Kingdom Mindset: Matthew 12

CIT: Seeing the truth of Jesus demands a response

Intro: We like to make Jesus into something that we are comfortable with, but that he is not truly. Tonight this text is going to challenge who Jesus truly is for you, and it will demand a response from you as well.

Lord of the Sabbath

Chosen Servant

Power of God

Greater Prophet

Wiser King

Our Older Brother

Lord of the Sabbath - Matthew 12:1-14

Legalists reject the truth

In this text the Pharisees are rejecting Jesus because he want not following what they thought the Law prescribed.

Because of this, it is right for us to label these Pharisees as “Legalists”

So what is a legalist?

Someone who adds to the requirements of the Law

Someone who ignores exceptions in the Law

Someone who misses the heart of the Law

Believers accept the truth

So if we should not be like the Pharisees and follow Christ, what truth should we accept?

Jesus is God

Our rest is found in Christ Alone

Chosen Servant - Matthew 12:15-21

After Jesus withdraws from that area he heals many people, and Matthew quotes from Isaiah 42:1-3, and we see two truths of Jesus in this quotation of a suffering Servant passage.

Servant of God

Jesus is serving the will of the Father, and this was chosen before the foundations of the world.

The Father is pleased in the obedience of the Son, Matthew 3:13-17

Matthew 3:13–17 ESV

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

the Spirit is upon Jesus empowering his actions of justice and mercy to the nations

Servant of Sinners

Matthew 20:28 ESV

even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Luke 19:10 ESV

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Matthew 11:29 (ESV)

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.

Isaiah 42:3 ESV

a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

“Are you bruised? Be of good comfort, he calls you. Conceal not your wounds, open all before him and… go to Christ… There is more mercy in him than sin in you.” Richard Sibbes

Power of God - Matthew 12:22-37

Power of God for salvation

Jesus casts out a demon and thus heals a man, but the Pharisees in their jealousy say that Jesus is only able to do this by the power of Satan.

Jesus refutes this showing that argument is an illogical argument, and by showing it to be false he also shows that he is exercising these demons and healing these people by the power of God.

What is the power of God meant for?

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

His power demands a response

There is no neutrality to Jesus, you either have your heart softened to his good news and submit in faith to him, or you harden your heart to him and reject him (that is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit)

This response can be seen in how we live our lives. If we continue to live in unrepentant sin then it shows that we are still rejecting God.

Greater Prophet - Matthew 12:38-41

In order to prove that Jesus is the Messiah the Pharisees want a sign

Greater than Jonah

Jesus tells them that Jonah was al the sign they need, that he was in the belly of a fish for three days and was then spit out.

Through his death and resurrection

Jesus was foretelling that He would be in the grave for three days after his death, and that he would walk out of that grave in his resurrection. Jonah was pointing foreward to the Greater Prophet.

When Jonah was spit out of the fish Nineveh repent of their sins and submitted to gOd.

When Jesus was resurrected he demands a response, will our response be the same as Nineveh or the Pharisees?

Wiser King - Matthew 12:42-45

Greater than Solomon

Jesus reminds the Pharisees that the Queen of Sheba came up to Solomon seeking for wisdom, and upon hearing his wisdom and seeing his riches she believed in God.

As the wisdom and Word of God

Jesus is telling the Pharisees that a greater wisdom is standing right in front of them, that is the very Word of God who gave Moses the Law that they are trying to hold so closely to.

Our Older Brother - Matthew 12:46-50

True life change does not happen through outward change

The Pharisees tried to have true life change through outward changes to their life.

Our culture tries the same thing every year, but we know that no matter how hard we try these outward changes to your life are like putting a band-aid on a gushing wound, nothing will change.

True life change happens by an inward relationship

Do you want true life change? Do you want to be able to truly repent from your sin? Do you want to be truly fulfilled in following Christ’s commands? there must be a relationship that is formed. that relationship is with Christ Alone. That relationship with Christ, that happens by believing in his perfect life, atoning death, and saving resurrection, is what is going to bring about life change.

I believe that there are some here that need to believe this for the first time.

I believe that there are some here that need to proclaim that you have believed this to the church through baptism

And I believe that there are some here that need to take a step in faith and tell others about this possibility for true life change brought on by the true Jesus.

What is Jesus leading you to do tonight?