Coming of the King: Week 26

Matthew 12:22-50: Rejecting the Good

• 12:22 Again we see the spiritual origin of disease.
• 12:24 The Pharisees did not question the authenticity of the miracles. Instead, they considered the healings an evil, even Satanic thing.
• 12:25 Does Jesus' argument apply to accusations of "false flag" attacks in today's world?
• 12:30 You are influencing those around you, whether for good or bad.
• 12:31 The "unforgivable sin" is often a source of trouble to some people. What is it? The following verses give clues to interpretations.
• 12:32 "In this age or the age to come" - this language recalls Matthew 11:20-24, where rejecting the Christ among us in the flesh with undeniable signs and wonders was something possible only during His 3 years of ministry. "Speaks against the Holy Spirit." Dr. McGee points out that when you reject forgiveness, you do not enjoy forgiveness.
• 12:34 "how can you, being evil, speak what is good?" This suggests the idea of reprobation - this was not skepticism, but seeing an essentially good thing (healing) as evil. They hated what was good, and loved what was evil. A common saying with pastors is, "If you are worried about the unforgiveable sin, you haven't committed it."
• 12:35 "the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure" - this suggests the idea that spiritual blindness creates a disordered perception where good things are experienced as evil. Later, Jesus called them blind guides, and C. S. Lewis paints a picture of this in The Last Battle with the Dwarfs who would not be taken in. Good must be perceived to be experienced - Psalm 34:8.
• 12:38 "we want to see a sign" - they had just seen many signs, that they did not deny were supernatural signs, but perceived as demonic.
• 12:39 The descendents of Jonah's converts are the Assyrian people and Assyrian Church of the East today. They also claim to be the first to receive Christ in the first century, as they were looking for the sign of Jonah.
• 12:41 "rise up in judgement" - another statement of the special nature of the revelation received by those of Jesus' day, and their greater responsibility. John 20:27-29
• 12:45 "the last state of that man becomes worse than the first" - healing or blessing without faith does actual harm - think of the bruised and bleeding Dwarfs after the feast provided by Aslan. "Everything that is not from faith is sin" Romans 14:23
• 12:46 Mark tells us that Jesus' family had come to "take custody of Him". Mark 3:20-21
• 12:50 The family of God

Summary of views on the Unpardonable Sin

1. If you are worried about the unforgiveable sin, you haven't committed it.
2. You can't experience forgiveness when you reject forgiveness.
3. Only those rejecting the ministry of Jesus in the flesh could commit it.
4. Perceiving good as evil is a sign of reprobation.