The true meaning of Sabbath
v1-8 Jesus came to reveal the true meaning of the law. The Law is meant to be a blessing and not a burden (Matthew 11:28). The purpose of the Law is to reflect the character and Holiness of God. God rested after He completed His work of creation and blessed us with a day of rest. God commands us not to work on the Sabbath to trust in His provision (Genesis 2:3). In verse 7, Jesus quotes Hosea 6:6 to teach us that observing the Sabbath without understand God’s heart is meaningless. The sacrifices remind us to graciously extend mercy to others because of the mercy we have received from God. In the same way, keeping the Sabbath allows the nations and all creation to enjoy God’s rest (Deuteronomy 5:12-14). In Genesis 2:3, God is the Lord of the Sabbath. Therefore when Jesus refers to Himself as Lord of the Sabbath, He is identifying Himself as God.
Questions for Bible Study
What can we learn from Matthew 12:1-8 about the Sabbath?
In Deuteronomy 5:12-14, what is the purpose of observing the Sabbath?
Who is Lord of the Sabbath in Genesis 2:3?
What does Jesus mean when He says “the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”?
v9-14 How do we practice the Sabbath in a way that pleases God? The Sabbath is meant to be a Holy day to the Lord. It is a day to do what pleases God and not what pleases ourselves (Isaiah 58:13). In Isaiah 56:1-2, God commands us to do righteousness on the Sabbath and keep ourselves away from evil.
Question for Bible Study
Compare Matthew 12:9-14 with Isaiah 56:1-2 and Isaiah 58:13. How do we practice the Sabbath in a way that pleases God?
The true heart of God’s servant
v15-21 A true servant of God reflects God’s character even in the face of hostilities. The Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus with their question. However Jesus did not argue with the Pharisees but continued the ministry that God gave Him. Jesus did not win arguments with force but brought justice through gentleness. And Jesus never drew any attention to Himself.
Question for Bible Study
What can we learn from Jesus’ example about being God’s servant?
The true power of the Holy Spirit
v22-37 Jesus came to set us free from spiritual oppression through the Holy Spirit. Demon-oppression can cause a person to be physically blind and mute. Unity is important in the Kingdom of God because infighting results in self destruction. The only way to be truly free from spiritual darkness is to be brought into the Kingdom of light. We have the authority to cast out demons because Jesus has already defeated Satan (Matthew 4:11).
Why is blaspheming the Holy Spirit an unforgivable sin? The Pharisees blasphemed the Holy Spirit by attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Beelzebul. Instead of giving glory to the Holy Spirit, they denied Him instead. The role of the Holy Spirit is to convict, transform and empower a believer (John 16:8). But the Holy Spirit cannot work in a person’s life if they choose to reject Him.
Why does it seem that speaking a word against Jesus is less severe than speaking against the Holy spirit? Jesus came not to judge the world but to save it. Jesus came to take our place on the cross and suffer the shame on our behalf. There were people who ridiculed Jesus but He extends His mercy and forgiveness to us all.
v33-37 We must be careful to guard our words. The fruits we bear in our lives reveals the condition of our hearts (Matthew 3:8, 3:10, 7:15-19, 13:23). Our words have eternal consequences.
Bible Study Question
Looking at verse 24, what does it mean to blespheme the Holy Spirit?
Why is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit an unforgivable sin?
Looking at verses 33-37, why does Jesus teach us to watch what we say?
v38-45 As Christians, we should not be seeking signs to build our faith. Jesus had just performed a miracle by healing the demon-possessed man and yet the Pharisees did not believe. Jesus calls the people adulterous because they have not been faithful to God. They were faithful to a set of religious rules but not to God. Jesus points to His death and resurrection as the sign that He was truly sent from God. The Ninevites were Gentiles who repented after Jonah preached for one day and using only 8 words (Jonah 3:4). Solomon built the temple and was regarded as the wisest king. Jesus is greater than Solomon because Jesus made us a temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell (1 Corinthians 6:9).
At that time, demons were thought to inhabit waterless places. Rain, rivers and vegetation were associated with God’s blessings but desserts were devoid of God’s blessings. Unclean spirits take pleasure in creating chaos and destroying people’s lives. Unless a person receives the Kingdom of God and the Holy Spirit, their spiritual state will not improve.
Question for Bible Study
Looking at verses 33-37, what is the consequence of rejecting the Holy Spirit?
The true children of God
v46-50 Jesus promises His disciples that when we do His will, He calls us His family. Jesus was not showing disrespect to His earthly family members. In Matthew 10:26, Jesus warns that those who choose to follow Christ may be rejected by their earthy family. But in Christ, we now belong to a spiritual family. We are no longer strangers but bound by the love of Christ.
Question for Bible Study
What promise does Jesus give to those who do His will?
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