Matthew - Week 33

Greater Than the Temple 

READ 

Matthew 12:5-6 

5 “And haven’t you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? 6 I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple!” 

Jesus continued telling the Pharisees what they should have known from their Scriptures. Even the priests were allowed to work on the Sabbath. The Israelites were fixated on the Temple, which was the center of worship for them. As Jesus stood in front of them He said there is one here now who is greater than the Temple. He referred to Himself. 

REFLECT 

Do you realize believers in this age are not bound by the Mosaic laws in the Old Testament? 

RESPOND 

Certain principles of the Old Testament law always apply, such as the moral principles found with the Ten Commandments. According to common Jewish count there were 613 commandments in the Old Testament law. See James 2:10 for what is true if you broke even one in those days. See also what Paul, a former Pharisee, wrote after he came to Christ in Colossians 2:16-17 about special diets and days.  

Lord Over the Sabbath 

READ 

Matthew 12:7-8 

7 “But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” 

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees by saying if they had known their own Scriptures they would not have criticized His disciples. The Pharisees were greatly concerned about doing all the proper sacrifices, and Jesus told them His desire was that they would show mercy rather than offering sacrifices. “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used of Himself. The Pharisees were guilty of legalistic details rather than worshiping the Lord who was in control of everything. 

REFLECT 

Are you sometimes guilty of focusing on what God has created rather than focusing on the Creator Himself? 

RESPOND 

With a fellow believer, read Romans 1:18-32 to see what occurs to people who worship what is created instead of worshiping the Creator. This passage also reveals everyone is without excuse because God has revealed enough of Himself that all should know there is a creator.  

Another Trap 

READ 

Matthew 12:9-10 

9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.) 

The Pharisees were always hoping to trap Jesus into saying something that would legitimize their accusations about Him breaking the Sabbath. As Jesus was on earth, the Jewish nation was still living under the Mosaic law, which continued until the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. In the Old Testament, God often used Gentile nations who spoke other languages to discipline His Hebrew-speaking people (see Deuteronomy 28:49; Isaiah 28:11-12). On the Day of Pentecost the disciples were enabled to speak Gentile dialects understood by those who used those dialects. It was a sign that God was changing His program with Israel. 

REFLECT 

As you study the Bible you will learn more contrasts between the Mosaic law in the Old Testament and the age of grace in the New Testament. 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Corinthians 14:22 to see that speaking in tongues was for a sign. This raises the question, “Sign of what?” Acts 2, with the speaking in languages not learned by the speakers, seems to be a sign that God was changing His program—turning from Israel who rejected Him to the Gentiles.  

Doing Good on the Sabbath 

READ 

Matthew 12:11-12 

11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” 

The Pharisees thought one should not even do a good act on the Sabbath. Jesus revealed how foolish their thinking was. He also emphasized how much more important a human being is than an animal. He concluded these remarks by saying, “Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.” This should have ended the debate, but would it? 

REFLECT 

Do the words of Jesus seem reasonable to you? Do you believe that a person is more valuable than an animal?  

RESPOND 

Today some people in their thinking switch Sunday for the Sabbath (Saturday) and believe one should follow Sabbath rules for Sunday. Some even refer to Sunday as the “Christian Sabbath,” which the Bible never does. These people are not following the teaching of the New Testament after the Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2.  

Plotting to Kill 

READ 

Matthew 12:13-14 

13 Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! 14 Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus. 

This passage reveals the hatred the religious leaders of Jesus’ time had for Him. They were more concerned about keeping their self-imposed rules for the Sabbath rather than believing in the Lord of the Sabbath. Even though Jesus had healed the man with the deformed hand, rather than the Pharisees rejoicing over that, they wanted to kill Jesus for healing him. 

REFLECT 

What lesson are you learning from this passage? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about how sometimes religious leaders can be the enemy of Christianity rather than its friend. Everyone who stands behind a pulpit does not necessarily proclaim the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and that salvation is available only through Him as John 14:6 says.