What I Noticed Today (Matthew 12)
Matthew 12
In verses 1-2, Jesus and the disciples were walking through a grain field, and being hungry, they plucked the heads of grain to eat. The Pharisees saw this and immediately complained that Jesus and the disciples were breaking the Law by working on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11).
Note: Pharisees considered picking the grain as reaping, rubbing the grain between the hands as threshing, and blowing away the chaff as winnowing. Reaping, threshing, and winnowing were all defined as work and illegal on the Sabbath.
In verses 3-8, Jesus refuted the Pharisee's claim with three examples:
- David ate the consecrated bread (1 Samuel 21:1-6).
- The priests worked on the Sabbath (Numbers 28:9-10).
- Jesus said He was Lord of the Sabbath, and He decides what is allowed and what is not. Jesus quoted from Hosea 6:6, reminding the Pharisees that God desired mercy more than sacrifice.
In verses 9-14, Jesus arrived at the synagogue on the Sabbath, and there was a man with a shriveled hand there. The Pharisees attempting to trap Jesus asked if it was legal to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus said it was legal to do good on the Sabbath. A man would rescue a sheep from a pit, and men were more valuable to God than sheep. So Jesus healed the man. Instead of being convinced by Jesus' argument, the Pharisees plotted against him, planning to destroy him.
In verses 15-21, Jesus withdrew from the Pharisees. Many people followed him, and he healed them all but ordered them not to say anything. This fulfilled Isaiah 42:1-4.
Note: In verse 18, the three elements of the Godhead are in view (the Trinity): God the Father, who spoke regarding His servant Jesus, who was imbued with the Holy Spirit.
In verses 22-24, A blind and mute demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus, and Jesus healed him. When the Pharisees heard about it, they said it was through the power of Beelzebub (Satan) that Jesus was able to cast out the demons.
In verses 25-29, Jesus, knowing their thoughts, responded that no kingdom divided against itself would survive. Jesus asked by what power their judges cast out demons, was it Satan or God.
Note: By driving out demons, Jesus demonstrated that he was stronger than Satan (who can enter a strong man’s house without first binding him).
If Jesus were driving out demons by Satan’s power, why would he drive out one of his own demons? Also, if Jesus was driving out demons by Satan’s power, why would he be preaching about the kingdom of God?
In verses 30-33, Jesus then called the people to make a decision. They were either with Him or against Him. Attributing Jesus’s acts to the power of Satan was blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Every sin would be forgiven except for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
In verses 33-37, Jesus declared that a tree is known by its fruit. Good trees produce good fruit. He referred to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers who could not say anything good because they were evil. On the day of judgment, they will be held accountable for every careless word.
In verses 38-42, some scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus to perform another miracle (they had already witnessed and heard about many of Jesus’ miracles). Jesus answered they were wicked for asking for another sign except for the sign of Jonah. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and nights, just as the Son of Man will be in the earth for three days and nights. Jesus said even the people of Nineveh repented when they heard Jonah preach. The queen of the south repented when she heard Solomon’s wisdom. Jesus was greater than Jonah or Solomon.
Note: The queen of the south is the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-13).
Note: The pagan nation of the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba were more responsive to the word of God than were the Jews, God’s chosen people.
In verses 43-45, Jesus compared the Pharisees to a man with an unclean spirit. The man cleans up his life, but the unclean spirit returns and brings more spirits with it, and the man is worse off than before. They had attempted to follow God’s Law, but by their own power, without the power of God, and so, in the end, they were targets for Satan.
In verses 46-50, Jesus' family stood outside to asking to speak to him. Jesus responded that whoever does the will of the Father is His brother and sister. Jesus was saying His spiritual family was valued even more than His physical family.
Some things for additional thought in this chapter:
- Jesus faced hostility from established leaders because he challenged their belief system.
- Many leaders Jesus faced were hypocrites; they made a show of following God, but their hearts were far from Him.
- Jesus warned about being indecisive. You are either with Him or against Him, and if you are against Jesus, you are for Satan.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
