Attack and Counterattack

Matthew 12: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt+12&version=NIV

            There is a lot going on in Matthew 12, but since we are on the cusp of Holy Week, I will just focus on the rising controversy between Jesus and the religious leaders of Israel. First, we see Jesus “on the attack.” His disciples’ pluck some wheat and the Pharisees, who value Sabbath observation as a sign that one is a faithful Jew, leap on it. “They’re breaking Sabbath!” Jesus takes the opportunity to poke them—twice, maybe even three times. First, he compares Himself to David. Second, He downplays the temple by saying He’s greater than the temple. Third, He declares Himself Lord of the Sabbath. Anyone of those things would rile a Pharisee. It’s like Jesus is being deliberately provocative.

            The counterattack comes at least twice. In verse 14, the chapter says they went out and plotted how to kill Jesus. That, at least, is how NIV translates it. The word is usually translated destroy, and it’s just possible that they are looking for a way “to destroy” Jesus in the sense of ruin His reputation. They might not be thinking murder just yet, although by the end of the Gospel that’s where they end up. Then in verse 24 they accuse Jesus of being in league with Beelzebul, another name for Satan.

            Let me lay out three quick takeaways. First, within the story, we see things progressing towards the events of Holy Week. It’s not like in that week the religious leaders of Israel just suddenly said, “Hey, we should get rid of Jesus!” Throughout His ministry, His vision of what it meant to follow the God of Israel and their vision had been diverging. Holy Week is the explosion at the end of a long fuse. Second Jesus is completely capable of poking us in those spots were our allegiances are confused or our hearts are divided. Jesus doesn’t come to affirm us. He comes to challenge our subtle idolatries, to condemn our sin, and to provide atonement for it—that we might be fundamentally changed, making us by the power of the Spirit “good trees: (verse 33).. Third, following Jesus means that His enemies become our enemies. In the Small Catechism, we name those enemies as the devil, the world, and our sinful selves. Sometimes we (naively) assume the world around us is on our side—or should be. So it’s good to be reminded that our trials and challenges aren’t out of the ordinary. If the world opposed Jesus, we shouldn’t expect anything else. Ultimately, in His death and resurrection, Jesus bested those opponents, so we shouldn’t fear them too much but it’s helpful to be reminded they are there.