Lord of the Sabbath - Matthew 12:1-14
Understand It
- Where were Jesus and His disciples when they were eating? (12:1)
- What difference did the day of the week make? (12:1)
- What activity were the disciples involved in? (12:1)
- How did the Pharisees react when they saw the disciples eating? (12:2)
- What biblical precedent did Jesus cite to justify the actions of His followers? (12:3-4)
- What, according to Jesus, did the law say about priests and the temple and the Sabbath? (12:5)
- Over what honored religious symbol did Jesus claim superiority? (12:6)
- What did Jesus accuse the Pharisees of failing to understand? (12:7)
- What did Jesus claim about Himself? (12:8)
- Where did Jesus go after clashing with the Pharisees? (12:9)
- What miracle did Jesus perform in the synagogue? (12:10, 13)
- How did Jesus justify His actions? (12:11-12)
- What was the response of the Pharisees? (12:14)
Apply It
- In what specific ways can you show mercy and compassion to a hurting person today?
- What legalistic rules that keep you from loving people do you need to ignore?
- Without being showy, how can you demonstrate today to a non-Christian friend the freedom that you have in Christ?
God's Chosen Servant - Matthew 12:15-21
Understand It
- How did Jesus respond to the hostility of the Pharisees? (12:15)
- Who accompanied Jesus? (12:15)
- What did Jesus do for the people who followed Him? (12:15)
- What did Jesus instruct the people He helped to do? (12:16)
- Who had foretold this event? (12:17)
- In the prophetic passage quoted here, how did God identify the Messiah? (12:18)
- What message did the prophecy say Christ would preach? (12:18)
- How was the personality of Christ described by Isaiah? (12:19)
- How did Isaiah predict people would respond to this coming servant of God? (12:19)
- According to Isaiah, what type of ministry would the Messiah have? (12:20)
- According to the prophet Isaiah, how would the nations ultimately respond to Christ? (12:21)
Apply It
- What are three practical ways you can serve God this week?
- What specific areas of your life do you need to surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit today?
- Over the next few days, how can you bring God’s justice and love to someone who is oppressed?
Jesus and Beelzebub - Matthew 12:22-37
Understand It
- What kind of man did Jesus heal? (12:22)
- How did the onlookers respond? (12:23)
- What kind of reaction did the Pharisees have to the miracle Christ did? (12:24)
- How did Jesus show the Pharisee’s argument to be illogical? (12:25-26)
- What did Jesus say to show the significance of His ability to drive out demons? (12:28)
- What rationale did Jesus give for casting out demons? (12:29)
- What criteria did Jesus give for determining who supported and opposed Him? (12:30)
- What did Jesus discuss with the Pharisees? (12:31-32)
- What did Jesus say a tree’s "fruit" reveals? (12:33)
- What harsh name did Jesus call the Pharisees? Why? (12:34)
- What did Jesus claim a person’s words reveal? (12:34-35)
- What will every single person do on the day of judgment? (12:36-37)
Apply It
- When and how can you best bring your unconfessed sins to God?
- What are some specific steps you can take this week to avoid sinning in your speech?
- What can you begin doing today to develop a pure heart so that your life produces good fruit?
Jesus' Mother and Brothers - Matthew 12:46-50
Understand It
- What was Christ doing when His mother and brothers came to speak to Him? (12:46)
- Who was in the crowd? (12:38-46)
- Who came to find Jesus? Why? (12:46)
- Why did Jesus’ family want to see Him? (12:46)
- How did Jesus find out about His visitors? (12:47)
- What two rhetorical questions did Jesus pose when He heard about His family’s arrival? (12:48)
- How did Jesus answer His own questions? (12:49)
- What makes a person a member of Jesus’ family? (12:50)
- Who can become a member of Jesus’ family? (12:50)
- How did Jesus refer to God? (12:50)
Apply It
- What could you do today to strengthen the bonds you have with another Christian brother or sister?
- To what family member could you communicate your love and concern this week?
- What steps can you take this week to ensure that your family ties do not hinder God’s will for you?
