to act because God’s commandments are God’s enablements.

Matthew 12:14

The problem with the Pharisees was jealousy. Nobody was noticing them anymore, and they didn’t like the competition.

Matthew 12:15

I think verse Mat_12:16 should be written very boldly on the pulpits and in the margins of those who have healing ministries. Jesus ministered in such a way that He was not trying to advertise His successes.

Matthew 12:17

Matthew quotes Isaiah 42, a beautiful prophecy wonderfully fulfilled in Jesus. God said, “This is the One in whom I am well pleased. My Spirit is upon Him. Justice will come to the Gentiles through Him. And He will not cry, neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets.” Jesus was not like some men we see today, striving, crying, and being weird in the name of the Lord. Jesus didn’t draw attention to Himself. In fact, He blended into His world so completely that in the Garden of Gethsemane, His enemies couldn’t identify Him without a kiss. Here was a Man who had healed, fed, and taught thousands, yet He remained unidentifiable because He moved in such humility and such grace.

Matthew 12:20

Reeds grow in marshes. They were, and still are, good for only one thing: musical instruments. If a reed became bruised or bent, it was good for nothing. Flax, too, was good for only one thing: to be used for wicks in lamps. Through the analogy of reeds and flax, Isaiah described the ministry of Jesus. Maybe you feel like nothing more than a squeaky reed or a smoking wick. I have good news for you: The Lord will not break you, throw water upon you, or give up on you. He’ll strengthen you, rebuild you, and use you for His glory.

Matthew 12:22

As Jesus’ ministry continued, the dumb began to talk, the blind began to see, and the Pharisees had no other choice but to accuse Him of working by the power of Satan himself. What else could they say? Jesus was healing and affecting so many that they had to come up with some explanation for His power. The same thing happens today whenever a person chooses to believe the work of the Holy Spirit is the result of brainwashing or manipulation, emotionalism or hypnotism, instead of attributing such power to God.

Matthew 12:25

“If I am casting out Satan by the power of Satan, then Satan’s house is divided. He’s fighting against himself. What you are saying is illogical,” declared Jesus. Not only was their accusation illogical, but based on the following verses, it was hypocritical.

Matthew 12:27

The Pharisees endorsed certain exorcists who went throughout the community casting out devils. Jesus said, “If you indict Me because I have freed a man of demonic power, then what about those whom you have endorsed? If, on the other hand, I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, you must acknowledge His kingdom is represented by Me, that it is here in your midst.”

Matthew 12:29

The enemy had to be bound through prayer and in faith before Jesus could release the one possessed by a demon.

Matthew 12:30

Jesus says, “You’re against Me, Pharisees,” as He goes on to give them a scathing indictment.

