Matthew 12:1-14 "The Pharisees Oppose Jesus"

Matt 12:1-14 "The Pharisees Oppose Jesus" Marc Transparenti / General Opposition to the King / Sabbath and Rest; Pharisees plotting against Jesus (Matthew); Pharisees asking about Sabbath; Pharisees; The Pharisees and Herodians plot to destroy Jesus / Matthew 12:1-8; Matthew 12:9-13; Matthew 12:14-21 Controversy over Sabbath labor and healing, resulting in the Pharisees plan to destroy Christ. Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! 1. Announcement 1: 2021 Calvary Chapel Midwest Bible Prophecy Conference. a. Saturday, March 27th at Calvary Chapel Lafayette. Details are on our FB page. b. Pray for the speakers and the conference. 2. Announcement 2: After a month and 10 days of negotiations, we have finally settled on terms our new house in Claypool! The market is terrible for buyers, but God...but God found us a house that wasn't even on the market...and it has our checked boxes and more! 3. Announcement 3: This past Monday (3/15) was our 1 year Church Anniversary! Today, we will break break in a lunch celebration after the message and worship. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 12. I have a soft spot in my heart for boxing. My Grandfather was a professional boxer, as were his three brothers. My Great Uncle, Lou Transparenti, is in the Baltimore Boxing Hall of Fame. So, naturally I was drawn to the boxing slides we are presently using , especially as I considered the opposition Jesus faced in Matthew Chapters 11-12. If Jesus was ever to have stepped into the ring (figuratively speaking)...we are seeing that time now in Matthew 11-12. • Starting in Matthew 11, Round One...Jesus' opponent was John the Baptist, and Jesus defeated Him with a right cross...NO that's not what He did! He defeated Him with reassurance. • In Round Two, Jesus' opponent was the people of His generation, who were neither satisfied with the style of John's ministry, nor the style of Jesus' ministry. Jesus defeated them with results. He said, "...wisdom is justified by her children." Jesus' generation may have rejected His ministry, but look at the result...His ministry was a success...almost 2000 years later we remain faithful today. • In Round Three, Jesus' opponents were the three cities where most of His mighty works had been done. Jesus no longer pulls His punches...He doesn't go easy...to these cities He rebukes and condemns them..."Woe to you..." • Immediately following, the King extends a gracious invitation to all the spectators... "Come to Me...I will give you rest." • Today, we come Matt 12, Round Four, where Jesus now faces off with the Pharisees. And, they are dirty boxers...they're not Phar-u-see. (sorry...I know it's a bad joke, but I couldn't resist...it just fit too well). • These Pharisees will oppose Jesus over Sabbath controversies. They accuse Jesus of violating the law for working and healing on Sabbath, resulting in a plan to destroy Christ. Today we are looking at Matt 12:1-14, and the message is entitled "The Pharisees Oppose Jesus." Let's Pray! Matt 12:1-2 "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" 1. "At that time" could be referring to the beginning of Jesus' 2nd year of ministry -or- at the time of harvest when the grainfields were producing grain. 2. It was a Sabbath day, and Jesus' disciples were hungry by def. "pinching toil; pining; famished." So, they pluck heads of grain and eat. I have a slide picturing wheat...the disciples would have grabbed a handful of the wheat kernels (as pictured in the next slide)...they would rub the wheat kernels in their hands to remove the husk, and then eat the wheat berries. a. This was legal according to their law. By our law, you would be stealing, so don't do this. Kids don't take this as permission to take a handful of gummy worms from the bulk goods aisle at the grocery store...that's also stealing. b. In Deut 23:25...according to Mosaic Law we see this is permissible... "When you come into your neighbor's standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor's standing grain." i. There was no social welfare system...no fast food chains, so God's law had mercy on the poor and the hungry. Various laws in Deut 23 permitted a hungry person to eat their fill of grapes or wheat, but prohibited filling a container or using a sickle...harvesting a large quantity of your neighbors grain. The Jews were not to drive their combine into their neighbors field in the name of hunger. ii. Matt 12:1 stated the disciple "...began to pluck heads of grain and eat." This was entirely permissible...they were hungry. 3. The Pharisees complaint was likely not against the disciples picking from the neighbors field, but that the disciples were violating law against work on the Sabbath. After all, the disciples were picking grain...that's harvesting! And, rubbing the grain in their hands...threshing! And, separating the edible grain from the chaff...winnowing! a. What's interesting is the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. How did the Pharisees not break one of their laws regarding travel restrictions during Sabbath? They were prohibited from walking more than 2000 cubits (about 1/2 a mile) on Sabbath. Likely they, and the disciples, were guilty of violating that added law as well, but they don't want to bring that one up. b. I also wonder...Why were they even there in the first place? Were the Pharisees following Jesus and the Disciples just waiting for them to trip up? Or, were they hiding in the grain and popped out..."Ah ha!! Caught you!" What's going on with these guys? Seems like they are investing a lot of time in this investigation...seems like work. c. But, that's the way of a Pharisee...they go out of their way to find fault in others and in so doing they themselves violate God's law. Don't be a Pharisee to other Christians. 