Journey Through Matthew: Hodgepodge of Truth
Journey Through Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 2 viewsIn thi next section of Matthew 12, Jesus confronts the Pharisees for their unbelief with a series of examples and statements of truth.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
Good evening and welcome back!
If you would start turning in your Bibles back to .
Tonight we are going to be looking at what I would call A Hodge-podge of Truth.
And the reason I call it this is because in the passage from , Jesus is going to be confronting the Jews on several different topics .
And for each one it seems as if Jesus gives a different example that seem to be just a mix of thoughts and truth.
It is almost as if Jesus is fed up with the Jews at this point and just sort of lets them have it for their unbelief.
And if you will remember from this morning we were looking at Jesus’ confrontation of the Pharisees for their overly legalistic view on things and how everything to them was pretty much black and white according to the Jewish Law.
There was no room for any deviation whatsoever, even through the Pharisees were inconsistent and hypocritical of their own view of things.
And we ended this morning with Jesus healing yet another person and the Jews being so enraged by the fact that Jesus, once again, showed them up, that . . .
14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
And apparently this wasn’t a plot of how they could eventually kill Jesus, they were actually plotting to do it right then, that day.
We know this because immediately after this . . .
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, 16 warning them not to tell who he was.
So, the plot was actually getting serious at this point.
They had reached the point that they were now beyond rhetoric and arguments and their hate and anger was now going to start turning violent.
However, another thing about this though was the plot itself and these actions were one more confirmation of Jesus as the Messiah.
Matthew goes on to tell us that . . .
17 This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no-one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Matthew 12:17-
So, the time is drawing very near for Jesus’ sacrifice and things were now going to escalate to a new level, and instead of retreating and hiding Jesus in a way doubles-down on them, which is what we are going to talk about this evening.
So, if you have found in your Bible, I’d invite you to stand with me if you are able.
I will be reading the end of the passage, but we are going to try and cover it all tonight.
Again, that is , starting in verse 30.
Matthew writes . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognised by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
He’s of the Devil!
He’s of the Devil!
So, I read the end of the passage there that really sums up the whole conversation that Jesus is having with these people, and it also shows us the actual tone of the conversation as well.
But to get the full gist of it, we need to back up to verse 22 and see the whole passage in context.
So, back up in verse 22, we find this . . .
22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
Matthew 12:22
And again, all of this trouble that Jesus is having starts around him actually healing someone.
Him helping someone.
Him delivering someone.
And the only reason that this causes trouble that makes sense is that the Pharisees were #1 Jealous and #2 Threatened by Jesus.
Because Jesus was amassing a great following and they were seeing their power erode away, which is what is going on here.
This whole time Jesus has been claiming to be the Messiah, which could also be translated as the “Son of David” or the “decedent of David,” which is now what the people were beginning to really consider.
And the Pharisees knew that if the people started believing that Jesus is the Messiah, their reign was over.
Which also speaks to their spiritual condition in itself.
If these Pharisees were really God fearing Jews they would have embraced the fact that the Messiah had came to rescue them.
They wouldn’t have fought against it.
But their problem was they had turned their religion into a business.
It was making them rich and powerful.
After all the people couldn’t even question them, so they could pretty much do and say whatever they wanted.
And anything that did not fit in their narrative or anything that did not paint them in a favorable light, they rejected and fought against.
So, they had to put a spin on things, and this is their genius plan . . .
Matthew 12:
24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”
They were so disconnected with the people, they thought they could come up with anything and the people would buy it.
The fact that they are claiming that Jesus is driving out demons by the power of Satan is dumb when you dig under the surface.
But they were so used to the people just taking them for their word, they thought they would try it.
And we chuckle but it happens today as well.
Some charismatic and smooth talking preacher comes to town and everybody jumps on the bandwagon.
But sooner or later the truth comes out.
I’ve heard them described as sort like a rocket, they burn really hot and really fast for while, but when the fuel runs out they fall off into the ocean.
