Matthew 12 - Something Greater Is Here

#### Summary -

1. **Lord of the Sabbath v.1-8, 9-14**

- \* Sabbath - commanded day of rest on Saturdays

- Something greater than the temple is here

- Mercy, not sacrifice.

- Lawful to do good on the Sabbath v.9-14

- **True Rest is found in the Lord of the Sabbath**

2. **The Gentle Servant v.15-21**

- who brings justice to the nations/gentiles

3. **Christ casts out demons by the Spirit of God v.22-32**

- Pharisees accuse him of casting demons by Satan's power.

- Christ answer:

1. Kingdom divided can't stand

2. If by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

3. can't plunder a house unless you deal with the strongman... casting out demons is about removing the bodyguard

-

You are either with me, or against me.

\***Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit** - to speak evil of or to slander the Holy Spirit.

- Wayne Grudem and Louis Berkhof here:

- Berkhof - "This sin consists in the conscious, malicious, and willful rejection and slander, against evidence and conviction, of the testimony of the Holy Spirit respecting the grace of God in Christ, attributing it out of hatred and enmity to the Prince of Darkness..."

- Grudem adds that basically if you're *afraid* that you've committed this sin yet feel *sad* in your heart and a *desire* to seek after God, you haven't committed it.^[1]

- Words Reveal the Heart v.33-36

4. **The Sign of Jonah to this evil generation v.33-45**

- evil generation

- Sign of Jonah -

- Something greater is here than Jonah, or Solomon - Gentiles repented, but that generation is calling Jesus' Satanic.

#### Truth - Christ is Greater Revelation of God

- Lord of the Sabbath - Rest is found in Him,

- Gentle Servant prophesied to bring justice to the Gentiles

- He is greater than the temple, Jonah, greater than Solomon.

- Sign of Jonah to an evil Generation - he would be buried three days/nights in the earth.

- The Spirit of God brings the Kingdom of God upon the human heart.

### Application - Kingdom Battle for the Human Heart

- [ ] Christ is drawing a line in the sand.

- [ ] Receive Christ as Lord, the Son of David, the Servant of God - the Kingdom of God is coming into your heart by the Holy Spirit.

- [ ] To harden your heart and reject Him is to bring judgment - it is to embrace Satan's Kingdom.

Read from:

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®)

© 2001 by Crossway,

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