Matthew 12 - Jesus Redefines Who Is Our True Family?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Matthew 12

What Happening in Matthew 12?

The rejection of Jesus by the Jewish leaders increases as his followers increase. They are jealous and paranoid about losing their place of power and prestige. One of their tactics is to try and trip Jesus up by saying he is being unfaithful to the Law of Moses. Or, they try to attribute his miracles to the devil. Today, Jesus masterfully answers them in front of the crowds. which leaves them befuddled and besmirched. 

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

The Sabbath day observance was a huge part of the Jewish culture and piety. The problem was the Pharisees turned it from something "life-giving" to something "legalistic". Jesus' favorite phrase was, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man made for the Sabbath!" Mark 2:27

At the heart of the Sabbath is for us to disconnect with work and other activities so that we can focus on our relationship with God. Going to church is one of the main ways we do this, but there are a lot of other ways we can set apart this day as holy to the Lord. Jesus begins to reveal His identity as the Son of God to them by saying,  "I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

The Pharisees went as far as to set a trap bringing to him a man with a deformed hand. They figured if he healed the man, he would clearly show he was not obeying the Sabbath law of not doing any work. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy by reminding them that they would gladly rescue one of their sheep on the Sabbath, if they fell into a pit. When Jesus healed the man they looked for a way to kill them. 

God’s Chosen Servant

Knowing their ill intent, Jesus withdrew from there, but as was often the case, many followed him, including those who needed healing. He healed them and warned them not to tell others. Now that the Pharisees were actively beginning to look for a way to kill him, he realized that he needed to keep a more low profile. 

 For a time, Jesus withdrew somewhat from public ministry as the opposition rose against Him. This was not out of cowardice, but in respect to God the Father’s timing for the course and culmination of His ministry. It could not be allowed to peak too soon. Guzik

Jesus quotes Isaiah 42:1-4

The passage points to the gentle nature of Jesus, and that He was a servant of the Lord. Rather than openly rebuking the religious leaders, he calmly left the scene. He didn't need to retaliate against them. This showed his humility. 

Finally, this prophetic utternance spoke of Jesus' mission to the Gentiles.   "In his name the nations will put their hope." 42:4 Nations in the Old Testament always meant "non-Jews", also known as Gentiles. 

Jesus and Beelzebul

Jesus continued to demonstrate that he had authority over not only sickness and disease, but also over evil spirits. Because of this power, the people started asking if he was, "The Son of David", which also is a reference to the Messiah. The Pharisees tried to discredit Jesus' deliverance of the man who was blind and mute by saying that Jesus was doing it by these same evil powers. 

At this point Jesus exposes the foolishness of their argument. Basically he is saying, "Why would Satan want to cast out Satan?" Even the devil is not that dumb. 

Jesus makes it clear that people will have one of two responses to him. One, they will be for him. Or, they will oppose him vehemently. 

"Jesus first removed illusions about any neutral response to Him or His work. If one is not for Him, then that one is against Him. If one does not work with Jesus, by either active opposition or passive disregard, that one works against Jesus."  (Guzik) 

Jesus makes a statement that can be interpreted in a few differnent ways. He says, 

"And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."

Why is this somewhat confusing? When Jesus died on the cross he died for all sin once and for all. Jesus did not die for some sins and not others. So what does he mean when he says, "Anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven?"

First, we need to understand the immediate context of what Jesus says here is in response to the Pharisees attributing His healing as a work of the devil. 

Here are some helpful explanations from David Guzik, a New Testament commentator I quote quite a bit. 

The Holy Spirit’s main ministry is to testify of Jesus (He will testify of Me, John 15:26). When that testimony of Jesus is fully and finally rejected, one has truly blasphemed the Holy Spirit and essentially called Him a liar in respect to His testimony about Jesus.

Yet true blasphemy against the Spirit is more than a formula of words; it is a settled disposition of life that rejects the testimony of the Holy Spirit regarding Jesus. (Guzik)

The bottom line is that we cannot come to faith without the power of the Holy Spirit opening our hearts and minds to the truth of the gospel. Martin Luther in the Small Catechism said this about the Holy Spirit. 

"We cannot by our own understanding or effort come to know Jesus as Lord, but the Holy Spirit has called us, enlightened us, sanctified, and kept us in the one, true Faith." 

The Holy Spirit is just that "Holy". We should handle the power of the Holy Spirit respectfully and with reverence. 

The Sign of Jonah

The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees tried to test Jesus by asking him to show them a sign. Of course, Jesus could have but he would not do it at their bidding or manipulation. Jesus did many miraculous signs, but they were always guided by the Holy Spirit's timing and manner.  

Jesus answers them by saying that the only sign given to them will be the "sign of Jonah". Since these teachers would have known the story of the Jonah in the Old Testament, you might think they would get what Jesus was saying. What was he saying?

Jonah was sent to preach to the men of Nineveh, which he regarded as vile and unclean. He refused to honor God's call to go preach to them, so God used supernatural means to get him there. Before Jonah made it to Nineveh, he spent three nights in the belly of the whale until he was spit up on shore. 

Jesus revealed that the call of Jonah was similar to his own, though Jonah was not the Son of God. Jesus likened Jonah's three days and nights in the belly of the whale to his own death and resurrection. 

"Jonah gave his life to appease the wrath of God coming upon others. But death did not hold him; after three days and nights of imprisonment, he was alive and free. This is a glorious picture of Jesus in an unexpected place."

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

Finally, in the last story of this chapter Jesus redefines family. Of course, he would never suggest we should not honor our mother and father, but he expands the view of family to include all of his followers. This also reminds us that Jesus' mother and brothers accompanied and followed him. 

One of the greatest things about becoming a Christian is that you begin to see other Christians as a brother or sister in Christ. Though you may not have a blood relationship with them, you are joined together in the bond of Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. This is why when a Christian meets another Christian they never knew, before within minutes they have feel like they have known each other for a long time. 

This is one of the great blessings of being a Christian. Your family instantly gets a lot bigger. If you are blessed to have members of your own family come to Christ this is even a greater blessing! 

What Coming Up in Matthew 13?

Jesus begins to teach using parables. Parables were one of his favorite teaching methods. The parables used earthly analogies to relay spiritual meaning. Some parables were confusing to those who weren't willing to wrestle with them. Jesus' parables show how the Kingdom of God works!