Matthew 12:31

Follow the flow: A man has been released of a demon. The Pharisees attributed the miracle to the power of Satan, and Jesus now gives a heavy word to these Pharisees: “You are speaking illogically, acting hypocritically, and jeopardizing your own souls eternally.” If they had not already done so, they were dangerously close to committing the blasphemy of the Spirit, which according to Jesus, is the only unpardonable sin. When Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary, He died not only for our sins but also for the sins of the whole world. That’s the gospel. Jesus died for every sin every person who has ever lived on the face of this planet has committed or ever will commit. When He said, “It is Finished,” the work was done. Every sin was paid for. That’s great news! We can tell anyone, “My friend, your sins are forgiven! The price has been paid. You’re free!” But there is one sin that cannot be forgiven. There is one sin that will damn you eternally. It is the blasphemy of the Spirit. If you sin against the Father or against the Son, it’s forgiven. But if you sin against the Spirit in this blasphemy, it will damn you eternally. That’s the one sin that is unpardonable, the one sin that’s unforgivable. What is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? It is when you come to the wrong conclusion that the reason miracles are happening, people are changing, and the dumb are speaking is due to some kind of hypnotism, demonic activity, or mental delusion. And you begin to blaspheme what the Spirit speaks in your heart when He says, “No, it’s real. It’s Jesus.” If you ignore the Spirit’s voice in your heart and say, “Those people at Calvary Chapel are being brainwashed, those Christians are drinking their bathwater, those believers are under some kind of delusion,” there comes a point where you will have said, “No” one too many times to the Holy Spirit. There comes a point when the unpardonable sin has been committed. What does this mean? It means the Holy Spirit will no longer speak to you. You see, in Genesis 6, God declared, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man…” He’s not always going to speak to you about your need for salvation. Therefore, if you keep saying, “Those people are just being emotional; they just imagine they hear from God; they’re off the wall,” eventually you will commit the blasphemy of the Spirit, and you will be damned. You can only hear the message and see the miracles so many times before God will finally say, “Okay, have your way. You don’t want to acknowledge My reality? Very well. My Spirit will no longer speak to you.” And then you’re lost. At that point, you not only will not believe. At that point, you cannot believe. In Jer_7:16, God said to Jeremiah, “Don’t pray any longer for this people. They are lost.” Jeremiah was told to preach to them, but not to pray for them. It wouldn’t do any good. There comes a time, we know not when, and a place, we know not where, when a man’s fate is sealed between heaven and despair. You can’t play games when the Spirit is drawing you. During World War II, a United States battleship, aircraft carrier, and several other smaller boats were patrolling the waters of the Northern Atlantic in search of German U-boats. One evening, several pilots took off from the carrier and were told to be back by a certain hour. But the leader of the squadron of four planes purposefully stayed out longer, feeling with just a little more time, he could find the enemy and secure an impressive hit. As the sun set, a German armada entered the area. The American fleet was in trouble for now they were outgunned, outmanned, and outnumbered. Unbeknownst to the pilots, radio silence was ordered between the ships in the water and aircraft still in flight. At this point, as their fuel was getting dangerously low, the pilots radioed to the American ships, but there was no reply. Again and again the pilots cried, “Turn on the lights. Turn on the landing lights.” But the lights didn’t go on, for to have done so would have jeopardized the lives of thousands of men. Thus, the story is recorded how the men on that aircraft carrier stood by in horror as they watched four American planes crash into the icy waters of the Atlantic. So, too, the Scriptures say, “Today is the day of salvation.” The light is shining in your heart. You’re hearing the Word of the Lord. But there will come a time when the Lord, the Commander-in-Chief, will order radio silence. The lights will be dimmed, and you will not be able to find your way home. You will have blasphemed the Spirit, and there will be no hope for you. The Lord offers you eternal and abundant life.

He wants to forgive your sins and fill you with joy. Only a fool would turn his back on such a gift. Today is the day of salvation. When you witness, pray passionately, and express yourself clearly. You need to be zealous in your witness because the stakes are high. A person doesn’t have forever to make a decision.

There is a point in time when the lights go off, when the communication stops. Such was the case with the Pharisees.

Matthew 12:33

“Check out what I am doing,” Jesus says. “The good fruit of people being healed and liberated will tell you something about Me. Check out the fruit.”

Matthew 12:34

A news broadcast in Chicago was once interrupted by the once familiar song, “It’s Howdy Doody Time, It’s Howdy Doody Time…” when Howdy Doody broadcast waves hit some sort of an asteroid and bounced back thirty years later. So too, our words go on and on, and Jesus says we will give an account for them. Therefore, how thankful I am for the blood of Jesus. We have been forgiven, but those who blaspheme the Spirit, saying, “I don’t want Jesus,” must eventually answer to Him.

Matthew 12:37

Your words will either condemn you or justify you. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.Rom_10:9-10

Matthew 12:38

“The one sign I will give you is the sign of Jonah. Jonah preached judgment. I have come preaching grace and mercy. Jonah was disobedient. I have come obediently. Jonah preached to one city. I have come for the whole world. A greater Prophet than Jonah is in your midst, yet you do not respond.”

