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January 4, 2004
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January 4, 2004 - Matthew 12.22-32
Open It
Why are people prone to criticize those who are popular or successful?
Why do you think our mouth frequently gets us in trouble?
How would you be affected if someone followed you around and taped all your conversations?
Explore It
What kind of man did Jesus heal? (12:22)
How did the onlookers respond? (12:23)
What kind of reaction did the Pharisees have to the miracle Christ did? (12:24)
How did Jesus show the Pharisee's argument to be illogical? (12:25-26)
What did Jesus say to show the significance of his ability to drive out demons? (12:28)
What rationale did Jesus give for casting out demons? (12:29)
What criteria did Jesus give for determining who supported and opposed Him? (12:30)
What did Jesus discuss with the Pharisees? (12:31-32)
What did Jesus say a tree's "fruit" reveals? (12:33)
What did Jesus claim a person's words reveal? (12:34-35)
What will every single person do on the day of judgment? (12:36-37)
Get It
What is it that convinced you that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world?
How does it make you feel to know that Jesus knows every thought you have?
What are some ways you see Satan at work in the world today?
How do you see the kingdom of God overcoming the evil one?
What evidence could others cite that you are in fact a follower of Jesus Christ?
Apply It
What are some specific steps you can take this week to avoid sinning in your speech?
What can you begin doing today to develop a pure heart so that your life produces better fruit?
Matthew 12:24, The Pharisees had already accused Jesus of being in league with the prince of demons (Matthew 9:34). They were trying to discredit him by using an emotional argument. Refusing to believe that Jesus came from God, they said he was in league with Satan. Jesus easily exposed the foolishness of their argument.
Matthew 12:29, At Jesus' birth, Satan's power and control were disrupted. In the desert Jesus overcame the devil's temptations, and at the resurrection he defeated Satan's ultimate weapon, death. Eventually Satan will be constrained forever (Revelation 20:10), and evil will no longer pervade the earth.
Matthew 12:30, It is impossible to be neutral about Christ. Anyone who is not actively following him has chosen to reject him. Any person who tries to remain neutral in the struggle of good against evil is choosing to be separated from God, who alone is good. To refuse to follow Christ is to choose to be on Satan's team.
Matthew 12:31-32, The Pharisees had blasphemed against the Spirit by attributing the power by which Christ did miracles to Satan (Matthew 12:24) instead of the Holy Spirit. The unpardonable sin is the deliberate refusal to acknowledge God's power in Christ. It indicates a deliberate and irreversible hardness of heart. Sometimes believers worry that they have accidently committed this unforgivable sin. But only those who have turned their backs on God and rejected all faith have any need to worry. Jesus said they can't be forgiven-not because their sin is worse than any other, but because they will never ask for forgiveness. Whoever rejects the prompting of the Holy Spirit removes himself or herself from the only force that can lead him or her to repentance and restoration to God.
Matthew 12:34-36, Jesus reminds us that what we say reveals what is in our hearts. What kinds of words come from your mouth? That is an indication of what your heart is really like. You can't solve your heart problem, however, just by cleaning up your speech. You must allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with new attitudes and motives; then your speech will be cleansed at its source.
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January 4, 2004
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