Series: King & Countries (week 5)
Scripture: Matthew 12:1-21 (Main)
Title: “Who is in charge of your life?” (Darien Gabriel)
Bottom line: When we surrender our lives to Jesus, the Lord of Sabbath, mercy and justice rules in our hearts and helps us overcome fear, doubts, and burdens.
Discussion questions for group and personal study.
1. Why are legalistic hearts so resistant to Jesus?
2. How does legalism and a desire to earn your standing before God manifest itself in your own life?
3. Explain what it means to say that Jesus is greater than the temple.
4. Matthew presents Christ as merciful in this passage. How is the mercy of Jesus different from a "live and let live" mind-set?
5. In an effort to make the cost of following Christ clear, what is the danger of downplaying His mercy?
Final Questions (optional or in place of above)
What is God saying to you right now?
What are you going to do about it?
Find our sermons, podcasts, discussion questions and notes at https://www.gracetoday.net/podcast
Intro
We've been looking at the portraits of Jesus given to us by Matthew.
We've seen Jesus as:
Promised Messiah
Authoritative Judge
Sovereign Son
Gracious Master
Today we'll add:
King of Rest
Merciful Servant-King
Bottom line: When we surrender our lives to Jesus, the Lord of Sabbath, mercy and justice rules in our hearts and helps us overcome fear, doubts, and burdens.
Q. What do I want you to know?
A. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (rest) in life.
Q. Why?
A. Because this is the only place we will find true rest and peace. Our faith is a conscious choice to rest on Jesus' work on the cross.
Q. What do I want you to do?
A. Rest in Jesus Christ alone.
Q. Why?
A. So that you'll be able to overcome your fears, doubts and burdens.
SECTION OUTLINE TEN (MATTHEW 12) Outline Bible, Willmington
SECTION OUTLINE ELEVEN (MATTHEW 12)
Jesus heals the sick, confronts the Pharisees, and fulfills ancient prophecies.
1. JESUS AND THE PHARISEES (12:1-14, 22-45) On three separate occasions, Jesus is confronted by these wicked men.
A. The Sabbath conflict (12:1-14): The Pharisees take issue with Jesus when he performs his miracles.
1. In regard to eating on the Sabbath (12:1-8): Jesus is criticized by the Pharisees for allowing his disciples to pluck some heads of grain from a field on the Sabbath. The Savior reports by pointing out two facts:
a. The purpose of the Sabbath (12:1-7): The Sabbath was made for man, and not the reverse!
(1) As seen in the life of David (12:3-4): David and his men ate the bread reserved for the priests.
(2) As seen in the law of Moses (12:5-6): The priests are allowed to serve in the Temple on the Sabbath.
(3) As seen in the Book of Hosea (12:7): God wants them to be merciful; he doesn't care that much about their sacrifices.
b. The person of the Sabbath (12:8): The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath!
2. In regard to healing on the Sabbath (12:9-14): Jesus notices a man with a deformed hand.
a. The accusation (12:9-10): The Pharisees ask Jesus whether it is legal to work by healing on the Sabbath day.
b. The answer (12:11-12): Jesus replies by asking them if they would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath. He says, "Of course you would! And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep!"
c. The action by the Savior (12:13-14): He heals the man's hand.
B. The source conflict (12:22-37): The Pharisees claim that Satan is the source of Jesus' miracles. On this occasion Jesus has just healed a demon-possessed, blind, mute man.
1. The criticism by the Pharisees (12:22-29)
a. Their accusation (12:22-24): "He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons."
b. His argument (12:25-29)
(1) "A city or home divided against itself is doomed"
(12:25).
(2) "If Satan is casting out Satan, he is fighting against himself" (12:26-29).
2. The condemnation of the Pharisees (12:30-37)
a. Jesus says their sin is terrible (12:30-34).
(1) They are corrupt fruit trees (12:30-33): A tree is known by its fruit.
(2) They are poisonous snakes (12:34): Whatever is in their hearts determines what they say.
b. Jesus says their sin is terminal (12:35-37): The words they say now will determine their fate on judgment day.
C. The sign conflict (12:38-45): The Pharisees insist that Jesus do something spectacular just for them.
1. Jesus refers to Jonah and Nineveh (12:38-41).
a. The illustration from the life of the prophet of God
(12:38-40): Jonah's experience in the belly of the fish depicts Jesus' death and resurrection; this is the only sign he gives them!
b. The indictment from the lips of the people of Nineveh
(12:41): The Ninevites will someday condemn Jesus' generation, for Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, but Jesus is greater than Jonah.
2. Jesus refers to Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (12:42): She will condemn Jesus' generation because she had great respect for Solomon, and Jesus is greater than Solomon.
3. Jesus refers to eight evil spirits (12:43-45): Here Jesus likens his generation to a demon-possessed man.
a. The first state of the man (12:43): The original demon living within him departs.
b. The final state of the man (12:44-45): Unable to find
another person to indwell, the spirit returns to the man, this time bringing seven other spirits more wicked than himself.
I. JESUS AND THE PROPHECIES (12:15-21): Jesus fulfills the prophecies of Isaiah, who predicted the earthly ministry of the Messiah (Isa. 42:1-4).
A. Jesus' heavenly relationships (12:18a-18b)
1. Concerning the Father (12:18a): The Father would love him.
2. Concerning the Spirit (12:18b): The Spirit would fill him.
B. Jesus' earthly actions (12:15-17, 18c-21)
1. Concerning the nations (12:18c, 21): He would proclaim justice to the nations.
2. Concerning himself (12:19): He would not be quarrelsome or rebellious.
3. Concerning the weak and hopeless (12:20): He would treat them with gentleness and understanding.
4. Concerning the sick (12:15-17): He would heal the sick.
III. JESUS AND HIS FAMILY (12:46-50)
A. His earthly family (12:46-47): Jesus is told his mother and brothers are waiting to meet with him.
B. His eternal family (12:48-50): He says all who obey his heavenly
Father are part of his family!
References/Bibliography:
“Preaching the Word” Commentary, Douglas Sean O’Donnell, Edited by Kent Hughes
“Matthew” by RC Sproul
“CSB Christ Chronological,” Holman
“Jesus Manifesto” sermon series, by Darien Gabriel: https://youtu.be/x65i2tqFrXk
“The Bible Knowledge Commentary” by Walvoord, Zuck (BKC)
“The Bible Exposition Commentary” by Warren Wiersbe (BEC)
“Exalting Jesus in Matthew” by David Platt (CCE)
Outline Bible, D Willmington
NIV Study Bible (NIVSB)
ESV Study Bible
ESV Gospel Transformation Bible (GTB)
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