What Jesus Did

Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn't speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. The crowd was amazed and asked, "Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?"

—Matthew 12:22-23 NLT

Key Thought​

Isn't it amazing how the common everyday folks were so much better at recognizing Jesus than all the religious leaders? What's going on here? Of course we know: It's old human pride and selfishness rearing their ugly...

 

[Continuing Isaiah's prophecy about Jesus:]

"He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public.
He will not crush the weakest reed
or put out a flickering candle.
Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.
And his name will be the hope
of all the world."

—Matthew 12:19-21 NLT

Key Thought​

While being strong and mighty, Jesus could also be loving and tender. His role was to be our sacrifice — a sin offering that, by the shedding of his blood, frees us of...

 

[Jesus healed many and then warned those he healed not to reveal who he was.] This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him:

"Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen.
He is my Beloved, who pleases me.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not fight or shout
or raise his voice in public."

—Matthew 12:17-19 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus is clearly living out of a sense of mission and calling. He is doing the Father's will...

 

But Jesus knew [that the Pharisees were plotting to kill him]. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them, but he warned them not to reveal who he was.

—Matthew 12:15-16 NLT

Key Thought​

With the growing criticism of Jesus and hostility toward him by the religious elite, Jesus begins to withdraw more and spend more time revealing himself and his identity only to the disciples. He doesn't want to be perceived as merely a "miracle maker"...

 

Then [Jesus] said to the man [with the deformed hand], "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

—Matthew 12:13-14 NLT

Key Thought​

Isn't it astonishing how a good deed can bring about such an evil reaction?! In this event, Jesus heals a man with a deformed hand resulting in the Pharisees' murderous rage. The problem is not Jesus' action, of course, but the hearts...

 

[When the Pharisees asked Jesus if a person could work by healing on the Sabbath,] he answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you work to pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."

—Matthew 12:11-12 NLT

Key Thought​

Any day set aside to honor God and to bring rest to his people must recognize the holy worship in blessing others. To rest on...

 

Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?" (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

—Matthew 12:9-10 NLT

Key Thought​

Isn't it amazing how distorted our perspective can become when we are motivated by hatred and opposition?! Jesus goes to a synagogue to worship. This is totally unsurprising. Jesus' habit was...

 

[Talking to the Pharisees after they condemned his disciples for gathering and eating grain on the Sabbath, Jesus continued:] "For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!"

—Matthew 12:8 NLT

Key Thought​

For the Jewish people, there was not more important symbol of identity than the Sabbath. Rules, laws, traditions, and respect grew up around the original law concerning the Sabbath and encrusted it with layers of a combination of inconsequential, restrictive, and harmful...

 

[Talking to the Pharisees, Jesus continued:] "But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.'"

—Matthew 12:7 NLT

Key Thought​

Legalism stresses rules and crushes people. Jesus' greatest condemnations were for those who adhered to rules and law-keeping constructs while ignoring the demands of the law that are close to the heart of God. Our goal as disciples is to be faithful to...

 

Jesus said to [the Pharisees who accused him of allowing his disciples to break the law by working on the Sabbath], "Haven't you read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God, and he and his companions broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath? I tell you, there is one here who...