NOT LONG AFTERWARD. Not far from the first of May about the time when
grain begins to ripen in the fields of Judea. WALKING THROUGH THE
WHEAT FIELDS. There were paths through the fields. BEGAN TO PICK THE
HEADS. Moses permitted this (_see_ Deuteronomy 23:25).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE PHARISEES SAW THIS. See note on Matthew 3:7. Some of them
were always trying to trap Jesus. LOOK, IT IS AGAINST OUR LAW. Moses
said doing this was legal, but the Tradition of the Elders said it was
illegal to eat grain on the Sabbath which had been threshed out in the
hand by rubbing, since... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED. He cites the case of David to show that what his
disciples have done is not wrong. (1 Samuel 21:1-6)... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD The tent (Holy place Hebrews 9:2) at
Nob. [the temple had not yet been built at that time.] The bread
offered to God: "the Bread of the Presence" (Hebrews 9:2). Twelve
loaves, each made of seven quarts of flour, were arranged in two rows
on a special table. After being... [ Continue Reading ]
OR HAVE YOU NOT READ. The Sabbath was the busiest day for the Priests,
who technically were in violation of the Sabbath Law, because of the
work they were doing on that day. (_compare_ John 7:22-23). Jesus
cites this to prove his point.... [ Continue Reading ]
GREATER THAN THE TEMPLE. If the priests can do this (Matthew 12:5),
then the disciples of _the Lord of the temple_ are blameless in their
service to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. They said that they obeyed the scriptures. Jesus
argues that kindness to the hungry pleases God more than the animal
sacrifices on the altar in the temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD OF THE SABBATH. It was for the good of man that the Sabbath was
made (Mark 2:27) The Son of Man (Lord of Mankind) can do with the
Sabbath whatever he wishes to do.... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT TO ONE OF THEIR SYNAGOGUES. Jesus and his disciples must have
been on the way to it when they met the Pharisees.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT AGAINST OUR LAW? Luke says it was the man's right hand. It was
crippled [withered, paralyzed], so it could not be used. This made a
perfect test-case for the Pharisees and teachers of the Law (see
Luke's record), since there was no urgency to heal it. The Pharisees
and teachers of the Law had... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IF ONE OF YOU HAS A SHEEP? Their "strange" idea of "law" allowed
them to do this.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A MAN IS WORTH MUCH MORE THAN A SHEEP. If they were allowed to
rescue a sheep, why not a man? SO THEN, OUR LAW DOES ALLOW US. The
Sabbath was meant for man's good. Therefore, says Jesus, it is right
to do good on the Sabbath.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRETCH OUR YOUR HAND. Jesus heals him by speaking A word. So, they
have no excuse to charge him with breaking the Sabbath. [Note the man
was required to stretch out his hand which demonstrated his faith in
Christ.]... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE PLANS AGAINST JESUS TO KILL HIM. Mark says they met with some
members of Herod's party (_see_ Mark 3:6). These people made a "show"
of being very religious, but were really enemies of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JESUS HEARD ABOUT IT. Jesus had a special work to do, so he
avoided confrontation with these people at this time, by leaving
Capernaum.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT HIM. Those healed were not to tell others [at
this time] since it would intensify the problem with the Pharisees and
interfere with his mission.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO MAKE COME TRUE. Matthew says this a number of times. Prophecy
coming true was very important to the Jew. This prophecy is from
Isaiah 42:1-4.... [ Continue Reading ]
HERE IS MY SERVANT. Christ came as a servant. (Philippians 2:6-11) I
WILL PUT MY SPIRIT ON HIM. See Matthew 3:16-17. TO ALL PEOPLES. Not
just to the Jews. Compare Mark 3:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE WILL NOT ARGUE OR SHOUT. He would not be a demagogue.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF A BENT REED. The hollow stem of a reed lost its
strength when bent. This is symbolic of his kindness to our need. He
does not break, but heals. NOR PUT OUT A FLICKERING LAMP. Their lamps
were a cup of oil with a wick of flax floating on it. The flickering
light of such a lamp i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL PEOPLES. The prophets said many times that the Messiah would
be the world's Savior not just the Jews only, but the Gentiles as
well. He is the hope of all mankind (_compare_ John 4:42).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SOME PEOPLE BROUGHT TO JESUS. A man who was demon-possessed. See
notes on Matthew 8:28-29.... [ Continue Reading ]
COULD HE BE THE SON OF DAVID? That is, the Messiah-King who was
expected to come (Isaiah 11:10; 2 Samuel 23:1-5).... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE PHARISEES HEARD THIS. Mark says some of these were teachers
of the Law who had come from Jerusalem. The religious authorities were
watching Jesus closely. Beelzebul gives HIM POWER TO DO SO. This is
the charge they made. See note on Matthew 10:25. "Beelzebul" is
another name for Satan, the... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS KNEW WHAT THEY WERE THINKING. They had not spoken to Jesus, but
had spoken directly to the people. ANY COUNTRY THAT DIVIDES ITSELF. A
broad truth. Governments and nations fall when they are divided
internally.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO IF ONE GROUP IS FIGHTING ANOTHER. If it is Satan's power that drove
out the demon, Satan would be fighting himself which would be absurd.
