Matthew 12

In Matthew 12, Jesus confronts the Pharisees on several issues, particularly around Sabbath laws and His identity. The chapter highlights the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders, who challenge His authority and accuse Him of breaking the Sabbath and being in league with Satan. Through His responses, Jesus clarifies the purpose of the Sabbath, asserts His lordship, and speaks about the Kingdom of God. He also warns about the dangers of rejecting the Holy Spirit and explains the nature of true family in God's kingdom.

Matthew 12:1-8 (NKJV)
1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”
3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:
4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?
6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple.
7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless.
8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

This passage recounts an incident where Jesus' disciples plucked grain on the Sabbath, prompting the Pharisees to accuse them of breaking the Sabbath law. Jesus responded by highlighting the deeper meaning of the Sabbath and prioritizing mercy over rigid legalism. He referred to David eating the consecrated bread, which was technically unlawful but permissible in a situation of need, and the priests working in the temple on the Sabbath without guilt. These examples demonstrated that human need and service to God take precedence over ceremonial regulations. Jesus also quoted Hosea 6:6, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," emphasizing that God values compassion and understanding over mere ritual observance. By declaring Himself "Lord of the Sabbath," Jesus asserted His authority over its interpretation, showing that the Sabbath was meant to serve humanity, not to enslave it under burdensome rules. The passage teaches the principle that God's laws are meant to reflect His mercy, and true worship involves prioritizing love, justice, and compassion above external adherence to religious tradition.

Matthew 12:9-14 (NKJV)
9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue.
10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.
11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?
12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

In healing the man’s hand, Jesus demonstrates that doing good on the Sabbath aligns with God’s intentions for the day. He challenges the Pharisees' narrow interpretation of Sabbath law, arguing that if they would rescue a sheep, how much more should they care for a human being? This incident escalates the Pharisees’ anger, revealing their hardened hearts and leading them to plot against Jesus.

Matthew 12:15-21 (NKJV)
15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.
16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known,
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
18 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel nor cry out, Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench, Till He sends forth justice to victory;
21 And in His name Gentiles will trust.”

This passage describes Jesus withdrawing from conflict with the Pharisees after they plotted to destroy Him, continuing His ministry of healing and compassion. Many followed Him, and He healed them but warned them not to make Him widely known, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah’s humility and mission (Isaiah 42:1-4). The prophecy emphasized Jesus as God's chosen servant, beloved and empowered by the Spirit to bring justice to the Gentiles without force or loud self-promotion. It highlighted His tender approach: "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench," showing His care for the weak and spiritually faint, nurturing them instead of condemning. This mission would persist "till He sends forth justice to victory," pointing to His ultimate triumph over sin and death through the cross, establishing righteousness and hope for all, including the Gentiles, who would trust in His name. The passage underscores Jesus' humility, gentleness, and commitment to fulfilling God’s redemptive plan.

Matthew 12:22-29 (NKJV)
22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who is blind and mute, restoring his sight and speech, which amazes the crowd. The people begin to wonder if He could be the Messiah, the "Son of David." However, the Pharisees, unable to deny the miracle, accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus refutes their accusation by reasoning that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and if Satan were casting out his own demons, his kingdom would be in chaos. He then explains that He casts out demons by the Spirit of God, proving that God's kingdom has come upon them. Jesus further asserts that His actions demonstrate His authority over evil, likening the situation to a strong man whose house is plundered only when a stronger man (Jesus) comes and overpowers him. The passage emphasizes Jesus' divine authority, His role in defeating evil, and the arrival of God's kingdom through His ministry.

Matthew 12:30-37 (NKJV)
30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Jesus teaches about the critical importance of aligning with Him and the danger of speaking against the Holy Spirit. He declares that those who are not with Him are against Him, and that all sins can be forgiven except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will not be forgiven. This highlights the severity of rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit, who testifies to Jesus' divine authority. Jesus warns that people will be judged by their words, as "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." He stresses that a tree is known by its fruit, meaning that good actions and words reflect a good heart, while evil words and actions reveal an evil heart. The passage underscores the importance of a heart transformed by God, as words and deeds flow from the heart and reveal one's true character, ultimately determining one's judgment.

Matthew 12:38-42 (NKJV)
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”
39 But 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.

Sme Pharisees and teachers of the law demand that Jesus show them a sign to prove His authority. Jesus rebukes them, calling them a 'wicked and adulterous generation' seeking a sign, and tells them the only sign they will receive is the 'sign of Jonah.' He compares His own death, burial, and resurrection to Jonah’s three days and nights in the belly of the great fish, saying that just as Jonah’s time in the fish was a sign to the Ninevites, His time in the grave or tomb—referred to as 'the heart of the earth'—will be a sign to this generation. Jesus further condemns them for their lack of repentance, stating that the people of Nineveh, who repented at Jonah's preaching, will rise in judgment against them. He also mentions the Queen of the South, who sought out Solomon’s wisdom, declaring that a greater than Jonah and Solomon is now present with them. This passage emphasizes that Jesus’ resurrection, after three days in the grave, is the ultimate sign of His divine authority, and those who reject it will face judgment.

Matthew 12:43-45 (NKJV)
43 “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.”

Jesus shares a parable about an unclean spirit that leaves a person and returns to find their life "swept and put in order," symbolizing a temporary reform or external change. However, if the person fails to accept the truth, invite Jesus into their life, or establish a genuine relationship with God, their life remains spiritually empty. As a result, the unclean spirit returns, bringing seven other more wicked spirits, and the person's condition becomes worse than before. This illustrates that without a true, inner transformation and the presence of God, evil will inevitably return, and the heart may become even harder, making it more resistant to truth and repentance in the future.

Matthew 12:46-50 (NKJV)
46 While 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.”

When Jesus’ family seeks to speak with Him, He uses the moment to redefine the concept of family. Instead of prioritizing biological ties, Jesus emphasizes a spiritual family built on obedience to God’s will. This teaching highlights the centrality of faith and commitment to God’s purposes as the foundation of true kinship in the Kingdom of God. Jesus thus invites His followers to embrace this new, inclusive understanding of family based on devotion to God.