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 ]