The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 12 Part 2 Honor God By Standing Firm On His Word!

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and Sunday, therefore it should be held in highest esteem by Christians.

Matthew 12:1-2  At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2)  But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. 

As we move to the next paragraph in this chapter of Matthew's gospel, I call your attention to verse two.

"When the Pharisees saw it" which refers to Jesus' disciples plucking grain from the fields they passed through because they needed nourishment.

Pharisees and scribes said that they violated God's law but Jesus demonstrated that necessary things like food preparation and eating are necessities that are lawful and good on the Sabbath day.

Jesus also showed them that the Levitical priests did servile work in preparing, offering and clean up so doing sacrifices on the Sabbath, they were not guilty of violating the law.

Thus, our Lord taught us that doing those tasks which support gospel ministry on the Lord's day are also good and accepted by the Father.

Pharisees and scribes were intently watching Jesus and His disciples, especially on the Sabbath day, that they might be able to accuse Christ of law breaking.

Hard hearted Pharisees and scribes lacked mercy and Jesus exposed their wicked hearts.

Matthew 12:9-10  And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: 10)  And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? that they might accuse him. 

Matthew tells us that Jesus and His disciples departed from the field where the Pharisees watched them eat.

What happened next is on the same day in the synagogue nearest the field.

Always perfectly keeping His Father's holy law, Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, their appointed day of worship and sacrifice.

All the gospel writers use the word "behold" to call our attention to something important that they recorded.

In this case, Matthew puts a spotlight on a man who was afflicted with a withered hand.

A withered hand was shrunken and weak and it's consequences were severe as the afflicted person could not work to earn wages.

Matthew tells us that the same Pharisees and scribes asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal a man on the Sabbath.

Such a question reveals the hardness of their depraved hearts, for they lacked Biblical compassion for those in need.

Why did they ask such a thoughtless and heartless question?

Because they wanted to launch an accusation by making a formal judicial complaint against Jesus.

Pharisees and scribes acted much like modern media member's who allow obvious bias to vilify those with whom they disagree.

Jesus made it abundantly clear that helping someone is more important that saving sheep. 

Matthew 12:11-12  And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12)  How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. 

Jesus knew their devious intentions very well and He was well acquainted with Jewish customs. 

Jesus pricked their depraved hearts by showing that they showed more regard to animals in distress than they had for Jews who suffered from severe afflictions. 

Jesus pointed the Pharisees to instructions accepted from their own rabbis.

“If a beast fall into a ditch, or into a pool of water, let (the owner) bring him food in that place if he can; but, if he cannot, let him bring clothes and litter, and bear up the beast; whence, if he can come up, let him come up, etc.”

This rabbinical instruction about rescuing animals in distress on the Sabbath day is supported by the law of God.

The law below makes it clear that it is a man's duty to help an animal in distress, even if it is not his animal and even if it happens to be the sabbath day.

God 's Word tell us that a righteous man regards or cares for the life of his livestock whereas the wicked are cruel and uncaring.

Exodus 23:4-5  If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again. 5)  If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.

This command was given to be followed without regard whether this merciful act is done on the Sabbath day or not (See also Deuteronomy 22:1-4).

This is a Biblical principle already confirmed by Jesus in the previous paragraph.

It is lawful and right and it is our obligation to be merciful on the Sabbath day whether pulling an animal out of a ditch or healing a man on the sabbath as Jesus did.

The worth of a man and his soul is of great value to God and this is why Jesus came to save us.

Matthew 10:30-31  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31)  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 

The very hairs of your head are all numbered which means that each Christian receives the care and attention of God.

God knows how many hairs we have on our heads though this may seem to be of small importance in the scope of all that He cares about.

Yet, our Father does not think it beneath Him to number our hairs and Jesus used this illustration to show that our Father will take care of us.

The point Jesus made is that a man is far more valuable to the Father than a multitude of sparrows. 

This is why the counsel of God determined in eternity past that Christ would be born as a man, to live a perfect life, satisfy God's law and then die in our place for our sins (See Ephesians 1:4; Titus 1:2; 1 Peter 1:19-20; Revelation 13:8).

His death is the death we deserve for our sins.

His resurrection is the proof that we will also be raised from the dead at the resurrection of life (See John 5:25-29).

Matthew 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 

Again, Jesus put the heart of God on display and in His Sermon on the Mount. Christ pointed out how the Father provides for the birds and we are "much better than they."

The clear meaning is that God is merciful at all times, just as He is holy and just at all times.

Our Father wants His children to be merciful and compassionate, and His Son, Jesus Christ, demonstrated this throughout His ministry. 

If the Jews would show an act of kindness to a distressed beast on the Sabbath, how much more should they have similar kindness to one made in the image of God!

Thus, it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath day.

This truth was universally allowed by the Jews and Jesus showed them that the principle on which they acted in other things applied with more force to the case before him. 

Therefore, the miraculous act which He was about to perform was by their own confession, lawful.

Pharisees and scribes were filled with madness when Jesus healed the afflicted man.

Matthew 12:13-14  Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. 14)  Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 

The God of heaven who came down to us in the likeness and form of a man, spoke with heaven's authority and told the afflicted man to stretch forth his hand, which previously he had not been able to do.

What a mighty work Jesus did, for the man's hand was made whole and functioning as good as his other hand.

We rightly expect a response of joy and praise and worship from those who witnessed Jesus' healing the man.

Sadly, we find that the Pharisees were filled with hate and anger toward the Son of God who came to save them from their sins.

Matthew tells us that they held a meeting to plan how they might destroy Jesus, violating the sixth commandment against murder (See Exodus 20:13).

Luke 6:11  And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus. 

Pharisees and scribes were filled with paranoia or as it is translated in Luke's gospel, "madness."

This is a shocking reality of how wicked and depraved our hearts are at their core.

These men had the Old Testament and the promises and covenant of God and they had the worship established by God, yet they were filled with unchecked anger and hate. 

Jesus pulled back the curtain and exposed their inner wickedness which external religious activities cannot address.

Take note of these events because the hatred and opposition against Christ by "religious" people will keep growing until they succeed in Christ's crucifixion.

What does this truth mean for us?

First, Jesus made it clear many times that we must expect opposition from the devil and unsaved people when we seek to honor God with our lives.

Second, we can expect personal enemy attacks upon us when we seek to worship God in spirit and in truth as Jesus commands us to do.

Third, we must seek to be the people Christ saved us to be, by having His love, His compassion and His willingness in our hearts to help those in need.

Last, we must take our stand upon the Word of God and if we are attacked for standing firm on Bible truth, then we have lived a life that honors God.

Bob