My Mother And Brothers

Matthew 12:43-50 (NKJV)

A Spiritual Vacuum (43-45)

The Lord Jesus Christ likened the wicked generation of His day to a man who had been delivered from an unclean spirit.

The man had a new start and the 'house' of his life was in order.

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The spirit found seven other spirits more wicked than himself and they returned to enter the man making his last state worse than ever.

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The Jews had been privileged to hear from John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ.

But a religious interest was not good enough.

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Many aim to live out the ideals of Christ's teaching.

But a form of morality without repentance and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to save from sin falls far short of what God requires.

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A spiritual vacuum in our lives may lead to a form of reformation or taking up of religion which lacks transformation through the power of our risen Lord!

We must be born again if we are to see and enter the kingdom of God.

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My Mother and My Brothers (46-50)

The mother and brothers of the Lord Jesus Christ came to speak to Him.

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The Lord Jesus Christ indicated that His disciples were His "mother and brothers".

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He was not despising His mother and brothers.

He was teaching that a spiritual relationship to Him was far more important than natural relationships.

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Those who do the will of God are those who belong to Him!

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Do we seek to please God?

Do we do His will?

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Be encouraged that however weak our faith, we are precious to the Lord Jesus Christ.

He will lead us and bless us throughout our lives.

And He will reward us in heaven.

An Evil And Adulterous Generation

Matthew 12:38-42 (NKJV)

The scribes and Pharisees were so blinded by their tradition, and so hardened in their unbelief, that they refused to accept the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ described them as 'an evil and adulterous generation'.

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Why did the Lord Jesus Christ use this term to describe them?

Their religion was a sham and a cloak for wickedness.

They came to Him appearing to be so polite.

But their request for a sign was perverse and wicked.

They had seen many miracles.

But when they were unable to speak against the evidence, they accused the Lord Jesus Christ of being in league with the devil.

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The Lord Jesus Christ responded to their request by saying that 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign'.

In calling them 'adulterous,' the Lord Jesus Christ was indicating that they were unfaithful to the God they professed to serve.

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Many professing Christians are addicted to seeking after signs and wonders.

This is not an evidence of faith, but of weakness and immaturity.

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Jesus did promise a sign - that of the prophet Jonah.

Jesus was here prophesying of His own resurrection from the dead.

But even that failed to convince His enemies.

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The heathen of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah who performed no miracles.

The Queen of Sheba had traveled far to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

They would be called to witness against the scribes and Pharisees on the day of judgment because a greater than Jonah or Solomon was among them, but they rejected Him!

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Many unbelievers pretend to have intellectual difficulties in believing in the gospel, but the problem is not one of intellect, but of a sinful heart.

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:19).

There are none as blind and stubborn as those who refuse to see!

Beware Of Foolish Or Idle Talk

Matthew 12:33-37 (NIV)

The Lord Jesus Christ knew the thoughts of the Pharisees.

And He again warned them concerning their wicked words.

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Our words reveal the state of our hearts.

Just as a tree is known by its fruit, our spiritual state is revealed by the words that come from our lips.

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Evil words are the natural product of an evil heart.

The evil man brings forth evil things from his evil treasury.

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Let us be sure that we are like the good man who brings out good things from his good treasury.

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Our words are important.

The Lord Jesus Christ warned that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

We must beware of foolish or idle talk.

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The Lord Jesus Christ knows every word that we utter and all will be recalled on the day of judgment.

Let us take great care and think before we speak.

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Before speaking about others, we should ask ourselves, "Is it true?", "Is it kind?", "Is it necessary?" etc.

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Coarse joking and filthy talk should be unthinkable for any Christian.

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If we don't bridle our tongues, we will be ashamed on the day of judgment.

Blaspheming The Holy Spirit

Matthew 12:22-32

The Lord Jesus Christ delivered and healed a man who was demon-possessed, blind and mute.

The crowds were amazed, wondering whether He could be the promised Messiah.

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The Pharisees reacted to this by saying that the Lord Jesus Christ cast out demons by the power of Satan.

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The Lord Jesus Christ responded to this by showing that such an accusation was foolish.

Satan cannot cast out Satan!

Just as a kingdom or a house divided against itself cannot stand, Satan would be powerless if he was divided against himself.

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The Lord Jesus Christ is stronger than the devil.

He has bound him, to plunder his house and to bring deliverance to the captives.

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The Lord Jesus Christ gave a very stern warning:

If you are not with Him, you are against Him.

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We may feel satisfied that we are not as bad as many other people.

But the crucial issue is the way we respond to the claims of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Those who persist in opposing the Lord Jesus Christ or in rejecting Him, refusing to repent of their sin are in danger of blaspheming the Spirit.

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What is blasphemy?

It is to slander, to defame, to speak evil of someone or something that is good.

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There will come a time when the Holy Spirit will no longer strive with them.

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God will give them up to their own sin.

Their heart will become hardened, so that they will never repent.

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The blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men (Matthew 12:31).

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Some very sensitive Chrstians endure much misery and torment wondering whether or not they have blasphemed the Holy Spirit.

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The person who has blasphemed the Holy Spirit is not troubled in such a way.

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When a person is worried or anxious about committing the unpardonable sin, it is extremely unlikely that he or she is guilty of such a thing,

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If we are troubled about this question, let us come to the Lord Jesus Christ and commit our cause to Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ is kind and just.

He will give us rest for our soul.