"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
Chapter Twelve
Opposition to Jesus and His ministry increased, spear-headed by
Pharisees who objected to Jesus’ conduct on the Sabbath (1-14). Jesus
humbly sought privacy, which fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy concerning
God’s Chosen Servant (15-21), but Pharisees followed Him making
blasphemous accusations against the Spirit and demanded a sign (22-45).
When Jesus’ physical family wanted to see Him, Jesus identified His
disciples as His true family (46-50).
POINTS TO PONDER
* Jesus and the Sabbath day
* The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
* The true family of God
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Controversies over the Sabbath - Mt 12:1-14
- The humility of the Chosen Servant - Mt 12:15-21
- Blasphemous opposition by the Pharisees - Mt 12:22-45
- Jesus’ true family - Mt 12:46-50
2) What were Jesus’ disciples doing that angered the Pharisees? (1-2)
- Plucking heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath day
3) What was Jesus doing that angered the Pharisees? (9-14)
- Healing on the Sabbath day
4) What prophecy did Jesus fulfill warning people not to make Him known?
(17-21)
- That He would not quarrel or cry out (Isa 42:1-4)
5) How did the Pharisees explain Jesus’ ability to cast out demons? (24)
- He did it by the power of Beelzebub, ruler of the demons
6) What was the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? (31-32)
- Attributing Jesus’ ability to cast out demons to having an unclean
spirit (cf. Mk 3:30)
7) For what will one give an account in the day of judgment? (36-37)
- Every idle word
8) What sign did Jesus say He would give to the Pharisees? (38-40)
- The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of
the earth
9) Who did Jesus identify as His true family? (49-50)
- His disciples, i.e., whoever does the will of His Father in heaven