286. Exposition of Matthew 12:38-50

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Transcript of Matthew 12:38-49

 

Introduction

 

1.     The Demand for a Sign:  12:38

³⁸ Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”  ³⁹ He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.

Jesus makes a judgment on that generation.  They were demanding a “sign from heaven” (Luke 11:16) in addition to the miracles he had been doing.  Their request wasn’t based on faith but unbelief.  If they aren’t convinced by now, what miracle can persuade them?  Their motive wasn’t to confirm their faith but for some other reason.  Jesus goes on to shame them with two examples of faithful responses by gentiles.  First, the Ninevites who responded to Jonah’s preaching and then the Queen of the South who traveled so far to listen to Soloman’s wisdom.  Jesus says that something greater than Jonah and Soloman is here.  Along with his previous reference that something greater than the temple is here, there are three things he is building his authority on.  The temple includes the priesthood, Jonah is representative of the prophets and Solomon represents the monarchy.  These were the pillars of Israel’ nation and history.  Jesus is greater than the temple and priesthood, the prophets and the kings or monarchy.  Even non-Jews responded to these lesser people and now someone far greater is here and people won’t respond.

Some of us are waiting on God to give us a custom sign that we should follow him.  We want a “sign from heaven.”  We downplay, discount or disregard the miracles he has already done in our life:

·        Life itself

·        The blessings he has poured into our life

·        The “coincidences” and minor miracles he has already done

·        The Word of God that reveals God’s will for us

·        The people God has put in our life at the right time

·        The times God has rescued us from disaster or from ourselves.

We ignore all of these and ask God to do something more.  What that is, we are often not sure.  But it keeps us waiting and allows us to make no decision for God.  Jesus says this behavior is that of a wicked and adulterous generation.  Like an unfaithful wife or husband, you are always looking for something or someone else to make you happy.  What’s it going to take for Jesus to persuade you? 

I studied the Bible with a student at Stanford University.  He seemed to be waiting for something.  Finally, I told him I ran out of scriptures.  There was no point in still meeting together.  That shook him up and he got baptized shortly afterwards.

 

2.    Wandering Spirits:  12:43-45

⁴³ “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

This story points out the danger of repentance without relationship.  When you drive out an evil spirit, you must replace it with a good spirit.  Repentance without Jesus leaves a vacuum.  Many in that generation had repented at the preaching of John the Baptist, but they needed to replace that old sin with the presence of Jesus and discipleship to him.  The Jews had come back from exile and had driven out idolatry.  But when Jesus came along, they didn’t let him in.  They didn’t fill that empty house with someone greater than their old sin and demons. 

If you aren’t positively for Jesus, you may end up against him.  You may have recently become a Christian.  You believed the gospel, turned away from sin and got your sins forgiven in baptism.  That’s awesome!  However, you need to fill your heart and mind with Jesus and love for him.  Because if you don’t, those old sins and demons will come back stronger than before.

As a young Christian, I was struggling with pride and impurity.  A minister showed me this scripture and said I was focused on the wrong thing.  I was focused on “not sinning.”  I need to focus on loving Jesus.  That was great advice and when I grew in my love, it forced out the demons that were knocking on my door.

I want to talk to you young Christians.  Now that you’ve turned from your old life, it’s time to add to your repentance a growing love for Jesus.  You need to:

·        Read the Bible all the time, crave it

·        Pray

·        Fast

·        Spend time with disciples

·        Sing songs, listen to spiritual songs

·        Love the fellowship

·        Serve in the church

What’s the goal?  Do things that fill your heart with a greater love for Jesus.  If you are just “white knuckling” it, trying to say no to old sin, you will have a hard time staying faithful to God.  Why?  You haven’t replaced the sin and demons that were in your life with good things and the fruit of the spirit, things like love, joy, peace patience, goodness and self-control (2 Peter 1). 

Jacob is a good example of this.  He is engaged in the fellowship and devoted to growing.

When you see people baptized and then after a short period of time they are gone, you realize that a clean and empty heart is a vacuum that attracts evil to return in even greater measure.

 

3.    Physical and Spiritual Family:  12:46-50

⁴⁶ While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”  ⁴⁸ He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus puts into practice his teaching  (10:37) that you need to love God more than your family.  His physical family didn’t believe him until later.  They had come to take charge of him because they thought he was out of his mind. 

Jesus explicitly points out what it takes to be part of his family.  It takes practical obedience.  “Whoever does the will of my father” is the same phrasing he uses back in Matthew 7:21 when he defines those who will be allowed into heaven.  Just saying “Lord, Lord” won’t do it.  Obedience will.  If you want to be part of royalty, you have to be born into it.  But if you want to be part of God’s family, something greater by far, you join it by practical obedience.  Your actions or deeds determine the quality of your relationship with God.  Obedience is what brings us together as a spiritual family.

It was fantastic to join a Young Professionals gathering yesterday morning.  This group of guys is getting stronger and stronger.  Their bond is found in their relationship with God.  They are spiritual brothers. 

 

Next Steps

·        Stop waiting for a “sign from heaven.”  Believe, repent and get baptized

·        Do at least one thing or habit this week that increases your love for Jesus

·        Devote yourself to your spiritual family, get connected to Jesus’ family