"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

Chapter Twelve

Opposition to Jesus and His ministry increased, spear-headed by Pharisees who objected to Jesus' conduct on the Sabbath (1-14). Jesus humbly sought privacy, which fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy concerning God's Chosen Servant (15-21), but Pharisees followed Him making blasphemous accusations against the Spirit and demanded a sign (22-45). When Jesus' physical family wanted to see Him, Jesus identified His disciples as His true family (46-50).

POINTS TO PONDER

• Jesus and the Sabbath day
• The blasphemy of the Holy Spirit
• The true family of God

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Controversies over the Sabbath - Mt 12:1-14
   - The humility of the Chosen Servant - Mt 12:15-21
   - Blasphemous opposition by the Pharisees - Mt 12:22-45
   - Jesus' true family - Mt 12:46-50
2. What were Jesus' disciples doing that angered the Pharisees? (1-2)
   - Plucking heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath day
3. What was Jesus doing that angered the Pharisees? (9-14)
   - Healing on the Sabbath day
4. What prophecy did Jesus fulfill warning people not to make Him known? (17-21)
   - That He would not quarrel or cry out (Isa 42:1-4)
5. How did the Pharisees explain Jesus' ability to cast out demons? (24)
   - He did it by the power of Beelzebub, ruler of the demons
6. What was the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit? (31-32)
   - Attributing Jesus' ability to cast out demons to having an unclean spirit (cf. Mk 3:30)
7. For what will one give an account in the day of judgment? (36-37)
   - Every idle word
8. What sign did Jesus say He would give to the Pharisees? (38-40)
   - The Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth
9. Who did Jesus identify as His true family? (49-50)
   - His disciples, i.e., whoever does the will of His Father in heaven