Matthew 12 -Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

 

Matthew 12 – Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

 

The religious leaders were waiting for an opportunity to attack Jesus, and He deliberately gave it to them. What a tragedy to be burdened by legalism when you could enjoy the true Sabbath rest! When Jesus is your Lord, all of life becomes a Sabbath and every place is God’s temple, even a grain field.

 

The Pharisees were concerned about keeping the Sabbath but not about showing love to a man with a handicap condition. Jesus wants mercy, not sacrifice (Hos.6:6; Mic 6:6-8). The Pharisees knew these words but had completely missed their practical implications. We are not to use people but serve them. Jesus shows that the “burden” of the Sabbath is to do good by meeting people’s needs. For the Pharisees, healing on the Sabbath was lawful only if a life was in danger. Jesus declares that it is always lawful, and in fact, it is an obligation to do good on the Sabbath. This conclusion should be applied to everyday living.

 

 

Jesus is the Stronger Man who has invaded satan’s house, overcome him, taken his weapons, and is now claiming his spoils (Eph. 1:15-23). Put on the armor and join Him in victory (Eph. 6:10ff). Jesus declared that it was absurd for the Pharisees to believe that satan would attack and defeat his own demonic forces. If that were to happen then satan would be destroying himself. Jesus had freed people from demons. Those in the crowd who attributed exorcism to the power of satan had corrupt hearts and could not speak good things or say anything ultimately truthful (James 3:2-12).

 

Beware of an empty life! It is a standing invitation for satan to go to work. In the spiritual war being waged today, you cannot be neutral. You are either for Him or against Him. If people clean up their lives and do not fill them with God, they are left vulnerable to even greater evil than what they were originally exposed to (I Pet. 5:8).

 

 

Please read the chapter listed so that you can understand God’s Word better.

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J. Vernon McGee Commentary and Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah.