Matthew 12-Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

SLIDE 01 Jesus spent a lot of time in synagogues (Matt. 4:23). He taught in them (Matt. 13:54), healed in them (Luke 4:33'35; Mark 3:1-5), and debated the interpretation of Torah in them (John 6:28-59). Last week our memory verse Matthew 11:28-30

.²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Jesus is inviting ALL who are heavy laden to take His yoke, learn from Him and find rest for your souls. Beginning in the first verses of Chapter 12, He demonstrates the rigid manmade laws that the people were subjected to. Hebrew word shab-bat means “repose or rest,” yet there is no rest in mere religious observances. The religious leaders put heavy burdens and hard yokes upon the people.

SLIDE 2 Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

·        Keeping the Sabbath

·        By whose Authority

·        Good or Evil

What’s in your heart?

Matthew 12 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. ² But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 

SLIDE 3 According to Deuteronomy 23:25 travelers may eat from neighbor’s field.  If you go into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor's standing grain.

The eating of the grain was not the issue, it was the “work” done on the Sabbath. David Guzik, in the eyes of the religious leaders they were guilty of: 

·                Reaping

·                Threshing

·                Winnowing

·                Preparing food

Clearing picking a few kernels of grain is not all that work. (This was the original fast food.)

SLIDE 4 verses 3-5 Jesus provided the priest with two examples of breaking the laws of the Sabbath. David he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests.

David was forgiven the offence because of his need, so how much more should the Messiah, Son of David by justified.

 SLIDE 5 The priest themselves did more work than this when they made preparations for temple worship.  "The Temple ritual always involved work - the kindling of fires, the slaughter and the preparation of animals, the lifting of them on to the altar, and a host of other things. This work was actually doubled on the Sabbath, for on the Sabbath the offerings were doubled (cp. e.g. Numbers 28:9)." (Barclay)

The priests’ service was in obedience to the law given by God. This suggests that man’s traditions about the Sabbath were wrong, for they contradicted God’s own law.

SLIDE 6 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. ? ⁷ And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Jesus reminded them that human need is more important than observing ceremonial rituals.  Mercy has a deeper meaning in our spiritual perspective and in our obedience to Jesus Christ.

If we carry a friend to the ER on a Sunday morning, the Lord will bless your kindness even if you are absent from church. However if you use excuses too often you may need to check your commitment to your church, CBS, and your LORD.

Jesus never violated God's command to observe the Sabbath but he often broke man's legalistic additions to that law. What’s in your heart?

SLIDE 7 ⁹ He went on from there and entered their synagogue. ¹⁰ And a man was there with a withered hand.

The Pharisees asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”  “to heal was to work, and work was prohibited on the Sabbath day.” The Rabbinic teaching allowed healing if one’s life was in danger. Clearly Jesus could have healed this man on the next day.  However he continue to prove a point.

¹¹ He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? ¹² Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Not doing good on the Sabbath day (or any other day) is the same as doing evil. WW

SLIDE 8 "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke What’s in your heart? Over our holiday as we celebrate the birth of our Messiah, let’s continue to pray for Israel.

¹³ Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 

Jesus did not actually do any physical labor to heal this man. We may not have a withered hand, but maybe a withered faith; a withered family life, a withered soul. The situation you are in now it not what you desired in life. 

SLIDE 9 “Stretch out your hand.” Do something! Please close your eyes and commit anew your life to Jesus. Right now Surrender everything …every known or hidden sins… sin of unfaithfulness… sins of lack or little faith and sin of not trusting Him…sin of disobedience… sin of self-centeredness…etc…Give everything to God and we ourselves will discover the comfort and the blessings of life with Christ.  Sermon illustration

We have seen the Pharisees try to trap Jesus breaking the law or committing blasphemy.

14-16 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. ¹⁵ Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all ¹⁶ and ordered them not to make him known. 

Here again Jesus asked those He healed to not make Him known.

Tell me this, if someone was on the street corner giving away $10 bills to each person. What would happen? Right a mob would descend on him. If you venture out on Black Friday into the insanity of Christmas Sales, you may understand why Jesus withdrew from the cities and synagogue.

 It was not Gods timing for Jesus *to be arrested and sacrificed.

SLIDE 10  15-21The prophet Isaiah foretold of a beloved chosen one with the Spirit of God who will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

¹⁹ He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
²⁰ a bruised reed he will not break,  and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;

These two example represent something in a weakened state. Jesus is gentle and humble of spirit.

Jesus came first to the Jews. The Pharisees plotted to kill Him. Now He will extend His ministry to the Gentiles. ²¹ and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

12:22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. ²³ And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

There were some incidences of priests trying to cast our demons, but they were not very successful.

 ²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” Their accusation amounts to a charge of sorcery.

SLIDE 11 Holy Spirit or Demon Possessed-The Pharisees were unable to help the man that Jesus healed. In an effort to explain this miracle they credit the power of the Holy Spirit to Beelzebub. Satan is not the equal or even the opposite of Jesus. God is omniscient-all knowing; He can read your mind and your heart. Satan and his demons cannot. When Satan fell from Heaven he took 1/3 of the angels with Him. God has twice the army of Satan but God is omnipotent-all powerful. When we studied Revelation last year we discussed the Creator spoke the world into existence. He does not need an army of angels or saints to return with Him. He can defeat Satan and his minions with a single word. What’s in your heart?

SLIDE 12 12:28 Jesus said, “if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

In our everyday life we can be plagued by demons who give you negative thoughts. The only way to be truly be free of demeaning self talk is to fill your mind with things of God.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

SLIDE 13 ²⁹   In order to “enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, you must first binds the strong man?”

Jesus explained His authority to bind Satan's power. He is stronger than the strong man. In so doing, Jesus presented a valuable principle in spiritual warfare as we remember that Jesus used His name and authority, as well as the Word of God to defeat Satan.

 ³⁰ Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. We cannot remain neutral to Christ and His power. You must pick a side.

SLIDE 14 Remember the legion of demons possessing the Gadarenes man in the tombs. They begged Jesus to be sent into the pigs.

The spirit that was driven out of a person seeks rest. And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Israel had tried to rid herself of idolatry, but did not replace this void in their lives with something good. I have friends that do Yoga; emptying your mind. There is a danger in that you must fill your mind with things of God or something else will inhabit your mind. What’s in your heart?

SLIDE 15 Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

The priests by claiming Jesus was an instrument of Satan were attributing the power of the Holy Spirit to a demon. This is an unforgivable sin.

Why is the blasphemy against Jesus forgiven?  It appears that this situation existed only while Christ was ministering on earth. Jesus did not appear to be different from any other Jewish man (Isa. 53: 2). But when the Spirit of God came at Pentecost it proved that Jesus was the Christ and was alive. This rejection of the Holy Spirit’s witness was final. The only consequence would be judgment. WW

It is the Spirit who bears witness to Christ (John 15: 26) and who convicts the lost sinner (John 16: 7– 11).

SLIDE 16 ³⁴ You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 

This year our theme CBS is Salt and Light. As Christians we are to season our speech and reflect the love of God to others.

SLIDE 17 ³⁶ I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,³⁷ for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” More about this in your commentary.

Jesus was not being disrespectful to his Mother and brothers. It is clear from other gospel account, that his family did not fully understand His mission.  Mark 3:21
When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
SLIDE 18 Jesus would not be sidetracked from his Father’s business.“For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

SLIDE 19  What’s in your heart?

wait a few seconds   click do you speak good or evil?