4. Accusations of violating Sabbath will be charged against Jesus numerous times, so let's take a moment to understand what Sabbath is and what it is not. a. Today, many Christians are confused about Sabbath. Seventh Day Adventists (who border legit Christianity and Cult)...Adventists have strong convictions to keep Sabbath...Saturday worship, and I firmly believe they are wrong based on biblical proofs which you can read more about on Alwaysbeready.com ...a fantastic resource, or my Sabbatj Facebook post from this past Friday. b. So, what is Sabbath? Heb. shâbath def. "to repose...to desist from exertion, to rest." It's a day of rest. i. Sabbath is difficult for a Christian to comprehend, because Christians do not carve out a day to rest comparable to Sabbath. Every Saturday, for a Jew from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, Jews cease working, and the preparation Sabbath begins days prior. ii. Sabbath appears 172x in the Bible (112x OT; 60x NT; 8x in Matt 12 alone). iii. 1st Mention of Sabbath is Gen 2:2 "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested [Heb. shâbath] on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." 1. God modeled Sabbath in Gen, but did not command observance until Ex 20:8-11...the Fourth Commandment... "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. [Here's the reason...] 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." 2. In Exo 31:16-17 we see a more vivid explanation..."Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign [by def. "a banner"] between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.' " 3. Sabbath was a covenant between God and His people, symbolizing God was their leader...that the nation was a Theocracy...ruled by God...and they were to follow His example of resting on the seventh day...they were to obey His command...they were to trust Him to provide...and Sabbath was one of several ways Israel was set apart...it was their banner distinguishing them from the world. 4. While Sabbath was intended to to be a joyful day...a day of rest and refreshment...a family day, the Religious Leaders made it a day of burden....and here's how... a. What we call the OT, Jews call the Tanakh...which is an acronym for the three divisions of the Hebrew Bible: i. Torah ('Instruction' or 'Law') ii. Nevi'im ('Prophets'), and iii. Ketuvim ('Writings')-hence TaNaKh b. Jews also have numerous commentaries on the Bible that are based on oral traditions, and they hold these books sacred as well. i. Two of their most sacred commentaries (the Mishnah and the Talmud) outline 39 categories of work prohibited on the Sabbath called the Melakha. 1. In the 39 categories, there are laws on work, laws on rest, laws on items that cannot be handled, lifted, or carried on Sabbath, and prohibitions on traveling certain distances outside one's home. c. So, the Jews took the 613 laws of the Tanakh (the OT) (which was reasonable), and added an unreasonable mile-wide hedge of protection to ensure they did not break the law. i. For ex, I read on Sefaria.org (interesting Jewish website similar to our BlueLetterBible.org)...here's one example of a mile-wide hedge of protection listed in the Talmud regarding Shabbat... 1. Quote: "One may not look in a mirror on Shabbat lest one see a hair hanging and pluck it." a. Can't pluck or cut hair...that's work. 2. Now, one lenient Rabbi permitted looking in a mirror that is fixed on a wall because while one goes to bring scissors or another appliance to cut one's hair, they will remember that it is Shabbat and that cutting hair is prohibited. a. Now this is important...a metal mirror...prohibited....because the sharp metal edge of the mirror could be used to cut hair. b. If the mirror is permanently set on the wall, Religious leaders were not concerned that one will do this. c. Have you ever met a grumpy Jew? THIS IS WHY THEY ARE GRUMPY!! Jesus said the scribes and Pharisees, "...bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders..." ii. Jesus also said, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Mk 2:27 William MacDonald stated, "Sabbath was instituted by God for man's benefit, not for his bondage." 1. Sabbath was not intended to be a day of obligation and regulation. It was supposed to be a day of rest, but the original intent of the law was lost because of what the Jews added. 5. Now...listen...I don't want you to miss this about the true nature of Sabbath. Remember what Jesus said at the end of Chapter 11? a. Matt 11:28-29, Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." i. Interesting that Jesus offered "rest for your souls." When Jews observe Sabbath, they rested from physical labor. Jesus offers "rest for your souls"...far greater than physical rest. The body is mortal, the soul is eternal. Jesus offers a rest for your soul now, and your soul eternally. 