This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

In Matthew 12, Matthew shows us the tension
between the local religious leaders and Jesus.

The religious leaders accuse Jesus of
violating the Sabbath, which commanded rest.

Jesus points out that priests in
the temple work on the Sabbath.

And something greater than the Sabbath
and the temple is now here.

To emphasize this, Jesus goes to
Sabbath services at a synagogue

and heals a man’s withered hand,
which was considered an act of work.

The Pharisees claim that Jesus’
power to heal comes from demons.

But Jesus isn’t using Satan’s power;
he’s working by the Spirit of God.

Proof of the Holy
Spirit’s work was obvious

in the result of his actions—
healing and casting out demons.

Good fruit points to a good tree.

Jesus says he is the good tree.

The fruit of God’s Spirit proves
that Jesus is God in the flesh.

But the Pharisees were bad trees,
unable to produce or see good fruit.

The religious leaders demand
that Jesus prove he is the Messiah,

but Jesus promises only
what's called “the sign of Jonah”.

Jesus predicts his resurrection by referencing the prophet Jonah’s three days in the belly of a fish.

The resurrection will be the
final proof of Jesus’ identity.

But they do not believe.

They believe themselves to
be wise like King Solomon,

but Jesus tells them that something
greater than Solomon is now here.

The accusation of the Pharisees was
not true of Jesus, but it is true of us.

All sinners are under the power of Satan.

But when we put our faith in Jesus, the Holy
Spirit makes us good trees, able to
produce the good fruit of faith.

The Law of Moses could never
turn a bad tree into a good tree.

The command to rest on the Sabbath
could not create rest in our restless hearts.

We needed something
greater than the Law.

Jesus claims to be what we truly need.

He is greater than the Sabbath
because his rest is perpetual.

And it's earned for us,
and it's free to receive.

He is greater than the Temple because he
is God present, not in a building, but a body.

Jesus is greater than Jonah
because he did not come from

the belly of a fish to be
God’s messenger to one city.

He is God himself, who came from
the belly of a grave to reach all nations.

And Jesus is greater than the wise King
Solomon, who built the temple.

Jesus is the King of kings and the
wisdom of God, embodying God in the flesh.

So, I pray that the Holy Spirit would open
your eyes to see the God who revealed

himself through the Law, the
temple, and people like Jonah.

And may you see Jesus as the
one who is greater than them all

because he is God’s
final and perfect revelation.