Teaching Missions: Growing in God’s Grace

Matthew 12:43-45 When evil spirits move out, we need Jesus to move in

Jesus describes an evil spirit, after being removed from a person, wanting to return to "his house." If it is empty, he gets 7 worse spirits to join him. We need to actively seek Christ after freedom from evil spirits

Matthew 12:38-42 Witnesses for Jesus and against the Pharisees

Jonah and the men of Nineveh will witness against the Pharisees and so will the Queen of Sheba

Matthew 12:21-37 Pharisees attribute Jesus' healing to Satan

Jesus healed a blind and dumb man. The Pharisees attribute his power to Satan. 

Matthew 12:15-21 Jesus shows victory quietly to the Jews and gentiles

He heals a man; this demonstrates the truth of the suffering servant passages in Isaiah.

Matthew 12:9-14 Jesus heals a withered hand on the sabbath in the synagogue

The Pharisees challenge Jesus about healing on the sabbath. He says that a man would lift a sheep out of a pit on the sabbath; a man is worth more than a sheep. He then heals the man's hand

Matthew 12:1-8 Plucking and rubbing grain on the sabbath

The Pharisees accuse the disciples of breaking the sabbath by plucking grain. Jesus defends them with two Biblical examples

Don't abuse your Christian liberty

We are free to serve Christ, not our old sin-nature

Matthew 11:25-30 Come to Jesus - His burden is light

We are called to cast our burdens on Christ and work together yoked with Him. His manner is meek, and his burden is light

Matthew 11:16-24 Jesus vs. John the Baptist

They thought John the Baptist was demonically controlled and tooascetic; Jesus was a man who enjoyed food and drink too much. But if the O.T. cities had seen what Jesus did in Galilea, they would have repented long ago.

Matthew 11:1-15 John questions, Jesus praises John the Baptist

John in prison questions about Jesus as the messiah. Jesus demonstrates his power and praises John the Baptist.