And really the reason the people fall victim to it is because they are chasing the person and not chasing God.
They get all excited, but do not listen to the Holy Spirit.
But Jesus here isn’t going to let them get away with their nonsense.
Matthew writes next. . . .
Matthew 12:25
25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
So, once again Jesus squashes their narrative and makes them look foolish in the process.
And the principle can be applied to any aspect, or any group in live.
If our nation is divided against itself, it will eventually fall.
If our community is divided against itself, it will eventually be destroyed.
If our church is divided against itself, eventually it will split.
If our family is divided against itself, eventually it will be destroyed as well.
Division causes separation and separation on any level is destructive.
That is why it is so important that we be in tune with the Holy Spirit, who teaches us and helps us to come together.
We will never all agree on everything, but through the Spirit, we can typically agree on and do what is right.
And what happens in churches is when the Spirit is replaced by spirits.
When the focus moves from God and moves toward getting rich, making a name, following a certain leader, and the list goes on and on and on.
We’ve all seen and read about the church right now in Lexington.
They took their pastor to court just to get rid of him.
He had removed the entire board and appointed himself, his wife, and one other person.
And then kicked everyone in the church who opposed him out.
Folks, God is nowhere in that place.
Satan has rooted himself there and has destroyed a church and a ministry all because those people were divided against themselves.
So, Jesus points this out but also points out a point of contention with the Jews as well.
Next he says . . .
27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
Matthew 12:26
Good question.
If a kingdom cannot be divided against itself, and if I am driving out demons by the power of Satan, then how are the demons that you are driving out getting done?
Hmmm....They have to think about that one.
And while they are thinking about it, Jesus concludes . . .
28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Matthew 12:28
So, now Jesus has them cornered using their own logic against them.
And just to shore up any more questions . . .
29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.
And those possessions are souls.
So, in essence Jesus is saying, if souls are being taken from Satan by me, wouldn’t I first have to be more powerful than Satan and not subject to him?
Are You For Me or Against Me?
Are You For Me or Against Me?
So, now that Jesus has established that he isn’t working for Satan, and in fact is in complete opposition of Satan he makes a declaration . . .
Matthew 12:30
30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
We are either with Jesus or we are with Satan.
There is no in between.
There is no neutrality, we are on one side or the other.
And to respond to this whole notion that Jesus is doing these things from the power of Satan and not the power of God . . .
Matthew 12:31-32
31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
And we have often heard it debated in church circles what is the “unforgivable sin” or what is “blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.”
Well, here is the main example, taking credit for God’s work.
Giving credit to Satan for God’s work.
Calling good evil and evil good.
Rejecting God on each and every turn.
And, we don’t really need a big debate or chart to tell us who is God’s and who is not.
Jesus tells us plainly that . . .
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognised by its fruit.
And that should give us pause because we should be asking ourselves, what kind of fruit am I bearing?
Is it good fruit or is it rotten?
And then Jesus confronts them with what is really some of my favorite verses . . .
Matthew 12:34
34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
And the part with Jesus calling them a brood of vipers is not actually my favorite part, but the fact that Jesus tells us plainly that whatever is in us will eventually come out.
Our true nature will eventually be revealed, regardless of how hard we try to hide it.
If we are full of good, then good will come out.
But, if we are full of evil (sin) then that is what will come out.
We cannot hide our true self forever.
And we had better make sure what is in us is good because . . .
36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:36
Altar Call
Altar Call
Which is where we will end tonight.
Because really what we’ve read and looked at tonight is really Jesus removing all of the excuses people come up with for not following Him.
For not allowing the Holy Spirit, full and complete access.
And the fact is, Jesus has removed every single excuse.
So tonight we need to be examining what is really in us.
Is it good or is it rotten?
Are we full of the Spirit or full of the devil?
And I know that sounds rough but the truth is, if we are not with Jesus; even though we may think we are doing alright, we are against him.
So, tonight just take a few moments and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
What is your relationship with Jesus like tonight?
Only you know.