• escalating opposition to Jesus and His ministry (12:1-50)
• followed by fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (15-21), charge of blasphemy against the Spirit (22-32), certainty of judgment (32-37) and sign of Jonah (38-42)
• The Sabbath and the Pharisees

• action of the disciples (Deut. 23:25) and objection of Pharisees (Ex. 34:21)
• Jesus cites the examples of David (1 Sam. 21:1-9) and temple priests (Lev. 24:8-9)
• argument from lesser to greater and prophetic reference (Hos. 6:6)
• significance of “Son of Man” designation

• a shriveled hand in the synagogue on the same day
• Pharisaical inquiry for the purpose of accusation and the counter-question of Jesus
• another argument from lesser to greater
• response to kindness: conspiring rather than rejoicing

• Knowing the superiority of Jesus over every individual and institution, recognize His authority and relay His mercy.
• “Legalism is always nailing a sign to the cross that says ‘necessary, but not enough.’”
• “Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here; sin would reduce me to utter despair; But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive, And He that first made me still keeps me alive.” (Stocker, “Thy Mercy My God”)

• Jesus as promised Messiah (11:1-19)
• John the Baptist and his question from prison (11:2-3)
• Jesus affirms His identity and the role of John the Baptist (11:4-15)
• John the Baptist and Jesus: both encounter opposition from the religious establishment (11:12)

• this generation: general and specific identification
• like children and their playmates
• proposal/refusal pattern: joy and mourning

• John the Baptist: separation from sin
• Jesus: association with sinners
• personification and vindication of wisdom

• Respond to the authority of Jesus by avoiding sin decisively and associating with sinners joyfully.
• Repent and rejoice. Mourn over your sin and magnify God’s grace to the sinner.
• Why you should delight in the designation “friend of sinners:”
• “Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a Friend! Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end.” (Chapman, “Jesus, What a Friend for Sinners”)

• previously: the transcendent authority and transforming compassion of Jesus
• a repeated refrain to the called and sent disciples: fear not (26, 28, 31)
• Because of the Lord’s comprehensive control and care, live confidently in every circumstance.

• contextual connection to 10:24-25 and do not fear: the truth will prevail
• clear contrasts: covered/revealed, hidden/known, whispered/proclaimed
• anticipation of complete transparency

• do not fear: they can only kill you
• cultivation of the proper fear: holy reverence and spiritual comfort (Acts 9:31)

• two sparrows for a penny: intensity
• numbered hairs: intimacy
• do not fear: the Lord values you

• before men
• choosing death over denial

• Jesus refuses to disguise or minimize the cost of following Him.
• His eye really is on the sparrow!
• “Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still; His kingdom is forever.” (Luther, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”)

• previously: authority over creation, the spiritual realm, disease, sin
• from transcendent authority to transforming compassion

• the initiative of Jesus
• the occupation of Matthew
• the invitation of Jesus and the immediate response
• the “rest of the story” with Matthew (Mark 2:13-17)

• significance of “tax collectors and sinners”
• reclined at table…

• the Pharisees question the disciples of Jesus (Psa. 1)
• the reality: connection between the physician and the sick
• the rebuke: misunderstanding of sin, the law and the prophets
• the remedy: go and learn (Hosea 6:6)

• Because Jesus is the Great Physician, rely on His cure and reflect His character.
• a word for recovering Pharisees: “We atone for sins that we are inclined to by damning those we have no mind for.”
• “Christ is the most tender-hearted Physician. He hath ended His passion but not His compassion. He is not more full of skill than sympathy. ‘He healed the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds’ (Psalm 147:3). Every groan of the patient goes to the heart of the Physician.” (T. Watson)
• “The great Physician now is near, the sympathizing Jesus…” (W. Hunter, “The Great Physician”)

• after healing two men with demons (8:28-34) and calming the storm (8:23-27)
• from Gadara back to Capernaum and its implications (9:1)
• from words of life (5-7) to deeds of power (8-9)

• some people brought the man to Him
• Jesus sees and says

• the scribes accuse Him of blasphemy (Lev. 24:16, Isa. 43:25)
• divine discernment and thoughtful interrogation

