Matthew 12

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath (12:1-8)

A. Sabbath in Hebrew means “rest.” It originated from God’s resting on the 7 th day of creation (Exo. 20:8-11) and for Israel after they had
been a slave in the land of Egypt (Deut. 5:15). During Sabbath day the Israelites were to refrain from all servile work, that even picking of
sticks during Sabbath was punishable by death (Num. 15:32-36).
B. The Pharisees who were lurking in the fields accused the followers of Jesus of breaking the Sabbath law.
1. The Pharisees considered picking a few of grain as equivalent to harvesting, rubbing the grain as threshing, blowing away the chaff as
winnowing, and eating the heads of the grain as grinding, therefore the disciples were working on the Sabbath day. But actually the
Law of Moses did not forbid them to pick grain on the Sabbath (Deut. 23:25).
2. The disciples did not violate the Law of Moses but the Law of the Elders or the traditions of men.
C. Jesus answered them with 4 arguments:
1. The Pharisees were inconsistent (vs.3-4).
a. To the Pharisees David was excused when He ate the showbread when hungry while Jesus’ disciples were not excused when they
plucked grains on the Sabbath when hungry.
b. David sinned in what he did because Jesus plainly said that it was unlawful (v.4) for them to eat the showbread. But Jesus’
disciples sinned not in what they did be because Jesus declared them as guiltless (v.7)
2. The prohibition had its limitation (vs. 5-6).
a. The priests of the O.T. were the busiest people during the Sabbath. They were preparing and performing sacrifices for the people
of Israel. Activity for the work of God was both allowed and commanded.
b. Jesus used the term profane, but it was not actually profane but it had the appearance of profanation for the priests were working
on the Sabbath.
3. Inward life is superior to outward form (v.7).
a. Mercy toward the hungry disciples was more acceptable than sacrifices on altars. But this does not rule out outward forms, they
are essential to be obeyed for they are commanded. But without the right heart then the form is nothing.
4. Jesus is the Lord of Sabbath (v.8).
a. This means that He has the authority to make laws for it. This assertion called the people to prove his authority.

Healing on the Sabbath (12:9-14)

A. Then the diabolical Jews were testing Jesus to see if He would heal the person with withered hand on Sabbath Day.
1. Our Lord argued with them by using their own conduct as an example. They would save a sheep if it fell in the well even on the
Sabbath day (Exo. 23:4-5). Jesus appealed that it should be more so in helping man. Healing on the Sabbath day is not an excusable
violation of law, but it is lawful.
2. Then the Pharisees who were claiming to be holy were now scheming to kill their Messiah.

Behold, My Servant (12:15-21)

A. Matthew included this part in this account to prove that Jesus was fulfilling the works of the Messiah in the O.T. The figures bruised reed
and smoking flax are metaphors for the sick, lame, blind, and those who were without hope.

A House Divided Cannot Stand (12:22-30)

A. When Jesus made a triple cure to the demoniac, mute, and blind, people could not deny the wonders that our Lord wrought. It excited
different thoughts about Him. Some were beginning to wonder if He was their Messiah. But some, like the Pharisees, were unwilling to
accept Him, so they resorted to attribute the casting of demons by the power of the devil instead of God.
B. Jesus answered them with 3 arguments:
1. Their accusation was illogical (vs.25-26).
a. Satan cannot cast out Satan for it would be ridiculous to fight himself which Satan would not do.
b. Jesus, the greatest controversialist, took advantage of the foolish argument of the Pharisees.
2. Their accusation was inconsistent (vs.27-28).
a. The Pharisees claimed that their disciples (or sons) were casting out demons by the power of God while claiming that Jesus was
casting out demons by the power of the devil.
b. Jesus argued that if the He was casting demons by the devil then the Pharisees’ disciples were casting demons by the devil as well.
3. Their accusation was impossible (v.29).
a. Jesus and Satan are in opposition and against each other. He fought Satan and took the man from his possession. It would be
impossible for Jesus to cast out demon if He would not defeat the devil.

The Unpardonable Sin (12:31-32)

A. The unpardonable sin is also called “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. There are various interpretations of this sin:
1. Some say that this sin refers to the ascribing of God’s power to Satan’s power as what had done by the Pharisees.
2. Others say that it refers to the malignant state of the heart which makes a person unable to obey God because his conscience is
already senseless.
B. The blasphemy against Jesus may be forgiven when the one who commits it would soon repent and become a believer like Paul (1 Tim.
1:13). But the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is naturally eternal for the sin is perpetual.

A Tree Known by Its Fruit (12:33-37)

A. As the tree is known by its fruits so is a person known by what he says. The Pharisees had just made idle words against Jesus, so our Lord
took the opportunity to show unto them the true status of their hearts. Idle words are words that are vulgar or inconsiderately spoken. It
might include words that excite lusts and corrupt man (Eph. 5:4).

The Scribes and Pharisees Ask for a Sign (12:38-42)

A. The sign that these people were asking is something that will come from heaven (Luke 11:16) perhaps they wanted Jesus to produce
something from above as what Elijah did on Mt. Carmel. Jesus already performed miracles which would be enough for the people to believe
that He was their Christ. He would no more give any sign to them except the sign of Jonah.
1. The sign of Jonah refers to the resurrection of Jesus. As Jonah was in the belly of the fish for 3 days and 3 nights so is the Christ would
be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.
2. The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate sign that would prove Jesus as the Son of God (Rom. 1:4).

An Unclean Spirit Returns (12:43-45)

A. Jesus then made an illustration of what will happen to those who will not accept Him—the latter would become worse than the first. Many
Jews rejected Jesus afterwards. With their increasing wickedness, they became worse than the first for they persecuted Christians during
their lifetime. And soon they would be utterly rejected by God which preceded the horrible destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him (12:46-50)

A. The reason why Jesus’ family was looking for Jesus was because Jesus’ brothers were trying to lay hold on Him to take Him away from the
crowd and away from His enemies. Mary yielded to her natural maternal feelings, the brothers of Jesus, too, acted naturally, for they were
unbelieving (Mark 3:21; John 7:5). In this part our Lord was emphasizing the preeminence of spiritual relationship.
B. This fact reproves two Roman Catholic doctrines: worship of Mary and her immaculate conception.