Daily Bible Reading (Tuesday, January 16th)

17

Matthew 12 (ESV)

 

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

A Man with a Withered Hand

He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

God's Chosen Servant

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21     and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers[a]stood outside, asking to speak to him.[b] 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 12:46 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 4849
  2. Matthew 12:46 Some manuscripts insert verse 47Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak to you”

17 Comments

Theme Summary: The fate of that generation will be worse than before Jesus came, for when the Kingdom had come upon them bringing someone greater than the Temple and its rest, David and his rule, Jonah and his sign, and Solomon and his wisdom, they rejected Jesus out of the evil of their hearts. Jesus promises the kingdom will be extended to the gentiles and that only whoever does the will of his Father in Heaven are his true family.

Arturo - that would not be correct. There is one God consisting of 3 distinct persons - the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. So the Son of Man is not the Spirit.

Actually, the Son of Man is the Holy Spirit Dee. So speaking a word against Him will be forgiven...3 in one, remember....

Verse 32 says that whoever speaks a word against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. I know the Holy Spirit is God, and I love to speak to him in prayer and praise, and I remember the season in which He saved me.

Verse34--Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. I definitely want to think about my words and the best way, time, and place to say things, but I must deal with my heart. Ultimately that is the source of my words. I can't harbor unkind thoughts, evil motives, or ungodly attitudes in my heart and not expect them to come out in my words. I must be quick to repent of these sins, nip it in the bud, before it manifests itself in my words and I have an even bigger mess to clean up. Praise the Lord that He cleanses us from sin, and revives our hearts, giving us His desires. Praise the Lord for His Word than can transform our thinking and renew our minds.

When reading about the Pharisees, it's easy for me to be judgmental and even look down on them. However, as I've been reading through the gospels again, I've seen the Lord working in my heart and turning my judgment to compassion. The Pharisees were unbelievers lost in their sin just like I was... With out the grace of God in my life I'd be just like them. I pray God will use this compassion to motivate me even more to reach those around me who are lost in darkness.

I'm on v.35-37 as well. The tongue, (the keyboard? Or touchscreen?) Surely this will include every careless word written as well. Thinking on how to be precise and concise with words in conversation. To be a grace to the hearers. Thankful that Christ has covered my sin, and seeking to be sanctified and made useful.

I’d like to key in on vv. 33-37 and pray through that today. As I reflect on what is in my heart I am reminded of my need for the Holt Spirit to continually produce heart change in my life.
God help me think carefully before I speak so that my words may honor you. I pray for my heart and words to align with your will so that I may be used to bring fourth good fruit. Amen!

Thank u Jesus!

Jesus, who is Lord over all, demonstrates His great mercy in so many ways in this passage. It is easy to be religious and uncaring and judgmental, but the Lord shows care and concern for those who would be considered outsiders. I am thankful that the Lord reached out to me, an outsider, and made me a part of His family!

49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” - This passage is so so wonderful to me. As a person with no saved people in her immediate family, it is such a wonderful reminder and comfort to know that I have a family that loves me, right here in Believers Fellowship! A wonderful loving family that would do anything for me when I am in need, and that I can serve and love fully in the same way! What a generous and loving father to bring his children together and care for them in this way! Thank you BF family for loving me!! and thank you Lord, for giving me a family here on earth that will be together for eternity.

"Who is my mother and who are my brothers/" Jesus tells us that those who do the will of the Father are his brothers. What a privilege to be called Jesus' brother if we're committed to do the will of the father!

Thankful that the Holy Spririt has taken up residence in my heart and not left it "swept, and in order" for the enemy. Praying that He will help me to seek to produce good fruit in all situations and circumstances.

Vs. 20-21. I’m a Gentile, and my only hope is in The Lord Jesus Christ! One day this will all be over when He brings justice to victory—perfect justice!

Wow to verse 50...

Focused on verses 22-32

Let him who has ears to hear let him hear Father. For I am listening and you know all thoughts. Help me to help the lost children of Your people. Amen.

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