1. This is why Christians say 'Jesus is our Sabbath rest.'...an idea is supported in verses like Col 2:16 which states "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." 2. Sabbath was a "shadow of things to come." When you hug a loved one, you don't hug their shadow. That would be weird. Sabbath was a representation, a shadow, of the rest that would be fully realized in Jesus. a. When you come to Jesus for salvation...no longer do you need to labor for the salvation of your soul...you can rest in Him. Christianity is the only religion based upon the work of God...all other religions are based on your work...and rest always eludes those poor souls. i. The Jews never found rest in Sabbath or the keeping of the law. Spiritual rest/ salvation is not found in day, nor in works...it's found in a person...rest is found through faith in Jesus Christ. ii. Hebrew Chapter 4 is a fascinating chapter on rest, and the writer of Hebrews writes about a divine promise of entering His rest that the Jews did not enter because of unbelief. The writer points out the Jews did not find rest in the promised land. And, some 500 years later, in David's time, God still spoke about entering His rest. 1. Listen to this concluding idea in Heb 4:8-10 "For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His." 2. Rest is not found in this world. It's not in works. It's not in a day. It's not in a location...true rest is not physical...His rest is found when you come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. 3. And, we are guilty of trying to find rest in this world...if I had this job then I'd be at rest. If I had this house then I'd be at rest. If I just had a vacation then I'd be at rest. The things of this world disappoint. The grass is greener...the sparkle fades...problems arise...even vacation...how many times have people said, "I need a vacation from my vacation!" 4. Listen to me, if you want true rest...you can have it everyday and every hour of the week. You just keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Jesus is our Sabbath rest. 6. Well, we just saw the accusation from the Pharisees, now let's look at the response from Jesus... Matt 12:3-4 "But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 1. "Have you not read"...alternatively phrased..."Have you never read" are recorded 8x in the Gospels...6x in Matthew and 2x in Mark. So, what do these phrases mean? And, why does Matthew record these phrases more than any other Gospel writer? a. The Scribes and Pharisees were deeply entrenched not just in reading the law, but memorizing the law. It was their life. So, when Jesus said "Have you not read...?" ...this is divine sarcasm...it's a punch to the gut. The Pharisees, in their pride, likely used this phrase themselves as they addressed common people... and Jesus turned this phrase around on them. b. It doesn't surprise me that Matthew records this phrase the most. He also records the word "hypocrite" the most...which appears 21x in the NT...15x in Matthew's Gospel alone. In Matt 23, Matthew records "Woe to you" the most... 7x...all addressed to the Religious leaders. i. I think Matthew took issue with the religious leaders. Remember, Matthew's original name was "Levi" and based on his writing style, use of OT prophetic references, appeal to the Jews, and other reasons...it is very plausible that Matthew was raised in a priestly family, and later rebelled to become a tax collector...perhaps because of hypocrisy...perhaps because he heard the Pharisees say, one too many times... "Have you not read...?" ...when they themselves were not living out scripture. 2. It's also significant to note how Jesus 'defeats' the opposition from the Pharisees...He says "Have you not read..." ...Jesus cites biblical accounts and scripture. a. It's sad to me that Jesus has to quote scripture to defeat the Religious, but it's still the same today. I have had numerous conversations with religious people who have these notions about God and spiritual life that are NOT grounded in Scripture. They speak about religious tradition, and I lovingly just keep taking them back to scripture. b. Here's another sad thing...Do you remember who else Jesus defeated by quoting scripture? Matt 4 and Luke 4 record that Jesus quoted scripture to Satan, when Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus uses the same method to defeat both Satan and the Religious Leaders...quoting Scripture. Sad indeed. 3. In V3, Jesus references an account of David in 1 Sam 21. David and his men were hungry and poor because of the persecutions of Saul. They came to the city of Nob and petitioned the priest, Ahimelech, for some food, but the priest only had holy or consecrated bread/ showbread...twelve loaves that represented the twelve tribes and were reserved for the priests for temple worship. However, the priest agreed they could have the bread if they were not ceremonially unclean. Here's the significance of Jesus referencing this account: a. First, God permitted David this act of mercy because human life is more valuable than law. b. The second point is since David was permitted, Jesus, who is greater than David, is also permitted. c. Third, and most significant. David would have never had been in this position of being poor and hungry, if Saul was not persecuting him. If David had his rightful place on the throne, he would not have had to beg Ahimelech for bread. i. And, the parallel to Jesus is clear. If Jesus had been accepted as the King...as the Messiah...if the Pharisees were not persecuting Him, then He and His disciples would not have needed to eat from the grain fields...a poor man's meal. ii. History was repeating itself, and the Pharisees were comparable to wicked Saul. 4. Jesus continues... Matt 12:5-8 "Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." 