< Matthew 12 >

The Pharisees, a very strict Jewish sect, were offended by the actions of Jesus and his disciples. In particular they accused them of breaking God’s sabbath law, charging them with doing “that which is not lawful on the sabbath day”. But Jesus proved to them from the scriptures, citing the case of David and the priests, that it is possible while apparently breaking the law to be guiltless. They themselves saved life on the sabbath day without offending, therefore Jesus declared, “It is lawful to do well on the sabbath days”. Their mistake was not correctly identifying what God requires of us. They thought only in terms of sacrifice, but Jesus had previously told them to go and learn from the book of Hosea what God really wanted from them (Matthew 9:13).Waiting for response for Matthew 9:13 They failed to do so, therefore Jesus said: “But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless”.

Jesus reinforced his teaching [to do well on a sabbath day is good] by healing a man with a withered hand, despite it being the sabbath day, but this so incensed them that they “went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him”. Jesus, however, did not retaliate against them because God required him at that time to be harmless and non-resistant to evil. Therefore he withdrew himself, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah “He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench” Isaiah 42:3.Waiting for response for Isaiah 42:3 This will not always be the reaction of Jesus, but only “until he send forth judgment unto victory”, for on his return he will execute righteous judgment on his enemies.

Jesus looked for men and women to understand the significance of his healing, receive his teaching, and keep his commandments. Most of the Jews failed to comply, but Jesus knew that when the opportunity was extended to the Gentiles many would respond acceptably, according to the prophecies: “I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles” and “In his name shall the Gentiles trust”. The Jewish religious leaders, however, were obdurate, even after seeing him perform such mighty works, demanding that he show them a sign that he came from God. He therefore contrasted their unbelief with Gentiles in the past. The people of Nineveh, for instance, repented of their wicked ways when the prophet Jonah preached to them. Jonah was delivered from virtual death after three days in a fish, and this was the sign Jesus gave to his detractors after which his word would be preached to Gentiles who would believe and repent.

The religious leaders of the Jews were anxious to prevent the people accepting Jesus as “the son of David”, i.e. the promised Messiah, therefore they claimed that he did his miracles by the power of the Philistines’ imaginary god: “Beelzebub the prince of demons”. Jesus disproved their reasoning by pointing out the consequence of such an adversary (Hebrew: “satan”) opposing himself. He also condemned their misattribution of God’s power as “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” which he said was a sin that cannot be forgiven. This is a very serious warning for any of us claiming that our words and works are by the Holy Spirit when palpably none today has the Holy Spirit to perform the mighty deeds done by Jesus and his apostles.

The purpose of God, achieved by the preaching of the gospel to Jews and Gentiles, is to develop individuals who will constitute his family, the brothers and sisters of Jesus. The wonderful message is that any of us may, by adoption, become members of this divine family!