The act of projection involves blaming things outside of yourself for your problems. The act of denying personal responsibility means it is the fault of your spouse, your boss, the government, the weather, or even that tool you were using. The Pharisees were masters at projection, and as it turns out, when it comes to taking personal responsibility for our own sin and our dealing with the Messiah, we are also pretty good at it.
33 – 37
Jesus is saying that the Pharisees can’t cover up their true character by fancy robes, titles, and rules. God knows the heart, and an evil heart that has rejected Him will speak out in words and deeds. Jesus doesn’t pull any punches. He calls the Pharisees a “brood of vipers” and “evil.”
The Pharisees were the children of Satan (John 8:44), who imitated righteousness but were evil (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). They claimed to represent God, but could not do so because they belonged to the devil and were actually keeping people away from acknowledging that the Messiah was Jesus.
Jesus is saying either you are good or you are evil. You can’t pretend to be one while being the other. God isn’t fooled by our outward appearance. He says that by our words we will be judged. The word “careless” there means “insignificant or innocuous.” It doesn’t refer to jokes or idle speech, but often it is the words we do not prepare that show our real character, not our carefully planned speeches.
Point 1: The real you isn’t the persona you put on, but the sum of the character within you—that hidden person that only you and God see. Look to the abundance of your heart to know your true character
38 – 42
Now the Pharisees, joined by some Scribes, want a sign—a definite example of Jesus’ special relationship with the Father that would prove He was the Messiah. Jesus had already given plenty of signs but He would not perform for them (though He could have). The sign He would give was much greater than a healing, it was the resurrection.
Jonah was “resurrected” as he came out of the fish to obey God’s command to preach to Nineveh. Jonah was told by God to go to Nineveh and tell them to repent or God would destroy the city (Jonah 1:2). Jonah beat feet for the coast and ran away from God and His mission. Why? It’s not that Jonah felt sorry for Nineveh; quite the contrary. The Israelites hated Nineveh. The Assyrian empire had harassed and harmed Israel tremendously. The problem was that Jonah felt sorry for them but that he knew God would be merciful to them. When Jonah actually did preach judgment, they repented and God did have mercy.
Jonah 4:1-4 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."
Nineveh heard the words of judgment and believed the messenger and took action on the message. That is more than the Pharisees did. After the resurrection of Jesus the people of Israel will be given the opportunity to repent and turn as the people of Nineveh did.
Then He uses the Queen of Sheba as an example. This happened in 1 Kings 10:1-10, where this Arabian Gentile came up to see what all the fuss was about with “the name of the Lord” (1 Kings 10:1). She came away completely impressed with God. She said “I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it.” The people had laid eyes on someone greater than her, yet they would not, like her, believe.
Point 2: Don’t make God in your image by demanding He be and act according to your wishes. Deal with Him on His terms. Let Him overlay His character on you, not the other way around.
43 – 45
Jesus is here making a point about the results of the unwillingness to commit to Jesus as the Messiah. He is not teaching doctrine about demons. It was a popular belief that demons lived in the desert so Jesus uses that as a way to teach against neutrality.
Israel had been swept clean by John the Baptist. John said “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Many had repented, but to what? If you empty a mind and don’t fill it with something redemptive the natural human nature will create a vacuum so powerful that it will end up in far worse condition than it was before.
Looking ahead to the Messiah was one thing, but rejecting Him when he came was quite another.
We cannot remain neutral. That’s why Jesus said earlier in the chapter that if you are not gathering with Him you are scattering.
Point 3: You cannot NOT make a decision about Jesus – neutrality is not an option
46 – 50
Mark’s gospel explains a little more what was happening here:
Mark 3:20-21 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He is out of his mind."
Even Jesus’ own family had at this point decided that Jesus was not able to handle the stress of ministry. It was an intervention. Families are like that. But Jesus was doing something so much more important. They said they were concerned that Jesus wasn’t eating. Jesus would later tell His disciples that His food was to do the will of the Father (John 4:32).
Jesus doesn’t go outside, He uses it as another way to illustrate His point—that it is by listening to Jesus and obeying what He says that you enter into relationship—a relationship that is more powerful and important than even physical blood relations. Jesus was not saying to eschew his family; He took care of them and especially His mother. But He also said we must be born again and that we must love Him more than we love our earthly families (Matthew 10:37).
Point 4: Relationship is key. Which relationships are more important, your earthly connections or your connection to Jesus Christ? Do you have a connection to Him? Remember back to Matthew 7:21 – 23. It is only by Jesus knowing you that you enter His kingdom.
Conclusions
You can’t rely on yourself (the person you think you are, the position or power that you have attained) or the relationships you have on earth, to have any lasting effect.
It’s time to stop pretending…thinking we can hide ourselves from God. We should examine ourselves, like David said in Psalms 139:23 – 24 “Search me O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Look at the external evidence for Jesus—His sinless life, the attesting miracles, His death, burial, and resurrection. Decide whether He is either rebel (Matthew 12:1 – 14), devil (liar – Matthew 12:22 – 32), or crazy man (lunatic – Matthew 12:46 – 50). Or perhaps is He just who He said He was? Lord.
Don’t project on God what you want to believe, and don’t project on others the problems in your own heart. Simply let the Lord be the Lord!
For more Bible studies, visit our website at: www.CalvaryChapelNewberg.org
