Matthew Chapter 12
The Pharisees had become so festered with rule creating and rule keeping that they made life miserable for everyone. They thought that it was the rules being broken that would bring Jesus to humility before them. Little did they know that He was the creator of the Law and their ignorance would one day bring them to their knees.
One might think that the disciples were stealing from a farmer’s field in plucking grain to eat as they walked with Jesus.
There was provision in their own law to take care of the needy.
Deuteronomy 23:25 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 Pharisees did not find fault with the men for eating in the grain field they were upset that they were doing work on the Sabbath. They claimed that the disciples, by picking a piece of grain from the stalk and putting it to their mouths to eat, were working.
Let's Reflect
1. What example from the Old Testament did Jesus remind the Pharisees of that showed that God understands the importance of human need over the observance of rituals?
2. Jesus also reminded them that the priests were not held accountable for doing work on the sabbath when they had to prepare a fire for a sacrifice of the burnt offering. What would the priests have to do to lift an animal up on an altar for sacrifice?
3. Jesus then quoted from Hosea to show them their lack of understanding. Hosea 6:6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. While the Pharisees held the rituals of the temple at such a high esteem Jesus said their priorities were wrong. How could this be since they were keeping the laws of the Old Testament? See verse 6.
4. Jesus then said something that really upset them. He said the Son of Man (Jesus) is Lord of the Sabbath. This would mean that Jesus was saying that He was equal to who?
5. What miracle did Jesus perform (an act of work) on the Sabbath that enraged the Pharisees?
6. Jesus was well aware that the Pharisees were out to destroy Him. He often avoided them to be able to continue His ministry. It would be difficult for people to keep quiet about receiving healing from a disease, but Jesus asked them to do just that. Partly because of the destructive plots of the Pharisees but also because He knew that people would come to Him in great numbers for healings, and that was not the focus of His ministry. He came to declare that His Kingdom was at hand. Verses 18-21 are a quote from Isaiah 42. How did this prophecy describe the manner of Jesus’ proclamation of the gospel?
7. Jesus healed a man who was demon oppressed, blind and mute. Who did the Pharisees claim was the source of Jesus’ power to do such miracles?
8. What did Jesus declare to the Pharisees to be truth, if only they recognized the true source of His power to cast out demons?
9. Because they were rejecting the work of Jesus, rejecting His equality with God, then they were also rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit. To reject the Holy Spirit is to do what?
John 15:23-27 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause.’ “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
10. The scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign – to prove He was who He said He was. He reminded them of Jonah and told them there would be a sign that would be greater than Jonah. He told them that the Son of Man would be what?
11. A tree is known by its fruit. And Jesus said that an unclean spirit could not enter a person that was filled with the Holy Spirit. Could this be an indication that the religious leaders who crucified Jesus were filled with an evil spirit? This is definitely a warning to anyone who rejects the Spirit of God.
12. Jesus family stood outside the door to talk to Him, but Jesus taught that all of His disciples are His family. This means that you and I as His disciples are what?
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