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In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ Second Tour of Galilee July 26, 2009. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info. Ministering Women. Luke 8:1-3
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In The Footsteps Of The Master:The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Jesus’ Second Tour of Galilee July 26, 2009 www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Ministering Women • Luke 8:1-3 • “1Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Financial Support • These women were supporting the work of Jesus and his disciples from their own pockets • Mary Magdalene • Joanna the wife of Chuza • Susanna • Just in case you needed scriptural authorization to financially support the Lord’s work • These women were supporting Jesus Himself www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Healing a Possessed Man • Matthew 12:22-27 • 22Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. 23All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” 24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • What was the crowd wondering? • Could this man really be the Messiah? • Powerful, but no political ambitions • This miracle could not be denied • A blind and mute man suddenly was able to see and speak • Matthew focuses on healing, but from the response it’s obvious that exorcism was key • What is the Pharisees’ response? • They can’t dispute the miraculous event • So they resort to character assassination www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Jesus Rebukes the Pharisees • Matthew 12:25-29 • 25And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26“If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27“If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29“Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • Jesus dismisses the Pharisee’s argument as almost silly • He argues that it is counter-productive and destructive for any institution to wage war against itself • The demoniac kingdom is no different • There were apparently others who were casting out demons • “Your sons” • See Mark 9:38, Acts 19:13-14 • Yet the Pharisees attribute Jesus’ power to Beelzebul www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
On The Flip Side • However, if Jesus casts out demons by the power of God, then the Pharisees are playing with fire • The Kingdom of God is here and you are maligning and speaking against it • You are attributing to Satan those things that are the action of the Spirit of God • The Pharisees have stepped beyond grumbling about Jesus’ claims and have become blasphemous themselves www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Unpardonable Sin • Matthew 12:30-32 • 30“He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 31Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • Compare v. 30 with Mark 9:38-40 • 38John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” 39But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me. 40For he who is not against us is for us.” • Both passages exclude a middle ground • Only “for us” or “against us” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Blasphemy • Blasphemy against the Son of Man will (can) be forgiven • Blasphemy against the Spirit of God WILL NOT be forgiven in the current age or in the age to come • Jesus is accusing the Pharisees of blasphemy against the Spirit of God, which He goes on to say is THE unpardonable sin www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Words Expose Character • Matthew 12:33-37 • 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. 34You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. 36But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • The Pharisees’ words have exposed the true content of their hearts • They are willing to blaspheme the Spirit of God in order to discredit Jesus and His Message ... ultimately the Message from God Himself • Note Jesus’ emphasis on words in this passage • “How can you ... speak good?” • “Mouth ... speaks from the heart” • “By your words you are condemned” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Demand for a Sign • Matthew 12:38-40 • 38Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” 39But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • Why would the Pharisees ask for a sign? • Jesus has just cast out a demon and healed a man in their view • Yet they assign the power in that miracle to Beelzebul • What are they looking for? • Why does Jesus refuse and offer only a reference to his future death? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Judgment • Matthew 12:41-42 • 41“The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42TheQueen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • What point is Jesus making by His reference to the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba • Both of them acknowledged and responded to the truth • The Pharisees are doing neither • Therefore they will be judged by those who did acknowledge the Truth of God www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
This Generation • Matthew 12:43-45 • 43“Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • Jesus uses this event to further teach • The demoniac spirit is only at home in a human host • So after being cast out, it wanders for a period, then determines it best to go back, taking other demons with it • Such is the danger of eliminating sin from our lives without replacing it with discipleship • Something must fill the void www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Jesus’ Family • Matthew 12:46-50 • 46While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.” 48But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”49And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
For Discussion • Why would Jesus dismiss his own family in such a way? • His priorities are with his disciples • Matthew 10:37 • 37“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” • Worthy to note that the Spirit had told Mary from the outset that a “sword would pierce her soul” • Each of her interactions with Jesus is painful www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info
Next Week • No Earthly Idea Questions? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info