Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 30 JULY 2023
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 12

Subject: A special word of warning

31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:31-37

1. Teaching about Sin in the Old Testament

a) Unintentional sin Numbers 15:22-29

i) Atonement may be made

ii) Sin was committed out of ignorance

b) Presumptuous sin Numbers 15:30:31

i) No atonement was considered

ii) The nature of wilful presumptuous sin is most serious

c) All sins must be taken seriously

2. Teaching about Sin in the New Testament

a) They may be committed against Man Matthew 12:31
All sins may be forgiven

b) They may be committed against God the Holy Spirit

This is under the category of presumptuous sin

c) This sin is “unpardonable” Matthew 12:32

3. A strong rebuke against the Pharisees

a) They were compared to trees

i) Good

ii) Bad

b) They were further compared to vipers

i) They were called a “brood of vipers” by John Matthew 3:7

ii) They were called in the same way by the Lord Matthew 12:34

A CANDID LOOK AT THE HEART OF THE PHARISEES

1. The heart affects the behaviour of a person

2. A good heart will result in good words/ actions

3. But an evil heart would result in the following things

a) Their heart was evil

b) They could not speak good things

c) They spoke evil things

d) Their words would be judged

i) Idle words would be judged

ii) Evil words would be similarly judged too

iii) Their words would lead to condemnation

WHY WAS THERE SUCH A STERN WORD GIVEN?

1. The Pharisees were suggesting that the Lord Jesus was in league with Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24)

2. The Person and the Power of the Holy Spirit were derided by the Pharisees

3. This sin was:

a) Presumptuous

b) Perverse

c) Pre-meditated

4. This sin problem had to be specially highlighted!