[Be wary of saying a good work is the work of Satan! Listen to
Gamaliel (Acts 5:33-39).]... [ Continue Reading ]
WELL, THEN, WHO GIVES YOUR FOLLOWERS THE POWER? There were Jewish
exorcists who drove out evil spirits (demons). _See_ Acts 19:13-14.
Their own followers proved them wrong in what they had said by driving
out evil spirits through God's power.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO, IT IS GOD'S SPIRIT. This is a sharp confrontation. The power of
God's Spirit in Jesus proves he is the Son of David the promised
Messiah (Matthew 12:23). THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS ALREADY COME UPON YOU.
_See_ Luke 17:20-21; Romans 14:17. The question was: Did the power of
Jesus represent Satan or G... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN CAN BREAK INTO. What Jesus means here, is that in freeing the
demon-possessed man, he has also shown himself much stronger than
Satan.... [ Continue Reading ]
ANYONE WHO IS NOT FOR ME. The Kingdom of Satan and the Kingdom of
Christ oppose each other. No one can be neutral If you do not help
Christ gather men and women for God, then you are guilty of helping
the Devil scatter them! _Not to decide is to decide!_ See Matthew
7:15-23.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS REASON I TELL YOU. What he has just said in Matthew 12:30. No
one can be neutral. WILL NOT BE FORGIVEN. Mark 3:30 explains that this
sin was saying that the Spirit in Jesus was really the spirit of the
Devil. This sin will not be forgiven, because the person who does this
cuts himself off f... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAINST THE SON OF MAN. Many said things against Jesus while he was
here in human form and later learned the truth, repented, and were set
free from their sins. Note that Christ prayed for those who nailed him
to the Cross. AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT. They said evil things against
the Holy Spirit when... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HAVE GOOD FRUIT. Fruit is evidence (Matthew 7:15-20). Jesus is
saying that if his own actions and life were evil, this might prove he
was working through the power of Satan. But if his actions and life
were good, this proved his power came from God. Compare what Paul said
in 1 Corinthians 12:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW CAN YOU SAY GOOD THINGS? They were poisonous and evil, like snakes
[these enemies of his]. They could not praise God or say good things,
because of their condition. Read Jesus' prophecy on Jerusalem (Matthew
23:37-39).... [ Continue Reading ]
A GOOD MAN BRINGS GOOD THINGS. This is evidence of his motivation in
life. See Galatians 5:22-23. A BAD MAN BRINGS BAD THINGS. That's all
he has! See Galatians 5:19-21.... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE ACCOUNT OF EVERY USELESS WORD. This is much stronger than it
seems. Useless means: "hostile, malicious, slanderous, poisonous,
evil." The thing which some of the Pharisees were doing in saying
Jesus worked through the power of the Devil. [It does not mean
laughing and joking (clean jokes).]... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YOUR WORDS WILL BE USED. We will face our words! Evil words spoken
against God and the Holy Spirit will bring his wrath and vengeance.
_See_ Jude 1:15. Declaring Jesus' name publicly will gain his promise!
(Matthew 10:32)... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WANT TO SEE YOU PERFORM A MIRACLE. See Matthew 16:1; Luke 11:16;
Luke 11:29. They had just seen him drive out an evil spirit. They
wanted to trap Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW EVIL AND GODLESS. Remember: he is speaking to his enemies those
who said he did his miracles by means of Satan's power. He did not do
miracles to satisfy curiosity, or to make himself popular.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME WAY THAT JONAH. _See_ Jonah 1:17. (Note there is no
"whale" there. It was a "big fish," possibly a white shark which is
reported to be able to swallow a horse whole. God prepared it
specially.) The miracle was that Jonah's life was protected during the
time spent in the big fish. This is... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE JUDGMENT DAY. The example of the people of Nineveh cancels any
excuse these Jews might have for their failure to repent. When Jonah
warned the people of the city, they turned from their sins. Jesus is
superior to Jonah, but these Jews would not turn from their sins at
his warning.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE QUEEN FROM THE SOUTH. The Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1). Her
example condemns these Jews. Jesus is greater than Solomon, yet they
do not come to him to learn.... [ Continue Reading ]
43-45.
WHEN AN EVIL SPIRIT. This is a parable, and its meaning is based on
the last sentence: _"This is the way it will happen to the evil people
of this day."_ This is the climax of the passage which goes back to
Matthew 12:22. Many (but not all) of the Jews rejected Christ and said
evil things abo... [ Continue Reading ]
46-47. HIS MOTHER AND BROTHERS. On his brothers, see Matthew 13:55. At
this time, his brothers did not yet believe he was the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
48-49.
WHO IS MY MOTHER? WHO ARE MY BROTHERS? The fact he is the Messiah
supersedes ordinary relationships. LOOK! HERE ARE MY MOTHER AND MY
BROTHERS! The strongest ties are the spiritual ties. Those who are
united to Christ spiritually (Galatians 3:26-27) are closer to him and
to each other than an... [ Continue Reading ]