Matthew 12 - The Sign of Jonah

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Matthew 12:38-40.

Despite all the miracles, signs, and wonders performed by Jesus, the Pharisees and scribes of Israel could not believe He was Messiah, but instead asked for a sign. Jesus called them evil and adulterous for asking for additional proof, because as God's covenant partner (Israel was considered God's wife), they of all people should've had eyes to see and ears to hear. The only sign they would be given was the sign of Jonah, who was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights.

I'm sure the prophet Jonah had no idea that his life was a prophetic metaphor for the coming savior, and yet it was. Jesus declared that as Jonah was in the whale's belly, He, the son of man, would likewise be three days and nights in the belly of the earth, meaning the tomb. But then after that time, He would be resurrected and would preach the Word to Israel and the world, just as Jonah was spit forth from the whale's mouth and preached repentance to Nineveh!

So many of us have been taught that Jesus died on a Friday, was in the tomb on Saturday, and then was raised up on Sunday. For years I had wondered how Jesus could've been in the belly of the earth for three days and three nights if He died in accordance with this time line. Fortunately, after some research and digging into the truth, I discovered what many have come to believe, that He in fact died on  Passover of 30 AD, which is a Wednesday, making the Scripture absolutely true!

Matthew 12 - Blaspheming the Holy Spirit

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against theHoly Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Matthew 12:31-32. 

When the Pharisees saw how Jesus delivered all the multitudes from demonic diseases and afflictions, they attributed this power and authority to Beelzebub, a demonic entity. Of course, this defied logic, because even Satan understands that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus declared that these signs and wonders were evidence that the Kingdom of God has come to Israel AND that Satan, who was the god of that world system, had been bound. Jesus and his disciples were spoiling the strong man's house, right and left!

One would think that the leaders of Israel would be rejoicing at this wonderful work of God, but instead, they hardened their hearts all the more. Jesus warned them of the coming judgment; those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit would not be forgiven. How does one blaspheme the Spirit of God? By rejecting what the Spirit offers: the salvation of Jesus Christ!

We who are born again in Him know that we have been forgiven of all sins, past, present, and future. We can never blaspheme the Holy Spirit, since we are new creations in Christ Jesus. Our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and we are completely forgiven! That is very good news!

Matthew 12 - Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. Matthew 12: 6-8.

After rebuking the cities in Israel for not believing in Him, Jesus gives a spiritual explanation of faith, relaying that no one can truly know the Father unless He is revealed by Jesus. And in order for Jesus to reveal the Father to anyone, that person must first come to Jesus and desire the yoke that He offers, one that is easy and burden-free.

Unfortunately, as in the first century, many people in our day do not desire what Jesus has to offer. Simply put, knowing the heavenly Father requires coming to Jesus as a little child and believing what He has to say! This is easier said than done for many people.

In Chapter 12, Jesus seemingly violates the Sabbath by picking grain from the corn fields to feed His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they accused Him of violating the law, as this was considered work. Jesus replied that good works should always be done on the Sabbath; just as one would rescue his or her sheep that had fallen into a pit or well on the Sabbath, God rescues His sheep (mankind) from the pit of sin and despair on the Sabbath. In fact, believing in Jesus is honoring the Sabbath, because when one is born again IN HIM, that person has entered into the Lord's Sabbath--the place of rest where one ceases trying to please God through works but instead rests on what Jesus has done on the cross.

Doing good on the Sabbath is not a violation of God's law--God has always desired mercy more than sacrifice. This was demonstrated in the Old Covenant when David took the shewbread from the Holy Place, which he was not allowed to do under the law, and fed it to his men. Likewise, the Levitical priests were constantly working on the Sabbath, having to fulfill their temple duties, and yet they were not considered to be in violation of the law. Do you see how religion is blind to the true meaning behind God's Word?

To demonstrate that He was superior to the temple system, Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath. The Pharisees responded by seeking to kill Him, not giving praise to God for His goodness in sending Messiah as He had promised through the prophets. They loved their law more than they did the mercy and loving kindness of God.

That is the calling card of religion: mean, condemning, merciless, cold, harsh, and hard. God never has had anything to do with man's religion.