The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand, 1:1-28:20
The Galilean Ministry, 8:1-18:35
Reception Of the Messiah: Rising Opposition, 11:2-13:53
Response To The Messiah, 11:2-12:50
His Rejection By The Pharisees: The Pharisees Planed To Kill Jesus, 12:1-12:50
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD’S SERVANT
Mat 12:14-21
Reading: 1Pe 2:21-24
Songs: Servant Song - 671; Seeking the Lost - 218
INTRODUCTION
A. Difficulties in life, if allowed, can take our minds off our direction, our purpose, to cause us to forget what is most important. If we’re not careful, the difficulties or other things of life will capture our attention and our original direction will be lost.
B. Following the conflict (we read about in Mat 12) between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the Sabbath, after which on the Sabbath (in verse 14), Jesus healed a man with a withered hand, the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. That alone would be enough cause for most to loose their focus, even to cease from efforts out of fear. However, in the face of great opposition, Jesus was not deterred from staying his course of service.
Theme: to examine Christ's servanthood and in turn to try to understand better concerning our own service he expects from us.
II. THE PRESSURE OF SERVANTHOOD, 12:14-16
A. ... the Pharisees went out, and took counsel … how they might destroy him, 12:14.
ASV
14 ¶ [Then KJV] But <1161> the Pharisees <5330> went out <1831> (5631), and [held KJV] took <2983> (5627) [a KJV] [council KJV] counsel <4824> against <2596> him <846>, how <3704> they might destroy <622> (5661) him <846>.
14 oi <3588> de <1161> {BUT THE} farisaioi <5330> {PHARISEES} sumboulion <4824> {A COUNCIL} elabon <2983> (5627) {HELD} kat <2596> {AGAINST} autou <846> {HIM} exelyontev <1831> (5631) {HAVING GONE OUT} opwv <3704> {HOW} auton <846> {HIM} apoleswsin <622> (5661) {THEY MIGHT DESTROY.}
1. There were a lot of things in Jesus’ path, over which he had to struggle in order to succeed in his efforts.
a. He could have decided, like we often seem to do, that the people just weren’t worthy of his efforts, that his efforts might better be channeled elsewhere.
b. He could have decided life was too short to waste reaching out to those who didn’t seem to want to be reached.
c. However, he didn’t allow anything to dissuade him from his purpose, not even the threat of death, because his purpose wasn’t to be served but to serve.
2. Are you ready to take on the pressures of a servant to God?
B. ... Jesus perceiving it withdrew ... and many followed him; and he healed them all, and charged them ... not [to] make him known, 12:15-16.
15 [But when KJV] And <1161> Jesus <2424> [knew KJV] perceiving <1097> (5631) it [he KJV] withdrew [himself <402> (5656) KJV] from thence <1564>: and <2532> [great KJV] many <4183> [multitudes <3793> KJV] followed <190> (5656) him <846>; and <2532> he healed <2323> (5656) them <846> all <3956>,
16 [And KJV] and <2532> charged <2008> (5656) them <846> that <3363> <0> they should <4160> <0> not <3363> make <4160> (5661) him <846> known <5318>:
15 o <3588> de <1161> {BUT} ihsouv <2424> {JESUS} gnouv <1097> (5631) {HAVING KNOWN} anecwrhsen <402> (5656) {WITHDREW} ekeiyen <1564> {THENCE,} kai <2532> {AND} hkolouyhsan <190> (5656) {FOLLOWED} autw <846> {HIM} ocloi <3793> {CROWDS} polloi <4183> {GREAT,} kai <2532> {AND} eyerapeusen <2323> (5656) {HE HEALED} autouv <846> {THEM} pantav <3956> {ALL,}
16 kai <2532> {AND} epetimhsen <2008> (5656) {STRICTLY CHARGED} autoiv <846> {THEM} ina <2443> {THAT} mh <3361> {NOT} faneron <5318> {PUBLICLY KNOWN} auton <846> {HIM} poihswsin <4160> (5661) {THEY SHOULD MAKE.}
1. Jesus' true identity is King of kings and Lord of lords, son of God, but in personality he was a servant, Mar 10:35-*45.
