1. The One and Only Matthew 12:15-32
Logos Bible Fellowship
6/27/07

2. Today’s Passage The One and Only… …Chosen Servant (vv.15-21)
…Son of David (vv.22-29)
…Unforgivable Sin (vv.30-32)

3. Context of the Passage
The Pharisees anger on the Sabbath over grain (vv.1-2)
Jesus’ defense and claims to be: (1) Greater than the temple; (2) Lord of the Sabbath (vv.3-8)
Pharisees anger over Jesus healing on the Sabbath and plot to kill Him (vv.9-14)

4. The Chosen Servant (vv.15-21)
Jesus’ response to the Pharisees plot to kill Him:
He withdrew from that place (v.15)
Healed all people but warning the healed not to tell who He was (v.16)
Why would Jesus flee?
See John 18:2-11; Matt. 26:52-54
See John 2:4; 7:6,8,30; 8:20

5. The Chosen Servant (vv.15-21)
This is a watershed moment in Christ’s ministry, marking:
Rejection by the leaders
End of straightforward public teaching (turning point in Matthew 11:27ff)
Matthew’s Isaiah 42:1-4 quotation:
Longest OT quotation in Matthew
1st of four suffering servant prophesies
Evidence of Biblical inspiration – v.17 says “spoken through Isaiah”

6. The Chosen Servant (vv.15-21)
The Messiah of Isaiah 42:1-4:
Brings justice to earth (v.18)
Is quiet and humble (v.19)
Has compassion on the weak (v.20)
Brings salvation to the Gentiles (v.21)
The Jews wanted a Messiah who would drive out the Romans and establish a Jewish state

7. The Chosen Servant (vv.15-21)
“Verses 18–21 are quoted from Isaiah 42:1–4, to demonstrate that (contrary to the typical first-century rabbinical expectations) the Messiah would not arrive with political agendas, military campaigns, and great fanfare, but with gentleness and meekness—declaring righteousness even “to the Gentiles.”
John MacArthur

8. The Son of David (vv.22-29)
In Matt. 9:34, the Pharisees accused Christ of casting out demons by Satan
In v.24, they accuse Him again because:
Jesus performed another exorcism (v.22)
The common people began to think that He was the Messiah (v.23)
Pharisees were most likely afraid to losing hold on the people (cf John 11:48-50)

9. The Son of David (vv.22-29) Summary of Jesus teaching:
Exorcising demons by demonic power indicates Satan fighting against himself and dividing his kingdom
If demons are not driven out by Satan then they must be driven out by God
If Christ drove out demons by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God has come
If the kingdom has come because Christ has come, then He must be the Messiah
Verse 29 is a summary indicating that Christ is stronger than Satan

10. The Unforgivable Sin (vv.30-32)
You cannot be neutral toward Jesus (v.30) – the king has come and we must submit to His rule
Neutrality is impossible
Whoever is not for Him, opposes Him
Jesus always demands a decision
He requires deliberate submission
He calls us to deny ourselves

11. The Unforgivable Sin (vv.30-32)
The context gives the meaning
It does not indicate that the Son is less that the Spirit
Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is attributing God’s work to Satan
Blaspheming Christ is the rejection of the gospel in ignorance (1 Tim 1:13)
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is the deliberate rejection of that which you know to be of God (c.f. Heb 10:26-31)

12. The Unforgivable Sin (vv.30-32)
“In this historical context, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit denotes the conscious and deliberate rejection of the saving power and grace of God released through Jesus' work and act…If a person curses Jesus, but does not really know who Jesus is, that sin is forgivable. But if the Holy Spirit has borne witness to a person that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, and that person curses Him, it cannot be forgiven.”
Tabletalk, July 12, 1990

13. Group Study
Jesus fled, because His time had not yet come. In what ways has God’s timing come into play your life?
What are some ways we can show compassion to the weak this week?
Is has been said that the legislation of morality won’t work, because a society can only be changed one heart at a time? Do you agree or disagree and why?
Does anyone you know think that neutrality toward Christ is ok? Does anyone act that way? How can we witness these people?
What can you deduce about a person who fears that he has committed the unforgivable sin?