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If you are new to our church today, it would be helpful for you to know that we practice a form of preaching called “Expository Preaching”.

What that means, is we believe the Bible is best taught by taking books of the Bible and then breaking them down from beginning to end, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Our goal, to better understand not only what God’s Word says, but what it means in our lives today.

We are currently walking through the NT book of Matthew.

Today we are Continue Chapter 12 of Matthew

Just a little Recap from last week

Matthew 12:9–14 CSB

9 Moving on from there, he entered their synagogue. 10 There he saw a man who had a shriveled hand, and in order to accuse him they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 11 He replied to them, “Who among you, if he had a sheep that fell into a pit on the Sabbath, wouldn’t take hold of it and lift it out? 12 A person is worth far more than a sheep; so it is lawful to do what is good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored, as good as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him, how they might kill him.’

This Leads us into todays Passage.

Matthew 12:15–16 CSB

15 Jesus was aware of this and withdrew. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them all. 16 He warned them not to make him known,

They could not get him on Breaking the Written Law or Torah

What the did not agree with was his Halakhah or His way of Teaching the Law

We are no different............

This is the issue with our democratic system of choosing Pastors

What is so cool about this is that we know that all scripture is inspired by God.

As Matthew is writing this some years after the death and resurrection of Christ I believe the Holy Spirit reveals to Matthew one more way that Jesus Fulfilled Prophecy

We read the Bible Backwards.

Old Testament Proves New Testament However the Old Testament Reveals what is to come

Matthew 12:17–21 CSB

17 so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 18 Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not argue or shout, and no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick, until he has led justice to victory. 21 The nations will put their hope in his name.

Matthew is revealing we that We Were Looking for the Wrong Version of the Messiah and Isaiah fortold it!

This Falls under the Category of Literal Prophecy and Literal Fulfillment.

Isaiah 42:1–4 CSB

1 “This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry out or shout or make his voice heard in the streets. 3 He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick; he will faithfully bring justice. 4 He will not grow weak or be discouraged until he has established justice on earth. The coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.”

Now He breaks into the next miracle that will be the final straw for the Pharisees and will completely change the direction of Jesus’ Ministry.

Matthew 12:22–24 CSB

22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see. 23 All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”

Expound.

Matthew 12:25–29 CSB

25 Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

So they are accusing Jesus of being impowered by a demon and not just any Demon the worst Demon which is Beelzebul the Demon of Idolatry.

Jesus’ Defense.

This accusation could not be true because it would mean a division in Satan’s Kingdom.

The religious leader themselves had a long recognized that the gift of exorcism was a gift of God so to accuse Him of this was inconsistent with their theology.

This miracle authenticated the claims and the message of the Messiah.

This Miracle showed that He was stronger than Satan, not subservient to, Satan.

Now here is where the Shift Happens

The Pharisees have Just Made their Ruling and Rejected Jesus.

Now Jesus Draws a line in the Sand.

Matthew 12:30–32 CSB

30 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore, I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come

Turn to the Book:

Land and Close