Following Jesus: Focus On The Message – Matthew 12

Last Updated on January 20, 2025 by Rocklyn Clarke

Description

Welcome to Focus On The Message – the first component of our Following Jesus discipleship program. This web page contains the lessons for:

Matthew 12

Purpose

Follow this link for information about these key aspects of our training: Purpose, Goals, Habits, Ministries, and Assignments.

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Matthew 12

This chapter has 5 lessons. You should ideally cover one chapter (with all of its lessons) in a week, but please don’t let a week go by without completing at least one lesson.

Lesson 1: Lord of the Sabbath

Main text and related passages:

• Lord of the Sabbath – Matthew 12:1-14 – Bible Gateway
  • Genesis 2:1-2
  • Exodus 20:8
  • 1 Samuel 21:1-6

Checkout the following:

• • Explore our video on Sabbath | BibleProject™ (00:05:27)
  • Watch: Son of Man Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:50)

Topics to explore:

• • What is the Sabbath? How are Israelites supposed to treat the Sabbath?
  • Why does Jesus compare himself to David eating the holy bread? What was David’s political status at the time?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.
  • Watch the Sabbath video.

Lesson 2: God’s Chosen Servant

Main text and related passages:

• God’s Chosen Servant – Matthew 12:15-21 – Bible Gateway
  • Isaiah 42:1-4 

Checkout the following:

• • Watch: Justice Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™  (00:06:18)
  • Bible Project: Isaiah Part 1 (chapters 1 – 39) (00:08:11)
  • Bible Project: Isaiah Part 2 (chapters 40 – 66) (00:08:06)

Topics to explore:

• • Why did Jesus warn people not to tell who he was?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.
  • Watch the Bible Project videos.

Lesson 3: Jesus and Beelzebub

Main text and related passages:

• Jesus and Beelzebub – Matthew 12:22-37 – Bible Gateway
  • Son of Man – Daniel 7

Checkout the following:

• • Watch: Spiritual Beings Biblical Theme Video Series | BibleProject™
  • Watch: Holy Spirit Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™ (00:04:11)
  • Watch: Son of Man Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:50)

Topics to explore:

• • What does “Son of Man” mean?
  • What does blasphemy against the Holy Spirit mean?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • Life Church Counseling Page
    • Spiritual Warfare & Deliverance

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.
  • ?

Lesson 4: The Sign of Jonah

Main text and related passages:

• The Sign of Jonah – Matthew 12:38-45 – Bible Gateway
  • Luke 11:16; Luke 11:29-32 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12 – Bible Gateway
  • Jonah – Bible Gateway

Checkout the following:

• • Watch: Jonah Bible Book Overview Video | BibleProject™
  • Watch: Son of Man Biblical Theme Video | BibleProject™ (00:05:50)

Topics to explore:

• • Have you ever looked at Jonah this way before?
  • What have some of the Pharisees been up to before asking Jesus for a sign?
  • What sign does Jesus promise the Pharisees and teachers of the law? What role will they play in that sign?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • 19. Jesus Gives Us a Sign [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.
  • Watch the Tim Mackie video.

Lesson 5: Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

Main text and related passages:

• Jesus’ Mother and Brothers – Matthew 12:46-50 – Bible Gateway
  • Matthew 12:46-50; Mark 3:20-35; Luke 8:19-21
  • Luke 10:38-42 – Mary sits at Jesus’ feet.

Topics to explore:

• • Why did Jesus’ family want to see him?
  • Does anything strike you as unusual about Jesus’ attitude towards his mother and brothers?
  • How does Jesus view his followers?

Additional resources to check out:

• • Matthew for Everyone, Part 1 (The New Testament for Everyone) by Tom Wright – Amazon.com
  • 19. Jesus Gives Us a Sign [Matthew] – Tim Mackie (The Bible Project) – YouTube
  • Walking The Text – Rabbis and Disciples

Training assignment (do this yourself, and use it to help train someone else):

• • Read the main passage and related passages above.
  • If you didn’t watch the Tim Mackie video last week. please go ahead and watch it.

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Advance to Matthew 13