Matthew 12:40

“The sign of Jonah” is resurrectionthe one and only sign Jesus promised as validation of His words and ministry. That’s why the Resurrection is so important. It’s the one sign upon which we build our faith. How do I know if the Cross really “took”? Was God fully satisfied with the sacrifice of Jesus? Are my sins really forgiven? Yea and amen! The Resurrection proves Jesus is the Messiah and that His work on the Cross was complete. As valid as your testimony may be, in reality, the most powerful prod to salvation you can provide is to talk to people about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s provable historically. It’s undeniable philosophically and logically. Get the book, Who Moved The Stone? by Frank Morison, an Ivy League scholar who was determined to disprove the Resurrection. He studied for seven years, and in the process, became a born-again believer. Read Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell, or Know Why You Believe by Paul Little. Study the Resurrection and make it the focal point of your witness.

Matthew 12:42

Jesus is referring to the account in 1 Kings 10, wherein we read the Queen of Sheba cruised up from Africa to see Solomon. Having heard about his splendor, his majesty, and his wisdom, she went away saying, “Amazing! The half wasn’t even told to me. What I’ve seen here is a mind blower.” Yet a greater King than Solomon was in their midst. Solomon had wisdom from God. Jesus is the wisdom of God. Solomon was a great king. Jesus is the King of kings. Solomon spoke practically to his nation. Jesus spoke powerfully to all of creation. Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba gifts. Jesus is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or think.

Matthew 12:43

Again, think with me and follow the flow carefully. Jesus here is indicting this wicked generation, saying, “Although you might have cleaned yourself up from the idolatry that once plagued your country and have had reformation, you haven’t experienced regeneration. Although you’ve swept your nation clean of idols, seven times as many demons will flood you because you are rejecting Me.” Jesus is speaking primarily of the nation of Israel. But He also speaks to me personally and to us as a church corporately because we must be careful that we do not seek to get people to merely “clean up” their lives. There’s a move today to try to bring reformation to our communities in the name of Jesus. Our communities do not need reformation. Our communities need regeneration. People need to be born again. The work of the gospel is from the inside out. Jesus called us to be fishers of men, and you can’t clean the fish until you catch them. People who try to clean up their lives or their communities through reformation will sweep the house clean, but seven times as many demons will come back. The evil that follows will be greater than the initial evil unless there is rebirth. Do you really think we’re going to stop drug abuse by trying to eradicate the fields of coca in South America? Do you really feel that militarily or politically or through slogans like “Just Say No,” we’re going to rid ourselves of cocaine nationally? We tried in Prohibition. “We’ll sweep it clean,” we said. “We’ll close down the distilleries. We’ll board up the breweries. We’ll change this country through legislation.” But do you know what followed? For a while, alcoholism seemed to ebb, but in its place came cocaine and heroinseven times the greater evil. We need to take the words of Jesus to heart. We must be about regenerationnot reformation; rebirth inwardlynot reform outwardly. Should we not then be involved in community activities and political undertakings? Of course. But as you are involved, you must realize your ultimate goal is to see people changed through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You must be salt and lightdrawing people to and reflecting Him.

Matthew 12:46

Why did Jesus’ family want to talk with Him? They were worried about Him. They knew one didn’t call the Pharisees a brood of vipers and escape scot-free. According to a long list of rules and regulations concerning infidels and heretics, the Pharisees could stone someone for such an offense. So Jesus’ mother and brothers, sensing confrontation, might have wanted to protect Him.

Matthew 12:47

For those who say Mary has some kind of special influence on Jesus, this passage shows she didn’t have a whole lot of pull. Jesus said, “Wait a minute. Who is My mother? My mother and My brothers are My disciples.”

Matthew 12:50

It is true we can’t choose our family. But the Lord did. If you believe on Him whom the Father has sent, He embraces you as His family. Hebrews says He is not ashamed to call us brethren (Heb_2:11). He says, “Behold, My brothers, My sisters, My motherthose who hear My word, those who do the will of the Father, believing in Methey are My family.” Before the world began, Jesus chose us to live with Him eternally. Amazing!