• purpose: that you may know
• rise…and he rose
• immediate cure and the impact of unprecedented authority

• If Jesus says you’re forgiven, you are.
• putting a finger on the pulse of the real problem
• “The degree to which you see your own need for forgiveness is the measure of how clearly you understand the gospel.” (S. Ferguson)
• “My sin, o the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul.” (H. Spafford, “It Is Well with My Soul”)

• conclusion of Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7): story of two hearers/builders
• immediate context: fruit inspection (15-20) and more than words (21-23)

• pattern of life marked by submission to teachings of Jesus
• present and future perspectives
• rock: safety/security and connection to “these words of mine”
• rain, floods, winds: no collapse

• pattern of life marked by lack of submission to teachings of Jesus (James 1:22)
• present and future perspectives
• sand: unstable/fragile and connection to “these words of mine”
• rain, floods, winds: catastrophic collapse

• high Christology (1 Cor. 3:11-15)
• contrast to other teaching sources
• storms of life? (Psa. 119:165)

• Since Jesus is the ultimate authority and determiner of your destiny, hear and do what he says.
• “…to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled…” (“How Firm a Foundation,” R. Keen)

• Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7): Serving God rules out serving money (6:19-24).
• A repeated command and a key reminder: Assured of God’s care, pursue His kingdom and conquer anxiety.

• the “world’s trinity of cares”:
• look at the birds…(food)
• consider the lilies…(clothing)
• the ineffectiveness of anxiety

• a Gentile obsession
• The Father’s knowledge
• antidote: a prioritized pursuit
• kingdom and righteousness

• facing your future
• tomorrow “personified”
• what we’re not promised

• Seize present privileges and remember that He who creates is He who sustains.

• connection to Isa. 60
• a focus on discipleship following the beatitudes (5:1-12)

• emphatic declaration of identity
• distinctive features: preservation and purification
• assessment of “unsalty” salt
• objective: permeation

• derived and not generated
• inevitable visibility
• objective: illumination

• good work as evidence of internal transformation
• behavior beyond human terms
• between promise and fulfillment

• Because your obedience glorifies God, live distinctively and visibly as a transformed disciple.
• Reject both cultural isolation and cultural assimilation.
• Doxological living: lives that function like a great hymn
• “Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Savior come, and leap ye lame for joy.” (“O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” Wesley)
• “So, our hearts and voices raising through the ages long, ceaselessly upon You gazing, this shall be our song: Yours the glory and the crown, the high renown, the eternal name.” (“Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning,” Saward)

• a focus on the coming anointed conqueror (59:14-63:6)
• a conflation of advents

• summons to “walk” in the light
• subjective experience with an objective basis
• addressing a national and global need
• magnetizing manifestation of glory

• a gathering not hindered by distance or frailty
• a thrilling and enriching processional
• from begrudging enemies to glad tributaries

• Magi in Matt. 2:1-12
• Simeon in Lk. 2:25-32
• Jesus in Jn. 8:12
• Paul in Rom. 13:11-4
• John in Rev. 21:23-26

• Because Jesus Himself is the arrival of prophesied light, cherish His presence and treasure His promises.
• “There I find an experience fully God-centered, asking of God no gift more urgently than His presence, the gift of Himself, joyous to the highest degree, and unmistakably real.” (C. S. Lewis in Reflections on the Psalms)
• “And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love; for that Child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heav’n above, and He leads His children on to the place where He is gone.” (“Once in Royal David’s City,” F. Alexander)

• shift from condemnation to consolation
• a focus on the advent of the Warrior Shepherd

• a lifting of voice
• a prohibition of fear
• a God to behold

• look at the verbs
• a Sovereign who rules mightily
• a Shepherd who sustains tenderly

• pardoned iniquity
• revealed glory
• enduring word
• sole Creator and Controller

• Considering Scripture’s absolute accuracy and enduring character, magnify its message of consolation this Christmas.
• Connections to NT and Christ: Matt. 9:36, Jn. 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20
• “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” (“O Holy Night” J. Dwight)
• “Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed, but yet in love He sought me; and on His shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.” (“The King of Love My Shepherd Is” H.W. Baker)