1. I just imagine Matthew snickering upon hearing Jesus once again saying to the Pharisees "...have you not read in the law..." 2. This time Jesus points out that priests work on Sabbath...Num 28:9-10 commands a Sabbath offering that would have been prepared by the priests..."'And on the Sabbath day two lambs in their first year, without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, with its drink offering-10 this is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering." a. Listen, I have butchered 23 deer...it was work for the priests to kindle a fire, slaughter and prepare these offerings. b. Jesus said the priests profane by def. desecrate, or break the Sabbath through this work, YET...they are blameless...they are innocent. c. So, the argument Jesus presents is one of lesser to the greater. If the priests who are lesser are able to work on Sabbath and remain blameless, how is it not acceptable for One who is greater...even greater than the temple...Jesus / Messiah...how is it NOT ok for Him to work on Sabbath and not be blameless? The Pharisees logic is faulty. i. In John 7:22-24 Jesus gave a similar example, after healing on Sabbath, "Moses therefore gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? 24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." ii. Lev 12:3 commanded circumcision to be performed on the 8th day. So, what happens when the 8th day fell on a Sabbath? Either the priest would break Mosaic law or break Sabbath law...they had to break one, so they broke Sabbath law. iii. So, why is ok for them to break Sabbath law for spiritual purposes, but wrong for Jesus to break Sabbath law for spiritual purposes? Jesus tells them their judgments are not right...they were superficial, so He called them to judge righteously...to make right judgments. 3. Vs 6, in some translations appears as "But I say to you that something [neuter gender] greater than the temple is here." Instead of "One [masculine gender] greater than the temple. a. So, there are numerous interpretations of what is being said here. Be a Berean. Study the verse, but given the context...Jesus Himself seems the preferred interpretation of the "One" or "something greater"...further supported by V8 "For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." i. Jesus is divine...He is Lord of the Sabbath because He was in the beginning with God. ii. Jesus pre-dates Sabbath. He instituted the first Sabbath. He instituted the Law. He who gave the law knows best how to interpret the law. Therefore, the Son of Man (a favorite title of Jesus for Himself...88x in the NT)...the Son of Man is Lord (master) of the Sabbath. 1. Essentially, Jesus is Master of rest. Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke...learn from Me...you will find rest for your souls." 2. Jon Courson said, "We don't have a Sabbath day, we have a Sabbath God." I like that. 4. In V7, Jesus supports His point, again quoting scripture to the Religious... Hos 6:6 "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings." a. Mercy overrides Halakah- the Jewish written and oral Torah or law. The life of a person is more valuable than the keeping of the law. b. Thus Jesus says, "...if you had known what this means..."...in essence accusing the accusers of failing to understand scripture. If they had understood the heart of God's mercy in scripture, they "would not have condemned the guiltless." i. If this were a court case, the disciples were the defendants and were found innocent. The Pharisees were the Plaintiffs, and were found guilty. ii. This is the result when you accuse God. Matt 12:9-10 "Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"-that they might accuse Him." 1. Coming from the grainfields, Jesus enters their synagogue. Sad that scripture records this as "their synagogue" and not "His synagogue." Let it never be said the Calvary Chapel Lake City is "our church"...it's His church! 2. As Jesus enters the synagogue...present is a man with a "withered hand." by def. "arid or dry; by impl. shrunken." a. Scholars speculate, was this man randomly present -or- did the Pharisees bring him to synagogue and plant him there as a trap for Jesus? The latter would not surprise me at all because they knew Jesus was merciful and healed many. Seems like a perfect trap... 'Let's bring a sick man...Jesus will heal on Sabbath, and he will be guilty of breaking the law.' b. And, do you know what the penalty for breaking Sabbath was? According to Exo 31:15, it was death. "Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death." i. It's important to understand the intent of the Pharisees here. They are not looking to accuse Jesus, slap Him with a fine and some community service. They are seeking to destroy Him...to put Him to death. The opposition to the King has greatly intensified, and from here on out we will continue to see this pattern. 