THE PHARISEES REJECT JESUS
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· 56 viewsHuman response to Jesus: for and against. Chapters 11–12 of this Gospel depict a good deal of rejection of Jesus. The dark shadow of increasing opposition falls upon the page, and it centres on the Pharisees. This follows appropriately from 11:28–30, contrasting Jesus’ ‘rest’ with the Pharisees’ legalism. Why was it, why is it, that so many people reject the most wonderful person who has ever walked this earth?
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34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
The Message of Matthew What Makes People Reject the Claims of Jesus? (12:1–45)
What makes people reject the claims of Jesus? (12:1–45)
Nkjv
There are many reasons why people reject him. John had the most serious doubts (11:1–6), because he was undergoing hard times and his expectations were not being fulfilled
There are many reasons why people reject him. John had the most serious doubts (11:1–6), because he was undergoing hard times and his expectations were not being fulfilled
However, the most serious opposition to Jesus comes from the Pharisees, and it is one of the main themes of chapter 12.
Why did the Pharisees reject Jesus? They were good men, religious men. Why were they so set against him?
The Pharisees chided Jesus because his disciples, who were hungry, picked some ears of corn as they went through the cornfields, and ate them. That was a perfectly permissible act. It is expressly allowed in .
What was wrong, in the eyes of the Pharisees, was doing it on the Sabbath.
Scripture had bidden the Jews keep the Sabbath holy, but the Pharisees had developed that healthy principle into a farrago of prohibitions
9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,
9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.
Matthew 12:9
Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”
11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus
Jesus had not actually broken Sabbath law in healing the man with a shrivelled hand, but he did break the Pharisaic code
So Jesus takes on the Pharisees with his eyes open. God desires mercy rather than ritual.
A story from the Old Testament Jesus reminded them that David once went into the tabernacle (the holy place which antedated the temple) and ate the consecrated bread, that is to say, twelve loaves set out in the Holy Place as a thank offering to God the giver.
This was not allowed, but human need took precedence over ritual custom. Maybe a greater than David was here!
Green, M. (2001). The message of Matthew: the kingdom of heaven (p. 146). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
BY YOUR WORDS
12:33–37 By your words does not refer to justification or condemnation on the basis of what one says, but to the outward evidence of the inward attitude of the heart. While the Pharisees asked for evidence of Christ’s claim, they overlooked the clear evidence that was to be seen in His miracles.
12:38, 39 The demand for signs is evidence of unbelief rather than faith. The sign of the prophet Jonah is explained in v. 40 as the Resurrection.
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible commentary (p. 1164). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.
Blasphemy -
The denial of the action of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Jesus Christ, or the attribution of his works to demonic influence.
Blasphemy as erroneously attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to demonic influence
Jesus warns against blasphemy
29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
Jesus Christ is accused of being possessed by demons pp pp
22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
Jesus Christ is accused of being possessed by demons pp pp
Mk 3:22
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
Mt 12:24
15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.”
Christ is accused of casting out demons by demonic power See also pp pp
34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Matt 9:34
Jesus Christ refutes these charges pp pp
Blasphemy as acting in ways which deny the Holy Spirit’s work
Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.
A persons speech has enormous influence for good or ill and is a sure guide to the character.
Speech has the power of life and death
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Prov 18:21
pr 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
The tongue has the power of life and death,
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
and those who love it will eat its fruit
It can bring ruin or joy to the speaker
It can bring ruin or joy to the speaker
It can destroy others
It can bring life to others
There is an appropiate time for speaking
There is an appropiate time for silence
Spoken witness produces faith -
Christ silent before his accusers -
22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” r 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly
Miracles of: Water made wine, ,
Stills the storm, ,
Healing of lame, blind, mute, and maimed, near the Sea of Galilee,
Swanson, J., & Nave, O. (1994). New Nave’s Topical Bible. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems