Matthew 12
Yesterday, we looked at the Pharisees challenge to Jesus’ legitimacy. Today we’ll look at the challenges to His Spirit and Wisdom and to His relationship.
2. Jesus had His spirit and wisdom challenged for the Pharisees did not understand how God was bringing His Kingdom reign. The Kingdom of God has its governmental structure and its advancing requires a power-wrestling. This is done by the Holy Spirit, which is why Jesus admonished that we are not to fight against what the Holy Spirit is doing.
“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.” (Mt 12:30-32)
To be part of what God is doing requires absolute obedience on our part. However, the Spirit does not enslave us, He liberates us, enables us, teaches us wisdom, a wisdom unto eternal life, better than that of Solomon’s. We desperately need such wisdom. (Heb 12:25-27)
3. It might be shocking to know that Jesus turned away His own mother and brothers when they came looking for Him. He loved and honored them dearly, but He placed the emphasis in His life on the spiritual and not upon the natural. We see here in v.48-50 that Kingdom relationship take priority in Jesus’ life and His teachings over those in the natural.
“But 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! 50″For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.” (Mt 12:48-50)
I wish I could say that this is always the case in my life. How often are your relationships ruled with an understanding towards what is happening in the spiritual between you and this other person? As we mature, our thoughts should be ruled by these truths over anything happening in the natural. The natural including those aspects of our relationship swayed by emotions, similarities/differences, or behavioral patterns (ours or theirs).
Thanks for coming by. What else would you add to this discussion?
Photo credit: One Man Gang