Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 9 JULY 2023
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 12

Subject: The Doctrine of the Sabbath

9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue.
10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.
11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?
12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.
14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

Matthew 12:9-14

1. Historical context

a) From the grainfield

b) To a synagogue

2. The Lord Jesus was there at the local synagogue

a) To worship and fellowship

b) To teach the Word of God

A MAN WITH A WITHERED HAND

1. Does he need help?

2. Could he be healed?

3. Could the healing take place on the Sabbath?

4. This was the question the Pharisees would raise up publicly

THE QUESTION OF THE PHARISEES

1. “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” Matthew 12:10

2. They were not looking for an answer

3. They had already determined what that answer was

4. If the Lord Jesus were to give a different answer, they would use what He said against Him

THE PROFOUND ANSWER OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?
12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Matthew 12:11-12

1. He raised up 2 questions for the Pharisees and all who were there

a) If a sheep were to fall into a pit on a Sabbath, would they rescue it?

i) The answer was obvious

ii) The sheep would be rescued

iii) The sheep was of economic value

b) Is a man of even greater value than a sheep?

The answer is an obvious “Yes!”

2. It is lawful to rescue a sheep even on the Sabbath

3. It is also lawful to do good on the Sabbath

4. It is good and lawful to heal the man with a withered hand

THE HEALING OF THE MAN WITH THE WITHERED HAND

Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.

Matthew 12:13

1. The Lord Jesus spoke to the man

“Stretch out your hand.”

Matthew 12:13

2. The man’s hand was restored instantly

3. We can only imagine how grateful and happy the man must have felt

THE RESPONSE OF THE PHARISEES

1. How did they feel?

a) Angry

b) Humiliated

c) Frustrated

d) Helpless

2. They could not reply to the Lord Jesus

a) There were no suitable answers to His questions

b) They refused to admit they were wrong

3. What they did next

a) They left

b) They were going to plot against the Lord Jesus

c) They would try and kill Him if they could!

CONCLUSION

1. Watch the heart!

a) The Pharisees were considered “religious”

b) But their hearts were filled with anger and bitterness!

2. Root of Bitterness

a) This was the real issue

b) Not the Sabbath issue

3. Text on the problem of the root of bitterness

Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.

Hebrews 12:15