October 13: Matthew 12:22-50, Luke 11

October 13, Matthew 12:22-50, Luke 11

Matthew & Luke continued…

Matthew 12:15-21 I realized this morning as I was doing my study that I had accidentally skipped this part on October 9. My apologies! I only went to verse 14 and I don’t want you to miss anything. Jesus had just healed a man on the Sabbath and upset all the Pharisees again. Jesus attempted again to withdraw from them as the crowds were following Him and He spoke to them about how He was fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah. He was God’s humble chosen servant who God is pleased with. God has poured out His Spirit on Jesus to proclaim justice and Salvation to the Gentiles and how Jesus gives hope to the non-Jews like me! Praise God Jesus came!

Matthew 12:22-50 Jesus healed a demon possessed man who was blind and mute because of the demon. When Jesus freed the man, he could speak and see and the people were amazed. The Pharisees accused Jesus of being possessed by a powerful demon, Beelzebul. They were trying to understand how Jesus could tell demons what to do. Jesus defends Himself and explains that demons don't cast out demons and a house divided cannot stand - and He is not divided. Jesus went on to say that all sins will be forgiven except that of blaspheming the Holy Spirit - in short - with the complete disrespect and disregard for Jesus, they are saying that Jesus is possessed by an "unclean spirit" rather than the Holy Spirit and this is unforgivable. To speak against the Holy Spirit and continually reject Him is unforgivable by God in this life and the next.

Jesus is still talking with the Pharisees and he gives them an analogy of a tree. A tree is known by its fruit. Duh. But let’s think about it. Can a healthy tree produce bad fruit? Or can a dying sick tree produce beautiful produce? Both are no. Jesus calls the Pharisees here brood of vipers (basic translation… they were devious, dangerous, wicked, hypocrites, and snakes. No wonder the Pharisees didn't like Jesus!) and called them out for their wickedness. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” And we know how they have been speaking ill of him and His works. Here is the other kicker…  “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Every careless word. Every half truth/lie. Sarcasm intended to hurt. Shall we go on? By our words we will be condemned. Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me… not according to God. 

Then we learn about Jesus as the ultimate Priest, Prophet & King. He is greater than the Temple, Jonah, and the wisdom of Solomon. 

The return of the unclean spirit… If a person is freed from a demon and does not fill his/her life with Christ, the demon will return and bring with it a total of 7 demons to take over. It is not enough to just be ‘cleansed’ of sin/oppression, but our hearts and lives must be filled with Christ. 

Again, we learn that Jesus’ mom and brothers are wanting to see Him. He explained/declared that His mother and brothers are those who do the will of God… Family is not just about ‘blood line’ - it is about the blood line of Jesus in us.

Luke 11 There is some additional overlap here with the other gospels, and some additions. For starters, the disciples wanted to learn how to pray, so Jesus set the model for them in a way that honors God and to depend on God for everything, while looking forward to what He is going to do. Seeking forgiveness and forgiving others while being protected from evil. 

Then we get a parable about a friend in need and another friend with a choice to help. We learn here that prayer requires action and obedience. No games. Not just lofty words. 

1. Ask and it will be given to you.
2. Seek, and you will find.
3. Knock and the door will be opened to you.

Everyone who asks, seeks, and knocks will get where God wants them to go. God knows what we need and will give it to us. Like a good dad who knows what his kids needs, that is God in its fullest because He does not sin like us. In addition, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit from God!

See above for the stories of Jesus being accused of being demonic, the return of demons when you are cleansed, and Jesus being the true Prophet Priest & King…

Light in You. If Christ is in you - it will shine out of you into the world. You wouldn't hide such a great light but shine the way for others to see. 

Woe to the Pharisees again for being poor leaders and leading people astray. They wanted to look good on the outside & inside they were wicked. Oh yeah, and woe to the interpreters of the law who do not practice what they preach and place additional heavy burdens on people that are not required by God. Lawyers! Just kidding - but truthfully, we are not to place additional burdens on anyone that God has not placed. 

To sum it all up: 

• Every careless word. Guard your mouth and guard what goes into your heart.  
• The Pharisees wanted to look good on the outside & inside they were wicked. We are not to be like that at all.
• If you were falsely accused, defend yourself with the truth. It is not time for retaliation but truth. 
• Jesus was hard on the Pharisees and the scribes and the lawyers. He was harsh on them because they added burden that was not from God that he came to remove number.