A faith in Jesus that became stronger
Jesus’ work made people think and act. Now some people could understand him more. But other people did not believe him at all.
There was a contrast in Matthew 12:11-12. There were two ideas. They were next to each other. First, there was faith in Jesus. Second, there was a lack of belief in him. The most important part came in Matthew 12:22–37. This explained what ordinary people thought about Jesus. (This is in Matthew 12:22–23.) Then there was the reaction of the Pharisees. (This was in Matthew 12:24–27.)
The Jews could force evil spirits to leave people (Matthew 12:27). But it was clear that Jesus had great authority. The evil spirits left the man completely. They also left him immediately. This explained the reaction of the people. Jesus had healed so many of them.
It made them think about what the OT taught. Perhaps they remembered Isaiah 35:5. Things like this would happen when God established his kingdom. The Jews expected the son of the great King David to rule God’s kingdom. This was right. Ezekiel also spoke about this time. (Read Ezekiel 35:23 and 37:25.)
Jesus forced evil spirits to go out of the man. The people saw the way that he did this. ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ they asked (Matthew 12:23). Their understanding of Jesus began to increase. But they still doubted. They had ideas about what the Son of David would be like. They had learned these ideas from their childhood.
A terrible blasphemy
(Blasphemy is evil things that a person may say about God or about holy things. He or she is showing a total lack of respect for God.) Read Matthew 12:24–37. The Pharisees did not want to change any of their ideas. They wanted to keep their own system of religion. They had just seen a wonderful miracle. There must be an explanation for it. They decided that the miracle was not from God. So, it must be from Satan (the devil). What a terrible ‘blasphemy’ this was (Matthew 12:24).
Jesus replied to the Pharisees. He made 5 points:
• It was a stupid claim against him. (Read Matthew 12:25–26.)
• One part did not agree with another part (Matthew 12:27)
• It confused people about the truth. (Read Matthew 12:28–30.)
• God would not forgive it. (Read Matthew 12:31–32.)
• It showed how wicked they were. (Read Matthew 12:33–37.)
► Jesus showed the Pharisees how stupid their claim was (Matthew 12:24). They were suggesting that Satan (the devil) would oppose Satan. Jesus said that that would be silly. If Satan opposed himself, he would be destroying his own work. (Read Matthew 12:25–26.)
► Part of the Pharisees’ claim did not agree with another part. The Jews forced evil spirits to go out of people. The Jews claimed that this was God’s work. Jesus also forced evil spirits to go out of people. But he showed greater power than the Jews showed. But the Jews said that he was using Satan’s power. So, they were saying that Satan’s power was greater than God’s power!
► Jesus explained that he has power over Satan. (Read Matthew 12:28–30.) So, he had answered the people’s question that was in Matthew 12:23. He was establishing God’s kingdom (Matthew 12:28). Jesus could have been thinking about Genesis 3:15. The devil had tempted Adam and Eve. They, and all people who came after them, had sinned. But God made a promise. One day, someone would come. He would be from Adam’s family. He would defeat the devil. Jesus was that person. Men and women must recognise this fact. They could refuse to accept him. Then they would be the enemies of Jesus and of God (Matthew 12:30).
► God could not forgive the Pharisees’ attitude. (Read Matthew 12:31–32.) They were not just speaking against Jesus. The Spirit of God was working in Jesus. So they were speaking against God’s Spirit too. God would forgive the sin against Jesus. Jesus did not declare clearly who he really was. So this could be why they did not understand. Here, the Holy Spirit was working in a way that everybody could see. So the Pharisees had no excuse for their sin.
► Jesus showed the reason for the Pharisees’ attitude. (Read Matthew 12:33–37.) It was because they were wicked.
This section has two important lessons. The first is for those who come to Jesus. They must want to know more about him. Then, he will help them to understand more about his work. They will know more about him too. The next lesson is about those who refuse to come to Jesus. They do not want to obey him. The reasons why they do not believe in him are silly. (Humans usually think that they are clever reasons!) The evidence is clear. They just refuse to believe it.
Questions
- Every day we should learn more about Jesus. How can we make sure that we do this?
- Some people think that they have done the terrible sin. (See below.) They think that God cannot forgive it. So, they are afraid. How should we help these people?
- People today often refuse the Good News about Jesus. How does this passage help to explain their attitude?
Important truths
The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
Note: Blasphemy is evil things that a person may say about God or about holy things. He or she is showing a total lack of respect for God.
Some Christians get very worried. Perhaps they have done this terrible sin. So, let us think about what this ‘blasphemy against the Holy Spirit’ is. William Hendriksen described it well. He said:
The Holy Spirit was achieving great things. He was doing these things by Christ. But the Pharisees said that it was Satan who was doing them. The Pharisees chose to have this attitude. All the evidence showed that it must be God’s work. But they refused to change their opinion. They said that Jesus forced out evil spirits by the devil’s power.
Their sin was getting worse too. (Compare Matthew 9:11 and 12:2, 4.) A sinner may want God to forgive him or her. But he or she must be really sorry first. (Read Mark 3:28 and Luke 12:10.) These Pharisees were not sorry about their sin at all. Instead, their attitude became more strongly against God. Instead of confessing their sin, they made plots against Jesus. So, they condemned themselves. They refused God’s way to forgive them. So, God could not forgive them.
God can forgive a thief or a murderer. God can forgive someone who has sex with a married person. These people may hear the message of the gospel (Good News). They may say, ‘God, have mercy on me. I am a sinner.’ (Read Luke 18:13.)
But a man may decide something. He will not take any notice of the Holy Spirit’s advice. He will never listen when the Holy Spirit appeals to him. He will ignore the Holy Spirit when he warns him. This man has chosen a way of life that will bring him to hell. (Read 1 John 5:16.) Note: ‘man’ or ‘he’ refers to male and female.
However, a person may really repent. His or her sin may have been terrible. But there is no need for despair. (Read Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 1:18; 44:22; 55:6, 7; Micah 7:18–20 and 1 John 1:9.)
This does not mean that we can be careless. We might think that this sin has nothing to do with us. We might think that it could not apply to most members of the church. But the blasphemy against the Spirit does not happen suddenly. It happens slowly. Perhaps you make the Holy Spirit sad. (Read Ephesians 4:30.) This happens when you do not repent. (Note: Christians must repent every time that they sin.) If we do not repent, then we will work against the Holy Spirit. (Read Acts 7:51.) We may continue to do this. If we do, we will stop the Holy Spirit’s work. (Read 1 Thessalonians 5:19.)
The real solution is in Psalm 95:7–8.
(W. Hendriksen ~ the Gospel of Matthew ~ Banner of Truth, 1974 ~ page 575 ~ an EasyEnglish translation).
Note: Psalm 95:7–8 says: ‘Listen today to what God says. Do not refuse to obey me as your ancestors did.’ Hebrews 3:7–8 repeats these words. (Note: Ancestors are family members who died long ago.)
