Matthew 12

Matthew 12:1-7 – Sabbath questions

• Compare Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:1-5.
• Sabbath still binding?
  • Colossians 2:16-17 – Sabbath is not still binding today.
  • Romans 7:7-12
• Be careful about saying Jesus encouraged disciples to sin.
• Be careful about being wedded to traditions. Matthew 15:2-6
• Matthew 12:3, 5 - “Have you not read?” is an important passage lost on many. Jesus was appealing to scripture rather than Pharisaical tradition.
• Matthew 12:5 – The priests were violating the tradition of the Pharisees, but not the law. Jesus said they were innocent.
• Matthew 12:6-7 – See Hosea 6:5-6.

Matthew 12:8-21 – Lord of the Sabbath

Matthew 12:22-29 – Two kingdoms

• If Jesus cast out demons by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:24), that raised the question of how the disciples of the Pharisees cast them out (Matthew 12:26).
• Matthew 12:25 – “Kingdom” here means “rule.” It is not always interchangeable with “church.”

Matthew 12:30-32 – Unpardonable sin

• Can this be committed today?

“Blaspheming the Spirit occurs when the apostles’ Spirit-inspired words are rejected. If the gospel of grace revealed by the Holy Spirit through the apostles is refused, there is no other means of salvation. When men repudiate the apostolic word, they blaspheme the Spirit and put themselves beyond the reach of forgiveness (Acts 7:51; 13:45-46). Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, then, is not a particular word, set of words, or acts – it is a hardened heart that closes the mind and shuts out God. Blaspheming the Holy Spirit isn’t God refusing to forgive, but man refusing to be forgiven.” – Ken Chumbley, Commentary on Matthew, p. 224

Matthew 12:33-37 – Words reveal character

• Not a warning about our everyday language.
• Strong language (vipers / snakes) used in pointing out error regarding language against Christ.
• The words spoken about Jesus reveal one’s character.
• The critical words of Pharisees (you cast out demons because you have one) revealed an evil heart. Same true today?

Matthew 12:38-45 – Historical evidence

• Best evidence for historical reality of Jonah and the fish:
  • Jesus believed it had occurred.
• Best evidence for historical reality of the resurrection and appearances of Jesus:
  • Jesus believed it would occur.
• Liar? Lunatic? Lord?

Introduction

• Proverbs 19:17
• There are many ways that we might give.

Giving helps others.

• Deuteronomy 24:19-22 – The Israelites were to leave some of the harvest for the poor and needy.
• Luke 10:29, 36-37 – Giving is part of a greater effort to love our neighbor.
• II Corinthians 8:12-15, 10

Giving helps me.

• Ephesians 4:28
• Are you a spender or a saver? Spenders usually give more easily. Less so for savers.
• I Timothy 6:18
• It does us good to give!
• II Corinthians 9:7 – Even secular science shows that we don’t receive the good effects if we give grudgingly.
• Ephesians 2:10
• God did not create us to sit around and be selfish!
• People in Alcoholics Anonymous double their chances of success when they help others.

Giving makes us more like God.

• John 3:16
• I John 3:16-18
• Luke 6:35
• II Corinthians 8:9 – Jesus gave up heaven to come and save us.
• If Christ did that for us, what can we give up for our brethren?

Giving to local churches is a glorious work.

• I Corinthians 16:1-4
• Philippians 4:18

Galatians 5

Galatians 5:1-6 – “you are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace”

• Galatians 5:1 – The yoke of slavery here is the Law of Moses.
• Galatians 5:4 – It is possible to fall from grace. Calvinists believe that it is not possible to fall from grace. See Galatians 3:26.
• The Calvinist possession is stated as:

“Many who profess to believe fall away, but they do not fall from grace, for they were never in grace. True believers do fall into temptations, and they do commit grievous sins, but these sins do not cause them to lose their salvation or separate them from Christ.” – Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, pp. 64-65

“As the Westminster Confession of Faith states, saved people “can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.” – as cited in Steele, Thomas, and Quinn, p. 65

Galatians 5:7-12 – Beware of this erroneous influence!

• Things had been good, but now they had been turned by a bad influence.
• Galatians 5:9 – Compare I Corinthians 5:6-7.
• Galatians 5:11 – Paul had taken a firm stand against circumcision, shown by how he had been persecuted by the Jews.
• Galatians 5:12 – Compare the use of the word “mutilating” or “emasculating” in John 18:10.

Galatians 5:13-18 – “walk by the spirit”

• Galatians 5:13 – See Romans 6:1-2. We should not attempt to abuse the grace and forgiveness of God. See Jude 1:4.
• Galatians 5:14 – See Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37.
• Galatians 5:15 – Don’t fight and bicker with each other.
• Galatians 5:16 – What does “spirit” mean here? The capitalization is a decision by the translators. It could be the Holy Spirit or the spiritual nature of man. We are deciding to either follow God or go our own way.

Galatians 5:19-26 – Deeds of the flesh vs. fruit of the spirit

• Galatians 5:23 – This could be an understatement for effect.