What You Say When You See

What You Say When You See

Matthew 12:22-37

Illus. Not on this side!

Throughout Matthew thus far we have seen Jesus’ person revealed, principles given, power displayed, and His people sent out. In Matthew 12 the picture
of was becoming clear that Jesus was the Messiah, and the Pharisees did not like what they were seeing. It is here that we see the Pharisees resigned
to the rejection of Jesus, on the heels of Jesus challenging their manmade rules in healing a man on their sabbath, the Pharisees commit their way
and begin conspire as to how they might destroy Him (Mt. 12:14).

Matthew 4:16, The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, and those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.

As His light came upon a dark world, the ways in which the world was functioning were brought into illumination. The picture was coming into full view,
who Jesus was and what He was not, that He came to save eternally, not temporarily. The picture was coming into full view as the pieces were being
put together, but it was not the portrait, picture, or plan that the Pharisees had in mind. In the light of what they saw, there were many things they
began to say.

Their words would indicate their course and way and, their “no” regarding Jesus would continue to grow, and in these verses, Jesus makes clear that there
is no grey, their words would be weighed as they here make the heaviest of statements against Jesus.

Read: Matthew 12:22-37

The light had dawned, Jesus had come and all would need to make a choice regarding Jesus…What would they say, now that they see?

This is an important question for you as well, what do you say when you see? When His light dawns in the areas of your life that brings about illumination
and a call for change in the places you would rather persist in, the habits you would prefer to hold onto, the ways you rather walk in. What you say
when you see Jesus in full view, means everything.

I.Carefully Consider Your Conclusions

Matthew 12:23-24, All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

• The large crowds following Him were amazed, filled with wonder, questioning who this might be.

• “Son of David” was one of many scriptural titles for the Messiah (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Ps. 89:3; Isaiah 9:6-7).

• Jesus was not what they were expecting, but, His power was indicative of the promised King.

Isaiah 35:5-6, Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. 

• The people knew that miracles would be proof signs of the Messiah; but they also expected fanfare and military might…Jesus had come to conquer
  sin and death permanently, not the political and social problems they were facing presently.

• Regarding the inquisition as to whether this could be the Savior, not only did the Pharisees responded with a resounding “no,” they suggested that
  He was the exact opposite, a servant of satan.

• Upon knowing what the Pharisees had said, Jesus comes to address their accusation and highlight the heaviness of their words.

In verses 25-29, Jesus encourages them to carefully consider their conclusion by breaking down the facts surrounding the situation.

• First, He reminds them that a house divided will not stand. If satan casts out satan, he is divided against himself. That is not the way warfare works….
  satan is not going to free up those he already has bound.

John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

• Second, their accusation was hypocritical. They were suggesting that those who cast out demons were in cahoots with Satan…How
  else would they be able to release someone from that oppression?

• The problem with their statement was that they themselves would send out people who professed to cast out demons.

• It would have been a sure sign to them of God’s power if any other were to cast out a demon, yet they accused Jesus of using evil powers to cast out
  evil. Jesus highlighted their hypocrisy.

• Then He pointed them toward the proper conclusion…He cast out demons by the Spirit of God, and the kingdom of God had come
  upon them.

• His kingdom is the realm of His rule in any place or age…

• The Pharisees knew the Scriptures and surely understood the signs that would accompany the Messiahs coming, the blind would see, the lame would walk,
  the mute would shout for joy (Is. 35:5-6).

• In order to bind up satan, a stronger man would need to be present, and Jesus was that stronger man.

• Jesus was breaking down the Pharisees statement because it was imperative that they carefully considered their conclusion.

Illus. Faith in something.

• There are many conclusions that we can come to in various areas. In those conclusions, it is important we heed Jesus words.

• They had come to wrong conclusion and the evidence was evident…But they would not hear, nor were they willing to see.

• In your life, it is imperative that you carefully consider your conclusion regarding Jesus. That you are certain about what you say when you see Him…Your
  response means everything.

1. Don’t be found on neutral ground

Matthew 12:30, He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

• Jesus removes any illusions about neutral ground regarding Him or His work. He is essentially saying, “you’re either with me, or against me.”

• It is impossible to know about Christ and remain neutral, Jesus is making sure that those in the neutral zone know that no ground is gained in neutral.

Illus. If you’re not sure…

Illus. Separating North Vietnam from South during more than a decade of battle was the demilitarized zone, a no man’s land, burned over and barren. A war zone, where one would wanted if they were stuck in the middle.

• Jesus is telling the Pharisees that no such area exists in the Spiritual war that is being waged.

C. S. Lewis wrote: You must make your choice.

• For the Pharisees, a most important choice is being circled here, their choice as it relates to Jesus.

• In 2 Corinthians 6:2, Paul says today is the day of salvation, Joshua says Joshua 24:15, choose this day whom you will serve.

1. What you say indicates your way

• Though Jesus had come to make a way, though His heart was one of forgiveness; the Pharisees “no,” would only grow. They were determined in their defiance
  and disbelieve in Jesus and the power of the Spirit at work in Him.

• Jesus had heard them, loud and clear. They continued to sneer rather than draw near, ears unwilling to hear, hard hearted and decisions clear.

1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 103:12, As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.

• No matter the severity of sin, God can forgive it…Father forgive them (Luke 23:34)

• No matter the volume, no matter the kind, He forgives.

Matthew 12:31, Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

• Jesus talks about blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, which is seeing the work of the Holy Spirit, knowing fully that it is the work of God, and being so
  hard of heart, to ascribe the power of the Holy Spirit to satan.

• If you have the slightest concern that you may have committed the unpardonable sin, it is evidence that you have not.

• In Genesis 6:3, God says, “My Spirit will not always strive, or wrestle, with man.” We know that there is a day when people can become so
  hard hearted, so convinced, that their defiant decision toward Jesus will stand.

• It is more than a formula of words, but rather a settled disposition in life that rejects the testimony of the Holy Spirit regarding Jesus, fully and
  finally.

John 15:26, When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me.

• It is the state of continued unbelief. The Holy Spirit currently convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgement (John 16:8) …To
  resist that conviction and willfully remain unrepentant is the “blaspheme” the Spirit.

Matthew 12:34, For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

• 2 Peter 3:9, The Lord does not wish that any should perish but for all to come to repentance.

Illus. It’s just not the way it went.

John 3:1-2, Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

• Nicodemus, and it seems other Pharisees as well, could see… Giving further evidence that the group Jesus is speaking to, were blinded because they
  were unwilling to see.

• The Pharisees knew the truth and had the proof. Yet, they rejected Him defiantly.

• What was in their heart was made evident by their words…And that is true for you and I today.

• Perhaps you know the way in your life, but you are stuck in the gray, or determined toward your own way, would you choose Him today?

What you say, when you see means everything. 

Matthew 12:22-37

Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. All the crowds were amazed,
and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul
the ruler of the demons.” And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided
against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out
demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom
of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then
he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy
shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. Whoever 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. “Either make the tree good
and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak
what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings
out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of
judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”