A great amount of material is present in this chapter. It would be easy to focus on the minor issues and miss the major issues. At the end of the day, the main thing is (as it almost always is), "WHO IS JESUS?!"
- The Pharisees weren’t upset about theft, they were upset about Sabbath. This shines a light on some of the “property” mindset of the time.
- This activity by the disciples was specifically permitted in the law - Deuteronomy 23:25.
- Imagine it being considered “work” to walk through a field and have a snack.
- When you want to find something wrong with someone, you will. The Pharisees wanted to find fault with Jesus and His disciples. They did.
- Only you can choose whether or not to be a fault finder or a gift giver.
- Everything in the law points to something greater. Everything in the temple points to something greater. That something is a someone. It’s Jesus.
- Your vertical relationship will be impeded by dysfunctional horizontal relationships.
- The minor prophets repeatedly condemn God’s people for participating in ceremonial worship gatherings while oppressing their fellow man (Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:6-8, Amos 5:18-24)
- Interestingly, in healing the man with a withered hand, Jesus didn’t do any work. He told the man to do the work.
- In order to be healed, the man had to actively and visibly oppose the Pharisees and obey Jesus.
- Sometimes, obedience precedes healing.
- The law, properly understood, always reflects God’s care for people and will never instruct us to not love and care for our fellow man.
- Imagine desiring to kill someone because they healed a person!
- Be careful where your rage and anger take you. Beware of personal feuds that blind you to wisdom.
- In the middle of the chapter, Matthew references Isaiah’s prophecy which spoke to the Messiah’s work on behalf of Gentiles. In this chapter, we are seeing the Jewish leader’s rejection of Jesus.
- The people’s trajectory of understanding Jesus is radically different than the Pharisees. At one moment, they ask if He is the Messiah and the Pharisees are convinced He is from Satan.
- An interesting observation is (that when speaking about others) it is always wiser to ask a question than make a proclamation, especially when the proclamation is accusatory.
- Satan is the master of chaos and disunity, but his forces are unified in their hatred for God.
- Beware of those who would seek unity in their ambition against a shared enemy.
- In His response to the Pharisees, Jesus answers the question of the people… The Kingdom has come.
- When a demon is cast out, the first question is, “who is being bound?” Therefore, who is the strong man and who is being plundered.
- A corollary is to realize that Satan seeks to plunder our lives by binding us with the cares of this world!
- The Pharisees had so hardened their hearts at this time, they were beyond repentance. They had become Pharaoh of the New Testament.
- Jesus viewed Jonah as a historical character. If Jesus did, we should.
- Ninevah and the Queen of the South are further hints at Jesus’ coming salvation of Gentiles. What binds them together is their repentance when confronted by the truth. They had a lesser testimony than Jesus and still they repented.
- In their rejection of Jesus, the Pharisees had become seven times more guilty.
- In all of these conversations, what emerges is a litmus test for our relationship with Jesus. Do we accept Him as God and Lord or do we try to explain away what He has done? Naturalism is the enemy of faith.
- Often the people we think should truly understand Jesus are the ones who can’t actually grasp who He is.
- All the knowledge in the world (the Law, the Family) cannot save you.
- Don’t be distracted by all the excitement of this chapter. Demon-posession, unforgiveable sins, debate about the law are all issues, but what is really at stake is: Will you do the will of God?
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