A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
Matthew 12:14-32
Lesson #30
JESUS’ MINISTRY AND THE PRINCIPLE OF UNITY
- Memory verse: Isaiah 35:4
- Read Mat 12:14-21 The role of the Messiah King
- After teaching about discipleship and the inevitability of persecution, Jesus withdraws when his public image is becoming too well known.
- We do not see reckless courage. Instead we see that discerning wisdom of a serpent.
- Read Isa 42:1-4
- Jesus quotes Isaiah 42:1-4.
- Matthew continuously points out how Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecies about the anticipated Old Testament Messiah.
- The context of Isa 42:1-4 is strangely interesting.
- The passage in Isa 42 referred to Cyrus, the Persian king who was not a believer, but whom God would use as his instrument to conquer the Gentiles by military power.
- The prophetic aspect that Jesus refers to is that in the same way as Cyrus, the Messiah will conquer and judge the Gentiles.
- Jesus’ prophetic fulfillment of Isa 42:1-4
- Jesus, the Messiah, will tell the nations what justice is.
- “Justice” means = giving to God and to men that which is due to them.
- Jesus explained this in detail in his teachings on the Sermon on the Mount.
- Jesus will not strive nor cry aloud, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
- Jesus did not get into violent shouting.
- He did not get into arguments with his enemies.
- We continually see him try to keep the publicity of his ministry down by telling people not to tell anyone.
- Jesus, the Messiah, will tell the nations what justice is.
- The Parable of the Bruised Reed and the Burning Flax (20)
- The central truth of the parable:
- When the Messiah comes the first time, He will not bring judgment, condemnation and discouragement.
- He will bring healing, encouragement, mercy, and strength to the down-trodden.
- The bruised reed = people who are poor, hurting, sick, and filled with sin.
- The burning flax = people’s low self-esteem, hopelessness, and lack of resources. We would say that this person is at the end of his rope!
- Jesus did not come to crush man’s spirit but to lift him up to a higher level of faith.
- In Jesus even the Gentiles would have hope.
- However, the fulfillment would wait for the formal rejection and crucifixion of Jesus by the Jews.
- The central truth of the parable:
- Read Mat 12:22-30 Breaking down Satan’s defenses
- The healing of the man who was blind, dumb, and demon possessed.
- We have discussed previously the Jewish belief that demons were the cause of all sickness.
- We have discussed the aspects of demon possession as well as the frequency of blindness. (see your notes on Mat 8 and Mat 9)
- What do we learn about Jesus from this healing?
- The people call him the son of David.
- Jesus, the King, is the son of David.
- Son of David is a Messianic title of Jesus Christ
- It indicates that He will come through the lineage of David as a King with a kingdom that will never end.
- The controversy: (24-30)
- The Jews accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Beelzebub).
- Who or what is Beelzebub?
- Beelzebub = it is a common name for Satan meaning = master of the house.
- Jesus’ reply:
- If Jesus was using Satan’s power to cast out demons, it meant that Satan’s kingdom was fractured and divided.
- For a long time, the religious Jews had used exorcism to cast out demons.
- The Pharisees did not accuse them of using the power of Satan.
- By casting out demons, Jesus has invaded the kingdom of Satan like a burglar robbing a house.
- (Remember that “Beelzebub” means master of the house.)
- Jesus is saying that He has bound Satan, the master of the house, and left him powerless.
- Read Isa 49:24-26
- The Jews accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan (Beelzebub).
- The healing of the man who was blind, dumb, and demon possessed.
When did Jesus do this?
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he bound the power of Satan. Satan was ultimately defeated at the crucifixion.
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- The coming of the kingdom of God to earth:
- Verse 28 tells us exactly when the kingdom of God first came to this earth:
- It was not on the day of Pentecost as many believe.
- It was when Jesus first exercised His authority over Satan by casting out the first demon.
- The law of the spirit of unity:
- We see in this discussion about the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God, a basic underlying principle of power that God placed into existence at creation along with gravity.
- That power is the spirit of unity. Unity can work for either good or evil.