3. Well let's see how Jesus boldly responds to this brood of vipers... Matt 12:11-13 "Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 13 Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other." 1. Jesus again presents an argument from 'lesser to greater'...sorry animal activists...God views people as greater than animals. Not that we shouldn't care for animals or that people should be cruel to animals, but animals are not equal to people. a. This is the third time in Matthew that Jesus uses a comparison of animals to people... b. Matt 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" c. Matt 10:29-31 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." d. Mankind alone was made in the image of God. Gen 1:26 "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." i. Mankind was made in the image of God...an eternal trinity...God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit...Mankind is Body, Soul, and Spirit. And, mankind was entrusted with having dominion (rule) over the earth and all animal wildlife. ii. Taking into account the significance of mankind's creation as an eternal trinity and the authority mankind has over animals...the gravity of what Jesus says in Vss 11-12 is more significant. 2. If a Pharisee's sheep fell into a pit on Sabbath, the assumption is they would violate Sabbath by working...by laying hold of the sheep and lifting it out of the pit...this was work. But, it was excusable because it was merciful. a. Thus, Jesus' argument in V12 was sound... "how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 3. I love, in V13, Jesus puts His money where His mouth is... and tells the man "Stretch out your hand." a. Despite knowing the Pharisees were going to accuse Him and plot against Him, Jesus stands by His words and the heart of mercy in the word of God. b. This man did not need rehab...He was instantly healed... his hand "was restored as whole as the other." Restored as whole could be rendered "to give back health." 4. This is our God. He is a bold lion who will not back down from the hypocrisy of the Religious who would pressure Him to conform to their traditions. He stands for truth, for what is right, and for mercy. a. He demonstrates mercy...not just in healings, but He demonstrated the greatest form of love and mercy when He became the perfect sacrifice...dying on the cross to pay the price of sin once and for all. b. Mercy is when you are guilty, and you don't get what you deserve. Our sins are so against the purity...the holiness of God that we deserved hell, but in God's mercy He sent His son to die in our place, and as we have faith in Jesus...we are forgiven. c. He restores us as whole. He gives us back spiritual life and a relationship with God that was lost in the Garden when Adam and Eve transgressed. d. And, now as we Come to Him...we find rest for our souls. The Sabbath day was a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. True rest for our souls is found in Christ...in this lifetime and for all eternity. 5. Well, let's conclude in V14. Matt 12:14 "Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him." 1. In the parallel account in Luke 6:11, Luke records the emotion of the Pharisees, "But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus." 2. In the parallel account in Mark 3:6, Mark records the Pharisees aligned themselves with the Herodians, "Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him." a. This shows the depths of the hypocrisy and depravity of the Pharisees... they hated the Herodians. The Herodians were aligned with Rome. So, the Pharisees would have considered the Herodians as unclean...as dogs. Yet, their hatred for Jesus was greater. 3. When Jesus displayed an act of mercy on the Sabbath...the Pharisees should have praised Him as their Lord and Messiah. But, instead of praising Him for His love and compassion, they cling to their traditions...they resist the change that Messiah is bringing...the New Covenant of grace, not law... a. They leave the synagogue enraged and plot, with the Herodians, how they might destroy...how they might kill Jesus. b. Opposition to the King greatly intensifies from this moment on, which will culminate with Jesus' death on the cross. c. And, as He hung on that cross, He said, "It is finished!" tetelestai- which means "Paid in full." i. Whoever looks to Jesus in faith...their debt is paid, and Jesus grants rest to their soul. ii. That's what He did for us, and why we say Jesus is our Sabbath rest! Amen? Let's pray! There's someone out there in the world that you know or someone you may encounter this week... and they are toiling trying to find rest in the world...rest by their own efforts, but we know they will only find rest in Jesus. Would you tell them about Jesus this week? Jesus paid it all for them, and He wants them to come into relationship with Him and truly find rest. I love you guys! I look forward to breaking bread with you all today! "The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace." ' Nu 6:24-26. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:30 AM June 8, 2021.