The Kingdom Has Come Upon You

July 9, 2023 Background Scripture: Matthew 12:1 - 32 Lesson Passage: Matthew 12:22 - 32 Jesus demonstrated beyond doubt that He was sent by God. Even one of the Pharisees, Nicodemus, admitted privately that they knew that no man could do what Jesus did except God is with him. The Pharisees were part of an elite group that was the most learned of all Jews. In other words, they knew the history of the Jews, and were familiar with the holy writings that included the prophets. Many miracles Jesus performed were like those performed by the Jewish prophets of old. They absolutely knew what God had done through His prophets in the past. They should have had few, if any, problems accepting Jesus as a servant of God. However, I do appreciate the difficulty of jumping from believing God is with a person to believing the person truly is God in human flesh. In the Background Scripture of our lesson, the Pharisees seemed to be looking for opportunities to criticize Jesus and His works. Although they knew Jesus' works gave them plenty of proof of His affiliation with God. They accused Jesus of being used by the devil to cast out demonic spirits. A recurring theme of their criticism of Jesus was the actions of Jesus and His followers on the Sabbath day. Clearly, they saw themselves as the Sabbath police. Jesus' disciples pulled grain from the field and ate it because they were hungry on the Sabbath. Jesus healed a man's withered hand on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees considered both actions to be violations of the Divine Law concerning a person's behavior on the Sabbath. As a result of those actions, they were more determined to destroy Jesus; so, they developed a plot to do it. Jesus withdrew from around them to thwart their plans. Jesus was not looking for a confrontation with the Jewish leaders; on the contrary, He avoided it. Later, someone brought a demon-possessed person who was blind and mute to Jesus. Jesus healed him. The people in the crowds who witnessed it questioned whether Jesus was indeed the Son of David. That was one way the Jews referred to the Messiah. The Pharisees heard about the healing and attacked Jesus' work as being the work of the ruler of the demons. Jesus pointed out how unreasonable their conclusion was. Internal divisions destroy unity. Whether the unity involves kingdoms, cities, or houses. Also, some of the Pharisees' followers cast out demonic spirits and they readily accepted it as being of God. Their criticism was unequally applied, or inconsistent. Jesus reaffirmed that His presence brought the kingdom of God near those around Him. They were witnessing the very presence of the kingdom of God, and they didn't know it. They were criticizing that which was sent for their benefit. Then Jesus made a very humble statement that carried a stern warning. Anyone who attacks Jesus verbally or rejects Him will be forgiven for having done so. In fact, every sin will be forgiven when a person repents and turns to God. This reflected Jesus' humility among the Pharisees. But He also gave a very stern warning. Anyone who rejects the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. How is that so? It is only through the conviction brought by the Holy Spirit that one can be drawn to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and the receiving of salvation. If one rejects that conviction, there is no other way provided by God whereby we can be drawn to Jesus and saved. Even after this world is destroyed, the only way to be saved is to be convicted by the Holy Spirit, turn to Jesus, and be saved by God. This will not change in this world or the next. We should learn to recognize and appreciate the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit is evidence that the kingdom of God has come upon us. Robert C. Hudson June 29, 2023