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Principles of the Law of Unity
| The Principle at Work: | Scripture: |
| Definition: Unity is agreement in harmony of purpose working toward a common goal. | Gen 1:26 |
| God, himself, operates in unity. | Joh 17:11,21-23 |
| Great creativity occurs when there is unity. | Gen 1 |
| God’s unfathomable power is released where there is harmony. | Act 1-2 |
| Unity of judgment came upon mankind when Adam and Eve broke that unity with God. | Gen 3 |
| Unity in the invisible world governs the visible world. | Mat 6:10
Mat 18:19-20 |
| There is a multiplication factor in unity. | Deu 32:30 |
| Unity is what the Holy Spirit uses to expand the church while disunity causes the Spirit to flee. | Act 1:14 |
| Unity always produces strength whether for good or for evil. | Gen 11:1, 4-8 |
| Unity begins with the individual within himself. | Jam 1:6-8 Psa 57:7
Mat 6:24 |
| Collective unity brings greater strength and power. | Eph 5:25 |
| Disunity produces weakness. | Pro 11:29 |
| God does not insist on or even desire uniformity because variety and diversity are God’s plan. However, with variety and diversity, still unity is possible. | 1Cor 12:4-7 |
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- Mat 12:30 “he that is not with me is against me”
- In this war between the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God, there are only 2 sides, there is no isolationism or neutrality.
- To promote the kingdom of God in unity, there needs to be a goal or vision.
- This is usually the greatest lack in churches.
- The goal or vision comes from God to the leadership and needs to be clearly communicated to the people.
- This is a test we should apply sternly to ourselves. How well are you cooperating with Christ to promote the kingdom of God?
- Read Mar 9:40 Luk 9:50 The other side of the same coin:
- “he that is not against me is with me”
- This is a test we should apply tolerantly to others, not in judgment but in discernment.
- Mat 12:30 “he that is not with me is against me”
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- Read Mat 12:31-32 The unforgivable sin
- Remember that the Jewish concept of the Holy Spirit at the time Jesus spoke this was more limited than ours is today.
- The Jews knew that the Holy Spirit brought God’s truth to man. The Jews knew that the Holy Spirit enabled men to understand God’s truth when they saw it.
- The development of the unforgivable sin:
- For a long time the scribes and Pharisees had turned their backs on the Holy Spirit’s revelations of God’s truth.
- By doing that, they gradually became blind to the truth.
- When that blindness became fully developed, they attributed the workings of God to the devil.
- What is the unforgivable sin?
- Jesus says the unforgivable sin is to “blaspheme the Holy Spirit“. (31)
- What does that mean?
- Technically it is attributing the truth and workings of God to the devil.
- However, in the context of Matthew, it is attributing the truth of God to Satan only after consistent denials and the development of blindness.
- Why is it unforgivable?
- In John 14,15,16 Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit would come after Jesus ascended into heaven and what the ministry of the Holy Spirit would be like.
- Read Joh 16:8-11,13-15
- Blaspheming the Holy Spirit denies the Holy Spirit access to your heart so that you do not feel guilty over sin.
- If you do not feel guilty over sin, you will never repent of it.
- If you do not repent of sin, you cannot be saved. (2Cor 7:10)
- Remember that the Jewish concept of the Holy Spirit at the time Jesus spoke this was more limited than ours is today.
Salvation only occurs by the action of the Holy Spirit on the heart of a person.
If the Holy Spirit is not allowed to work on a human heart, that person will never be convicted of sin and then will never seek forgiveness from God.
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- What the unforgivable sin is not:
- Notice it is not attributing the truth and workings of God to Satan out of ignorance, but out of deliberate blindness.
- If you feel guilty for sin, you have not committed the unforgivable sin because the Holy Spirit is still working in your heart.
- A believer in Jesus Christ does not commit this sin. Notice that Jesus directs this statement to the Jewish leadership who were unbelievers.
- What the unforgivable sin is not:
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Homework
Matthew 12:33-50
- Application of Mat 12:14-32
- Examine the spirit of unity in your own life.
- How well do you cooperate with the goals of the church?
- Attendance at worship services?
- Attendance at Bible Studies?
- Attendance at special events?
- Speaking well of and promoting the pastor?
- Speaking well of and promoting other church leaders?
- What changes does God want to make in developing a greater spirit of unity within you?
- How well do you cooperate with the goals of the church?
- Examine the spirit of unity in your own life.
- Preparation for Mat 12:33-50
- Read Mat 12:33-42 Two signs: The parable of Jonah and the queen
- What is the central truth of the sign of Jonah?
- What is the central truth of the sign of the queen of Sheba?
- (Advanced Question) Why do you think Jesus gave two signs?
- Read Mat 12:43-50 Parable of the empty house and eight spirits
- To whom was this parable spoken?
- What is the central truth of this parable? (43-45)
- Read Mat 12:33-42 Two signs: The parable of Jonah and the queen
- Memory verse: Gal 3:28
