Thursday, December 18, 2014

Matthew 12:38-50


 Matthew 12:38-50


Mat 12:38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." Mat 12:39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; Mat 12:40 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The audacity of the scribes and Pharisees in requesting a sign. They needed a sign. They just witnessed a man’s hand being restored and demons cast out. What level of sign would they need in order to believe? They did acknowledge he was a teacher but I wonder how it was said. Jesus also announced to them that he would be sacrifice for our sins. They, of course, did not figure that out until after Jesus was raised from the dead. I wonder if any of the scribes and Pharisees accepted Jesus after that.

Mat 12:41The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Mat 12:42The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
All of these people referred to also did not accept Christ and will be condemned. In Jonah case the pagans repented when they heard Jonah. The Jewish population did not accept the teachings of Jonah.

Mat 12:43Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Mat 12:44Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Mat 12:45Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."

Please read Revelation 3: 15-16. These verses make it clear that procrastination of accepting Jesus or following Jesus by name only and not applying the teachings he will spew you out of his mouth. These verses have always made me hope that I was up to God’s expectations. Without Jesus the answer is no you have not lived up to it. With Jesus and doing your best to abide by his laws you will make it.

3. (Mat_12:43-45) The dangerous consequences of their rejection of Jesus.“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” From the Guzik commentary

Mat 12:46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. Mat 12:47 Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." Mat 12:48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" Mat 12:49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! Mat 12:50For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."

All I can say to these last verses is Thank you and AMEN.
Note: the black letters in the red that are just single words are put in by the writer of the Bible I am using in order to make it read more readable.

Agape

Dave

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