Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19960707.htm

MATTHEW: JESUS AS ISRAEL'S MESSIAH AND HIS MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Part IX: Christ's Messianic Kingdom Certified
F. Messiah's Predicted Withdrawal From Conflict Fulfilled In Jesus
1. Christ's Peace-loving Example Of Circumventing Unnecessary Conflict With The Pharisees
(Matthew 12:9-21)
  1. Introduction
    1. The Christian life can be marked by strong opposition and relationship pressures, for Paul noted that all who live uprightly in Christ shall suffer persecution, cf. 2 Timothy 3:12.
    2. The believer is challenged by God to respond as constructively as is possible to persecution by doing good to those who misuse us and striving if at all possible to live peaceably with them, Rom. 12:18-21.
    3. An excellent example of living graciously and circumventing unnecessary conflict with opponents, and just WHY we should do so is given to us in Matthew 12:9-21 through Jesus' example:
  2. Christ's Peace-loving Example Of Circumventing Unnecessary Conflict With The Pharisees.
    1. When it was a Sabbath day, Jesus entered a synagogue for worship as was expected, Mtt. 12:9.
    2. However, the Pharisees had undoubtedly counted on Jesus being there, and so had planted a lame man in the synagogue to try and entrap Jesus so they could accuse Him of sin and discredit His ministry:
      1. Knowing that Jesus would enter their synagogue since He was in the area and it was a Sabbath day, the Pharisees had planted a lame man in the synagogue, hoping to entrap Jesus, B.K.C., N.T., p. 45; 12:10.
      2. What they were hoping to do was to catch Jesus in a "no-win" situation of healing the lame man out of compassion for which He was known and violating their legalistic rules against healing on the Sabbath.
    3. Jesus responded by using simple logic to dispel the legalistic rules of the Pharisees and heal the man, 11ff:
      1. He responded to the question about healing the man on the Sabbath by asking if the Pharisees themselves wouldn't work on the Sabbath to pull a sheep out of a pit, Mtt. 12:11.
      2. Then Jesus asked if a lame man was worth more than a sheep as grounds for helping him like the Pharisees would help a sheep in a pit on the Sabbath day, Mtt. 12:12.
      3. The Pharisees were stumped at this, and thus were unable to criticize Jesus when He went ahead and healed the lame man in accord with His compassion, Mtt. 12:13.
    4. Humiliated and thus incensed at this public loss of face, the Pharisees took counsel to kill Jesus, Mtt. 12:14. Christ's REACTION to this anger exemplifies for us handling ungodly opposition:
      1. Jesus geographically distanced Himself from the incenses Pharisees, moving out of town, Mtt. 12:14-15.
      2. Jesus continued showing compassion on the needy around Him, not stopping His ministry, 12:15b.
      3. When he healed them, He charged the healed ones not to make it known lest His help further incense the Pharisees and bring out further conflicts, Mtt. 12:15b-16.
        1. The continued healings by Jesus could have been construed by the Pharisees to be His effort to further exasperate them following the healing of the lame man in that had embarrassed them.
        2. Thus, He healed more people out of compassion, but showed concern about not inciting further anger from His opponents by charging the healed ones to be silent about it, Mtt. 12:16.
      4. Jesus fulfilled Scripture about Messiah's Peace-loving example in this response to this crisis, 12:17-21:
        1. Matthew says that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy in this peace-loving activity, Mtt. 12:17.
        2. Namely, Jesus did three things to retain as much peace as possible: (a) First, He didn't make a big negative scene that wrought people's anger up as a troublemaker, Mtt. 12:19. He chose to placate the wrath of His opponents by diffusing encounters with them; (b) Second, He would still help the oppressed, the bruised ree ds and smoking flax, but in an unthreatening manner Mtt. 12:20a. (c) Third, this way He would continue with God's work until it was time to deal in judgment with the oppressors in setting up His kingdom, Mtt. 12:20b. (d) Fourth, the reason for this peace-loving activity was to give time for an outreach to the Gentiles in the Church era, Mtt. 12:18,21.
Lesson: Like Jesus did, we are to (a) avoid unecessarily inciting anti-Christian passions by withdrawing from conflicts with godless opposers as much as is possible while (b) always ministering to the oppressed (c) until God's timing for us t o do otherwise as dictated by the will of God! (d) This way, we remain credible and thus effective tools in discipling more people for Christ!