2. God the Father has had many notable servants: Abraham - known for his great faith; Joseph - known for his determination; Moses - known for his friendship with God.; Joshua - known for his courage; David - known for his heart and Daniel - known for his obedience.
a. However, as the Hebrew writer stated, the Father’s greatest was Jesus, He 3:2f
(1) What is your normal response at the end of a working day when someone phones you up with a need, asking you to come to help?
(2) Do you normally groan to yourself about having no time to just relax?
(3) Jesus too, would have had need to relax but notice that multitudes had come to him and he didn't stop serving until he healed "them all," cp. Mar 3:20.
(4) In healing them he told them not to make him known publically.
3. warned, 2008 EPITIMAO {ep-ee-tee-mah'-o} from 1909 and 5091; TDNT - 2:623,249; v AV - rebuke 24, charge 4, straightly charge 1; 29 1) to show honour to, to honour 2) to raise the price of 3) to adjudge, award, in the sense of merited penalty 4) to tax with fault, rate, chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely 4a) to admonish or charge sharply
5656 Tense - Aorist See 5777
Voice - Active See 5784
Mood - Indicative See 5791
Count - 2319
a. Jesus explicitly, left the people no choice or no option but to keep quiet about His healing powers.
b. Why was he so secretive. There is one of two possible answers:
(1) He was afraid of the Pharisees.
(a) However, Jesus didn't withdraw (cf. 4:12; 14:13; 15:21; 16:5) because he feared the Pharisees.
(b) Jesus withdrew and was secretive so he wouldn't be made a public spectacle.
(2) It is most likely therefore, it was not yet time for Him to be revealed, cf. 8:4; 9:30.
(a) It was a time of humiliation, not exultation.
(b) The Pharisees were already plotting to kill Jesus and any more publicity could have infringed on God's plan, for Jesus to die, cf. Joh 7:8.
(c) Jesus was committed to God's will, plan, and time table, not that of men, John 6:38.
(3) In addition, Jesus, unlike many today, Jesus did not want the miracles to be the focus or the drawing power of his ministry .
c. You and I too, need to commit ourselves to God's will, to God’s plan for man’s salvation and to drawing people using the tools he has provided us, most importantly, his word and our lives. God’s plan for Jesus involved fulfilling scripture.
Transition: God’s plan for Jesus involved fulfilling scripture.
III. THE PLAN OF SERVANTHOOD, 12:17-21
ASV
17 [That KJV] that <3704> it might be fulfilled <4137> (5686) which <3588> was spoken <4483> (5685) [by KJV] through <1223> [Esaias KJV] Isaiah <2268> the prophet <4396>, saying <3004> (5723),
18 Behold <2400> (5628), my <3450> servant <3816> whom <3739> I have chosen <140> (5656); [my KJV] My <3450> beloved <27> , in <1519> whom <3739> my <3450> soul <5590> is well pleased <2106> (5656): I will put <5087> (5692) my <3450> [spirit KJV] Spirit <4151> upon <1909> him <846>, [and KJV] And <2532> he shall [shew KJV] declare <518> (5692) judgment <2920> to the Gentiles <1484>.
19 He shall <2051> <0> not <3756> strive <2051> (5692), nor <3761> cry <2905> (5692) aloud; [neither KJV] Neither <3761> shall any [; man KJV] one <5100> hear <191> (5692) his <846> voice <5456> in <1722> the streets <4113>.
20 A bruised <4937> (5772) reed <2563> shall he <2608> <0> not <3756> break <2608> (5656), [and KJV] And <2532> smoking <5188> (5746) flax <3043> shall he <4570> <0> not <3756> quench <4570> (5692), [till KJV] Till <2193> <302> he send forth <1544> (5632) judgment <2920> unto <1519> victory <3534>.
21 And <2532> in <1722> his <846> name <3686> shall <1679> <0> the Gentiles <1484> [ trust KJV] hope <1679> (5692).
A. … that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah …, 12:17-21; Is.42:1-4.
1. With this passage, Matthew made clear, the inescapable conclusion from comparing all the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament, to Jesus' life and ministry, that he is the Messiah.
2. Notice the characteristics of Jesus’ service, outlined by Isaiah (42) in this quote.
a. servant, 3816 PAIS {paheece} perhaps from 3817; TDNT - 5:636,759; n m/f AV - servant 10, child 7, son (Christ) 2, son 1, manservant 1, maid 1, maiden 1, young man 1; 24 1) a child, boy or girl 1a) infants, children 2) servant, slave 2a) an attendant, servant, spec. a king's attendant, minister
(1) This word servant translates also to son, but is rightly translated to servant in this context. A different word was used to describe Jesus as the Father's son (Mat 3:17; 17:5).
