Matthew 11 n 12

Let's do a short review of what we have learnt from Matt 1-10:

Matt : 1-2 we learnt about Jesus, the Promised King

Matt : 3-4, the Kingdom preached. bearing fruit in keeping with repentance.

Matt : 5-7, the Fulfiler of the laws of the Kingdom

Matt : 8-9, authority of the Kingdom

Matt : 10, Jesus sending His disciples out to preach the Kingdom with His authority.

Matt 11-12 tells us Jesus' authority was challenged by those who have seen His miracles and works thus far.

1) His authority is clarified

John the Baptist was put into the prison for preaching repentance and the Kingdom. While in there, he heard of Jesus' ministry and was a bit confused so he sent men to ask Jesus if He was the "Expected One"? John initiated Jesus' ministry with His baptism at the river Jordan. His understanding of the King was one who will bring the Kingdom and judgment.

Jesus answered him in v. 5, "the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.", fulfilling Isa 35:5-10. The Expected One will bring healing, restoration, reversal of diseases, making all things new, bringing His Kingdom.

2) His authority is defined

In Matt 11: 25-27 Jesus praised GOD for His sovereignty over all things. He testified of who GOD is to Him and He to GOD - "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one know the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." GOD has given Jesus all things and authority. Dan 7:9-14 describes the throne scene where the "...Son of Man was given dominion, glory and a Kingdom... His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away and His Kingdom is one which will not be destroyed."

3) His authority is defended

In Matt 10 : 22 Jesus exercised His authority by sending out His disciples and warning them of the persecutions, oppositions, rejections, etc they will face but in v. 26, 28, 31 He told them not to fear all these. The day of Judgment will come on this "evil and adulterous generation" who saw the power of GOD in and through Jesus yet, still asked for a sign, rejected Him and did not repent.

In Matt 12 we see the hidden agenda of the Pharisees for stirring up and asking questions about the Sabbath in V. 10 ".... so that they might accuse Him." V. 14 "But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him." Why the Sabbath? Because in the OT days, the Jews were weighed down heavily by their laws plus "additional" ones imposed by the religious leaders and the penalty of committing some to them can cost their lives. Unfortunately their hearts are so hardened that they do not see and hear what Jesus has said in Matt 5:17 that He did not come to abolish the Law or the prophets but to fulfil them."

Jesus knows every heart. He always knows how to answer the religious leaders with so much wisdom and sometimes with humor too. In His reply to the Pharisees whether it is lawful to work on the Sabbath, He quoted examples of OT King David and the Priests in the temple (whom the Pharisees respect) and told them that :

1) Something greater than the temple is here. (v. 6)

2) He desire compassion and not a sacrifice.(v. 7)

3) The Son of Man is the LORD of the Sabbath (v. 8)

4) Something greater than Jonah is here (v.41)

5) Something greater than Solomon is here (v. 42)
Matt 12:30-32 Jesus talks about those who oppose Him "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with me scatters." The context of this opposition begun in v. 24 when the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by the ruler of demons.

Jesus said to the Pharisees that "Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come." Huh? What is this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Well, remember Peter who denied Jesus three times, Saul (Paul) who persecuted the Christians before he encountered Jesus and accepted Jesus as His personal Saviour? These two sinned against Jesus but after they repented, Jesus forgave them. John 1:9.

What is unforgivable is the sin of rejection, non-repentance and unbelief. Heb 3:7-11 tells us of how the Israelites provoked GOD, hardened their hearts after seeing what GOD did for them for 40 years in the wilderness - aways going astray in their hearts and did not know GOD's ways, thus GOD said "they shall not enter My rest (the promised land)." Paul said in Heb 3:12-19 " "take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the Living GOD.... that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin... disobedient....unbelief."

Finally, Jesus, being Who He is, gave the below invitation:

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11: 28-30. Here, Jesus is extending the invitation to all who are weary, heavy-laden with the laws of the OT and the Pharisees. Believe this invitation is extended also to those who have yet to know Jesus and who are seeking rest from this world of ours; full of stress, burdens, etc.

Is your burden heavy as you bear it all alone?

Does the road you travel harbour danger yet unknown?

Are you growing weary in the struggle of it all?

Jesus will help you when on His name you call.

Refrain:
He is always there hearing every prayer, faithful and true.

Walking by our side in His love we hide all the day through.

When you get discouraged just remember what to do,

Reach out to Jesus He's reaching out to you.

Is the life you're living filled with sorrow and despair?

Does the future press you with it's worry and it's care?

Are you tired and friendless, have you almost lost your way?

Jesus will help you, just come to Him today.