August 29, 2021
Evening Service

This morning, we listened as Jesus explained several truths with us.  First Matthew through Isaiah’s prophecy explained to us that Jesus did not come to change the world by force, but through love and changing one heart at a time.  As Jesus confronted the Pharisees claim that His power came from our enemy, He explained that a kingdom divided will fall and to be part of His kingdom we must choose to follow; no choice is a choice.  The Pharisees blasphemy led to Jesus’ explanation of the “unpardonable sin.”  It is a rejecting of the working of the Holy Spirit to such a degree that the one doing it will never seek repentance and thus not receive forgiveness.  Our words reveal what is in the heart; good or evil.  Tonight, we will finish this chapter with another confrontation with these Pharisees on another day.

 

Mat 12:38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."

            The Pharisees were asking for another sign to be given to prove once and for all that He was the Messiah.  This was in no way a request from sincere hearts that were truly seeking the truth and Jesus knew this.  They had already seen enough miraculous proof to convince them that He was indeed the Chosen One.  They had already decided within their hearts to deny His claims no matter what they had seen or would see.  Jesus answers their unbelief sharply.

 

Mat 12:39-42But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.  (40)  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  (41)  The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.  (42)  The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

            Jesus’ reply was shined a light on the Pharisees lack of faith.  “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) They felt they needed or deserved to have more visual proof by asking for another miraculous sign to be given to them.  Even upon the cross, they mocked Him in saying “Come down from the cross, You saved others save Yourself and we will believe too.” (Matt. 27) Jesus explains to them that only the sign of Jonah will be given which ties his three days in the whale’s belly to Jesus’ three days in the grave.  He goes on to give the example of the queen of the South recognized the wisdom of Solomon; how could they as religious leaders not recognize His divinity.  Paul told the Roman church this about how all men deep inside recognize this.

 

Romans 1:18-20 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19)  because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  (20)  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

            We are all given plenty of evidence that God exists and do not need any further signs.  We should truthfully examine what we have been given and accept it as enough.  Peter told us this:

2Pe 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

            We should not seek to draw a line with God and tell Him He has to show us a sign that would allow us to believe.  We must accept Him as Lord by faith and trust His will to be done in our lives accepting it with a humble heart.  Jesus spins quickly to another teaching that we all can learn from.

 

Mat 12:43-45 "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.  (44)  Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.  (45)  Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."

            This teaching is reflecting upon the attitude these leaders are showing and it also ties in with this morning when Jesus said: “He who is not with Me is against Me.”  Though we are able to remove sin or sinful habits from our life does not mean we are bound for success.  If we do not fill that area in our life with the presence of God and the Holy Spirit, many times we can end up worse off than where we started from.  Evil spirits are a real thing and the battle we fight is a spiritual one.  In completing this chapter, we build our faith that our mottos of “Better Together” and being a family in God are true.

 

Mat 12:46-50While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.  (47)  Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You."  (48)  But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"  (49)  And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  (50)  For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

            Jesus confirms that we are indeed brothers and sisters joined not by flesh and blood, but by faith in the One we are following.  He was in no way denying the importance of His mother or brothers, but revealed to us that by faith that intimate relationship is expanded to all who believe in Him and do His will.  We are included in the family of God.  Paul describes it best in one of the greatest chapters in our beloved scriptures; Romans 8.

 

Romans 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  (15)  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."  (16)  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

            Wow, what a promise this is for all of us!  “Abba Father” refers to an intimacy that we would translate as “Daddy.”  We are adopted into His family and loved just as if we were born into it.  We are also given a full inheritance as “heirs with Christ.”  Notice however that “if” word that appears.  “IF we indeed suffer with Him.”  We have been chosen to be part of the family of God to enjoy the privileges granted, but also we have been chosen to suffer with Him through this life of following Him.  Jesus warned us that “Narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:14) We are blessed to be chosen to walk this journey with our Lord and be called his family no matter the difficulties we encounter. 

 

Heavenly Father thank You for your teaching that leads us to life and for adopting us into Your family though none of us deserve it.