Matthew Worksheet - Chapter 12

Matthew Chapter 12

Sabbath Questions

Jesus and His disciples went through the grainfields on a Sabbath day.  His disciples became hungry, so they picked the heads of grain and ate them.

When the Pharisees (the Jewish religious leaders) saw this, they said to Jesus: "Your disciples are breaking the law of the Sabbath day"

 

Jesus answered them back with an account of David from the Old Testament.

1.  What did David and his companions eat when they became hungry? vs. 4 -

Jesus said they would not condemn the innocent if they understand what God meant by this statement:

"I desire compassion, not sacrifice."

Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus went on to teach that He is the Lord of the Sabbath Day.  He went into their synagogue and a man was there who had a withered hand.

They asked Jesus if it would be lawful to heal on the Sabbath, but were trying to find a way to accuse Him of breaking the law.

Jesus went back to the lesson of compassion.

2.  What example did he give them to think on? vs. 11 -

He said man is much more valuable than a sheep.  So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

3.  What did Jesus say to the man with the withered hand? vs. 13 -

When the man reached out in faith, what did Jesus do for him? vs. 13 -

4. Rather than be blessed by the compassion of God to man, how did the Pharisees react to this miracle? vs. 14 -

Jesus was aware of what they were doing and therefore He withdrew from that place.  Many followed Him and He healed them all, yet warning them not to tell who He was.

5.  What Scripture from the Old Testament did this fulfill? vs. 18-21 -

The Pharisees Rebuked

6. A demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus.  What did Jesus do for the man? vs. 22 -

7. What did the crowds begin to wonder about Jesus? vs. 23 -

8. How did the Pharisees respond again to Jesus' acts of compassion? vs. 24 -

Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them:

"Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?  If I by Beelzebul (ruler of demons) cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out?  for this reason, they will be your judges."

"But...if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God...then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man?  And then he will plunder his house."

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

9. Who is against Jesus?  Who scatters the people?  vs. 30 -

Therefore:  Blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

10. Who had they given credit to for the mighty works of God?

That was what was not to be forgiven.

11.  Will words spoken about the Son be forgiven? vs. 32 -

Jesus knew that without the Holy Spirit to open and reveal Who He was to them, they knew not what they were doing to speak against Him.  Remember on the cross, He said "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

But to say that the works He did were from Satan and to call Him a Son of Satan, this was not to be forgiven.  They knew better and this was blasphemy.

Words Reveal Character

Jesus makes it simple; black & white

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; the tree is known by its fruit."

12. What did Jesus call the religious Pharisees that had blasphemed the compassion of Christ and the works of the Holy Spirit? What did He say about them?  vs. 34-35 -

13. How important are the words that are spoken by them, by us?  What will happen in regard to the words people speak? vs. 36-37-

The Desire For Signs

Some of the scribes adn Pharisees tried to get Jesus off the subject of this talk of conviction and judgment and back on to trying to set Him up for destruction.

They asked Him for a sign to show that He was the Messiah whom He claimed to be.  Jesus told them that an evil and adulterous generation craved for signs.

14. What was the sign He pointed them back to from the Old Testament writings?  What did this sign show that it was a picture of in foreshadowing the coming Messiah? vs. 39-40 -

15. What men will stand up to judge the generation of Pharisees who did not believe in Him? Why will they? vs. 41 -

16. What woman will rise up to judge the generation of Pharisees who did not believe in Him?  Why would she? vs. 42

17. What did Jesus teach them about an unclean spirit when it comes out of a man?  Where does it pass to try to find rest? vs. 43 -

18. Think about it.  A 'waterless' place will allow the evil spirit to rest.  Remember what Jesus said would flow from us if we believe in Him? 

John 7:38-39 -

If the spirit cannot find a 'waterless' place and comes back to the house it came from (the person) ... and if the house is 'unoccupied' (without the Spirit I believe it is saying) ....

19. Then...what happens to that man? vs. 45 -

This is how Jesus said it was with the generation of unbelieving Pharisees who refused to allow themselves to believe in Him and have eternal life.

Who Is The Lord's Mother?

20.  While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, His mother and brothers were standing outside seeking to speak to Him.  When Jesus was told this, who did He say His mother and His brothers are? vs. 49-50 -

21. In Luke's account of this teaching, he tells that a woman cried out from the crowd saying,

 

"Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts at which You nursed."

 

Jesus took the emphasis off of the chosen vessel that carried him and gave him birth and put it right back on the matter at hand.

 

What did He say?

 

Luke 11:27-28 -

 

Your summary notes and prayer today:

 

 

 

 

© Written for RTB websites only by B LeMoine, Write doggiegrace@msn.com for permission to use otherwise.