(2) Jesus is the Father’s son but served as a servant in form (Php 2:1-11) and through his obedience, He 10:9-10.
(3) Ignoring passages such as Is 42 which described the Messiah as a servant, even more, Is 53 which portrayed Him as the suffering servant, the Jews were looking for a messiah in the form of a great warrior to get rid of the Roman government who had been oppressing them for years.
(4) Instead Jesus, the Messiah, came as a servant for which he was chosen.
b. chosen, 140 HAIRETIZO {hahee-ret-id'-zo} from a derivative of 138; TDNT - 1:184,27; v AV - choose 1; 1 1) to choose 2) to belong to a sect
5656 Tense - Aorist See 5777
Voice - Active See 5784
Mood - Indicative See 5791
Count - 2319
(1) Jesus wasn't chosen in the sense, out of a group of applicants.
(2) He was chosen because he was the only one who could accomplish the task, cp. Re 5:1-14.
(3) Truly he served.
c. beloved ... well pleasing
(1) Jesus was commended not just because of whom he is but because of his obedience to the Father’s God's word, Mat 3:13-17; Joh 3:16;
(2) We too, by following obediently, God's word, will be commended.
d. declare [proclaimed NASV], 518 APAGGELLO {ap-ang-el'-lo} from 575 and the base of 32; TDNT - 1:64,10; v AV - tell 26, show 10, declare 3, report 2, bring word 1, bring word again 1, show again 1, vr show; 45 1) to bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report 2) to proclaim, to make known openly, declare
5692 Tense - Future See 5776
Voice - Active See 5784
Mood - Indicative See 5791
Count – 814
(1) Jesus' primary service as a servant was to declare God's mercy available to all people, for their salvation (cf. Gen.12:3; Lu 2:32; Joh 12:32) without which, especially for the Gentiles, there was no hope, Ep 2:12; 1Th 4:13.
(2) Jesus faithfully communicated God's message.
(3) Just as Jesus did, we too, as the Father's servants, must faithfully declare, God's message.
(4) Our focus should always be on God's word and communicating it, not our own desires, 1Co 2:1-4.
3. A bruised reed ... And smoking flax are references to weak, fragile people with imperfections, 12:20-21
a. Too often there people who have imperfections are seen worthless, of no use and they are discarded like an old newspaper.
(1) It wasn't so with Jesus. He didn’t seek out those who like the battered reed or a smoldering wick, to finish their destruction or quench out their efforts.
(2) His efforts were in restoring people to usefulness, to a proper standing with God.
(3) Our efforts in life should be the same, rather than focused just on making friends, fame and fortune.
(4) We probably spend more time on ourselves and our personal desires than we do on the lost or disoriented.
B. We need to develop a more compassionate heart, like Jesus had for the lost.
1. Jesus had compassion for the physically sick and spiritually sick, (troubled souls who are described as "harassed and helpless", Mat 9:36; and the "weary and burdened", Mat 11:28).
a. Remember Judas when he came to betray Jesus, what Jesus said, - friend, not black hearted traitor but friend.
b. Jesus always knocks and will never walks away without offering ample opportunity to answer.
2. It teaches us that in our service we need patients. A once through a few streets in our community before giving up, is not enough.
3. It teaches us that struggling Christians should not give in to their struggles thinking all is lost
a. Jesus knows we are weak.
b. He knows the temptations and struggles with which we go through each day.
c. Don't forget, the Lord is patient.
d. If you fall falter as you are following the Lord, you need to realize t he Lord will not quickly give up on you, 2Ti 2:13.
4. It teaches us that we need to be patient with brethren who are struggling in their walk with the Lord, and gently help them back on course, Ro 14; 1Co 8; Ja 5:19-20; 2Ti 2:24-26
CONCLUSION:
Our Christian service to God entails all of the action of our lives. It is not without difficulty we try to serve consistently. Our guide is the example Jesus left for us.
Preached:
Fargo, ND 25, May, 1999
Bibliography:
Dan Erickson, "FRAGILE: HANDLE WITH CARE"
Coy Wylie, Matthew - King of Kings, God's Greatest Servant