UNBELIEF

TEXT: MATTHEW 12 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/index.php?q=matthew12&niv=yes

PARAPHRASE

MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE

Jesus and his disciples are accused by the Pharisees of doing what is unlawful when on the Sabbath they ate from the heads of grain in the field they are walking through. Reminding the Pharisees what David and his companions did when they were hungry and what the Law says about temple priests on the Sabbath, Jesus tells them that as the Messiah he is greater than the temple and that he is Lord of the Sabbath. Because of this, he tells them that if they knew the meaning of what Hosea prophesied God as saying when he wrote: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice,” they wouldn’t have passed judgment on his disciples who are innocent in what they have done.

Going into the Pharisees’ synagogue they were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, asking him in the presence of a man with a shriveled hand if it was lawful to heal on the Sabbath. After contrasting the greater good done on the Sabbath in helping a man rather than a pulling a sheep out of a pit, the man’s hand was completely restored when he stretched it out as Jesus instructed him to do. However, after this the Pharisees went out and plotted how they could kill Jesus.

HOPE OF THE WORLD

Aware of the Pharisees intent, Jesus left that place and many with him as he healed all of their illnesses but warned them not to tell others yet that he was the Messiah. And what Jesus was doing fulfilled what the prophet Isaiah said when he spoke:

This is my chosen servant, Whom I love and delight in, My Spirit is on him, He humbly and gently proclaims My righteousness to the world. So that the harassed, helpless, weary and burdened will not be crushed until My righteousness triumphs. In the name of Jesus the world will place their hope.

BLASPHEMY

When Jesus healed a demon possessed man so that he was able to talk and see, the people were amazed and wondered whether he was the Son of David – the Messiah. Instead, the Pharisees reacted by accusing him of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons – Satan. Knowing this, Jesus tells the Pharisees that it makes no sense for Satan to drive out his own demons because if he does, his kingdom can’t stand in the same way that any kingdom divided against itself can’t stand. He asks them in whose name their people drive demons out and tells them that as the Messiah he is driving demons out by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God has come. In other words, Jesus says that you can’t enter a strong man’s house and take his possessions unless you tie up the strong man first, i.e. Satan. And, after doing this you can then rob his house, i.e. the kingdom of God can forcefully advance.

He tells them whoever remains neutral with respect to whether he is the Messiah is really against him because instead of working with him to build up the kingdom of God they are instead working against him to scatter it. He tells them that all sins and blasphemy will be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, i.e. anyone who speaks blasphemy against Him will be forgiven but anyone who speaks blasphemy against the Holy Spirit by attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan will not be forgiven either now or at the day of judgment.

Jesus tells them that a tree is recognized by its fruit – with good trees producing good fruit and bad trees producing bad trees – indicating that the Pharisees are a brood of vipers who are evil and thus are unable to say anything good. He says that on the day of judgment they will be held accountable for every careless word they have spoken - words that will either acquit or condemn them.

SIGN OF JONAH

When the religious leaders demanded that Jesus show them some dramatic miraculous sign, he calls them a wicked and adulterous generations for trying to test him after failing to believe in the miracles he had done in their midst. He tells them the only sign they will be given is the sign of Jonah – indicating that like Jonah who spent three days and nights in the belly of a huge fish before being released, he will spend three days and nights in a grave before being resurrected. He goes on to tell them that the people of Nineveh, who repented at Jonah’s preaching, will condemn their generation on the day of judgment because even though they have one greater than Jonah preaching to them, i.e. the Messiah, they have not repented. He also tells them that the Queen of the Sheba, who traveled a long distance to hear the wisdom of Solomon, will rise on the day of judgment to condemn their generation because even though one with greater wisdom than Solomon is with them, i.e. the Messiah, they fail to listen to him and believe.

He tells them when an evil spirit leaves a man it travels around trying to find places to rest and when it doesn’t find one it returns to the place it left finding it unoccupied, clean and in order – because there has been no change of heart, no acceptance of him as the Messiah, and only continued self-righteousness. Because of this it gets seven more spirits that are more wicked than itself to come and live there as well and in the end the man’s condition is worse than it was at first. He tells them this is the case with their generation that does not believe that he is the Messiah. .

FATHER’S WILL

While he was talking Jesus was notified that his mother and brothers were standing outside and wanted to talk with him. Pointing to his disciples, he said that whoever does the will of his Father is his brother and sister and mother.

PRINCIPLES

I. MATTHEW TOLD HIS FIRST CENTURY READERS THAT THE PHARISEES DID NOT BELIEVE JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH.

II. HOW DID MATTHEW TELL HIS FIRST CENTRUY READERS JESUS ADDRESSED THE PHARISEES’ UNBELIEF?

III. MATTHEW TOLD HIS FIRST CENTURY READERS THAT JESUS ADDRESSED THEIR UNBLIEF BY REVEALING HE WAS:

A. LORD OF THE SABBATH.

B. HOPE OF THE NATIONS.

C. HEALER OF ALL DISEASE.

D. JUDGE ON THE LAST DAY.

E. SERVANT OF THE FATHER’S WILL.

IV. MATTHEW TELLS US THAT THE PHARISEES OF TODAY DO NOT BELIEVE JESUS IS THE MESSIAIH.

V. HOW DOES MATTHEW TELL US JESUS ADDRESSES TODAY’S PHARISEES’ UNBELIEF?

VI. MATTHEW TELLS US THAT JESUS ADDRESSES THEIR UNBELIEF BY REVEALING HE IS:

A. LORD OF THE SABBATH.

B. HOPE OF THE NATIONS.

C. HEALER OF ALL DISEASE.

D. JUDGE ON THE LAST DAY.

E. SERVANT OF THE FATHER’S WILL.

PRAYER

Our Father, we thank You for Your Son, the Messiah and that as Lord of the Sabbath he desires mercy not sacrifice.

Our Father, forgive us when like Pharisees we focus on what we do rather than on what Your Son has done to change our heart purifying it from iniquity.

Our Father, we thank You for Your Son that he is our Hope, that he brought Justice to the World that he is our Salvation.

Our Father, we give you praise for Your Son who gave us the sign of Jonah, by spending 3 days and nights in the ground before You resurrected him to life.

Our Father, we give you praise that Your Son through the power of Your Holy Spirit drives our out demons leaving Your indwelling Spirit behind.

Our Father, help us to do Your will that we will be disciples of Your Son.

Our Father, we pray all of these things in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

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