“In His Name The Gentiles Trust”
Matthew 12:14-21

Introduction

• This message should probably be better offered at our July 4^th But as I always do before preparation of each message given to you, I asked the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts, heart and pen to give our people what God wants them to hear.
• Everybody knows the slogan or phrase written on America’s money… “In God we trust.”
• May I submit to you this morning that should be “In Jesus We Trust.” I can see some people saying… “Bro. Ron has lost is mind.”
• May I say that in the Old Testament their “trust” was in God. Jesus had not appeared on the scene yet. In fact, the entire OT talked of the coming Messiah. The OT prophets prophesied the coming Prince of peace.
• The New Testament as we read here offers someone new to put our trust in… Jesus.
• In the first part of chapter 12 of the book of Matthew we can see that the main theme here is about who… Jesus. It is about Jesus and His disciples (followers) sins (according to the church) on the Sabbath.
• This is much like churches then and of the “Church Age” today.
• However I do wish that the Sabbath today was more observed than it is. I wish that people would honor the Sabbath as they did not so many years before.
• In the 1960’s there were no gas stations or stores open on Sunday. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that gas stations started to stay open on Sundays and then the stores started to open. By the way… What we call “gas stations” today were called “service stations” before the 1980’s. Because you were served with gas and windshield care, tires and oil being checked. Today you have no service. And they tell me America is getting better.

 

I. Not Knowing The Laws

A) The Laws concerning the Sabbath twisted

• Matthew 12:1 (KJV)… At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2) But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.
• We all know that before “the cross” the Sabbath was observed on Saturday. Then it became known “after the cross” that Sunday was “the Lord’s Day.”
• The Pharisees were trying to press their strict religious views as “The Law” when it was not the law. There was no law against working to prepare your meals on the Sabbath. It was simply unlawful for a farmer to work for personal or monetary gain on the Sabbath.
• Why do stores stay open on Sunday? Personal monetary gain.
• Why do people work on Sunday? Personal gain (paid more to work on Sunday).
• Gas stations being open give people the opportunity to travel on Sunday for leisure.

B) Jesus reminds them (Pharisees) of OT accounts

• Now we are not going to elaborate on these already studied accounts that Jesus mentioned in these verses but hit briefly to make our point of the message this morning.

1. Verses 3, 4…Jesus talks of the account in I Samuel 21:4-6, Where David and his men were three days without food or women and to satisfy the more important need that would give them the nourishment they needed for physical strength to continue their journey, they took the “showbread” from the hand of the priest. Did god strike David and his men dead for their actions? No.
2. Verse 5…Now Jesus refers to the laws for the priests from Exodus 29:38 and Numbers 28:9. Christ was revealing to the Pharisees how the priests killed animals and offered them for sacrifice and then gave the leftovers to the family to eat through daily and on the Sabbath. In other words… the Sabbath was treated no different than the weekdays concerning meals (Necessity.)

• Now I ask you… Who was David’s trust in? God. David was a man after God’s own heart. His trust was in God and he would not do anything to ruin that relationship.
• When he takes the bread His trust in God was what saved him from the judgment of God being dealt.

C) Lord of the Sabbath  

• As we read verses 6) But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple. 7) But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. 8) For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.
• Who is Jesus referring to here “one greater than the temple” and “Lord of the Sabbath?” Himself, right? The Lord Jesus Himself is God incarnate (in the flesh).

D) Proving a point about the Sabbath

• Jesus now rebukes the Pharisees who keep questioning Jesus about His perspective views on the Sabbath. In verses 9-13…Jesus then went into their synagogue saw a man with a withered (shrunken up and not useful) hand and used him for a demonstration.
• Jesus then makes the point by a question in verses 11) And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? 12) How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
• Good point. Wouldn’t you stop to help your livestock out in a bad situation that put their life in danger? Yes. Why? Because it is a necessity. A need in our everyday lives.

 II. In His Name Shall The Gentiles Trust

A) The plot to get rid of Jesus

• May I remind you of the fact that human nature has always been to get rid of something that is a bother to you. Do away with something that irritates you.
• This account is about some “holier than thou” Pharisees who were being put in their place, being tested and tried of God through this annoyance called Jesus whom is a problem, a thorn in their side.
• Let us examine Matthew 12: 14…Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.
• We have on America’s currency the words “In God we trust.” Is it True? Do we actually trust in God?
• Our country is trying to make it a point of liberality in whom we trust. They try to say it doesn’t matter what god you trust in. You are free to worship whatever you want, whoever you want and whenever you want.
• God and Jesus incarnate are now under attack in the United States.

 B) God knows those who loves Him

• Look at verse 15) But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; 16) And charged them that they should not make him known:
• God in the flesh (Jesus) knew who hated Him and was out to get rid of Him. He knew it.
• God knows when a country makes a choice to follow Him or reject Him.
• Someone may say… “Jesus is a coward because He withdrew himself. He didn’t stay and fight the issue.”
• God’s way has always been this… You have a choice. It’s the freedom of choice that God gives to His creation.
• What does God’s word say about God and Jesus? Colossians 1:16 (KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
• God created us and everything around us “for him (His Son Jesus)”
• God put His trust in Jesus to come to this earth and be His representative to the world. To represent love, holiness, and faith.

 C) God/Jesus alone can heal us

• There were still a huge amount of people willing to follow Jesus. And may I remind you that when you follow Jesus YOU WILL BE HEALED!
• It said in verse 15… “and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;”
• Now in my mind and heart I do not for one minute believe that everyone of the “all” mentioned here was crippled, blind, or maimed in some way.
• Yes, I believe that there were some that were handicapped. But I believe that for the most part these people were spiritually sick, morally wounded, and in need of someone to trust.
• They could not trust the leaders of their countries, their lives, their spirituality…nothing. As David put it in Psalm 14:3 (KJV)…They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

• I truly believe that most people want to do what is right. But they lack discernment. By the way, I will preach on that next week.
• Our society lacks discernment. We lack leadership from qualified leaders.
• Who can you trust? The president (Obama, Trump or any one of the previous)? No.

 D) Trust In His Name

• In closing our message this morning let us look at our text of Matthew 12:17…  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias (Isaiah) the prophet (Isaiah 42:1-4, Isaiah 49:3), saying,
• Jesus was prophesied in the OT. Because Jesus was one to be trusted to carry through God’s plan of Salvation to the Gentiles.
• 18) Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
• The Jews thought that the Messiah that God was promising to send had a political agenda, a military campaign, with many followers of popularity.
• But God said of His Messiah (Jesus) in Matthew 12…

1. verse 19) He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. In other words… the Messiah to come will not be the leader of a revolution hollering for peace, and war against the government and force his way into power.
2. 20) A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. A “bruised reed” was a term of shepherds when their musical instrument was broken. Once the reed was broken the instrument was useless. A “smoking flax” was a candle that had been snuffed out, no longer able to give light.
   – The “reed and flax” are the people considered to be useless by the world for God. The reed and flax are the Gentiles. Christ was sent to redeem the Gentiles and make them useful for the purpose/will of God.
3. 21) And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. This is the new trust established by those rejected.

 E) The “Saviour” of the world

• Matthew 1:21 (KJV)And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
• Who are “his people?” The Gentiles. But not only the Gentiles. All who believe. It matters not the race, color, or creed.
• Luke 2:11 (KJV) …For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Will you Trust In Jesus today?