The Battle for the Soul | Matthew 12:1-21 | MORNING

<p>Series: The Unexpected Kingdom. Passage: Matthew 12:1-21. Preacher: Reg Piper. Date of Talk: 21 February, 2021</p> <p><br></p> <p>God gave Israel the Sabbath at Mt Sinai</p> <p>Israel negotiated Judaism as a legal religion in the Empire</p> <p>Pharisees regulated their Sabbath</p> <p><strong>Jesus defended his Disciples against the Pharisees v1-8</strong></p> <p>Pharisees were critical of hungry disciples breaking their Sabbath law v1-2</p> <p>Jesus defended them by reasoning that</p> <p>· Necessity trumps religious rules v3-4</p> <p>· Rules have exceptions v5-6, 8</p> <p>· Mercy prevails over critical spirit v7-8</p> <p><strong>Jesus provided for the Sick against the Pharisees v9-14</strong></p> <p>Pharisees provoked him to break their Sabbath law v9-10,14</p> <p>Jesus defended his healing by reasoning that</p> <p>· Sabbath was a day for doing good v11-13</p> <p>The Pharisees plotted to destroy Jesus for he violated their Sabbath</p> <p><strong>Jesus was building hope for all the Nations v15-21</strong></p> <p>Jesus withdrew from immediate danger and healed all following v14-16</p> <p>Matthew: Jesus fulfils Is.42: 1-4</p> <p>· The Spirit anointed Servant of the Lord</p> <p>· The gentle healer of the weak and helpless</p> <p>· The meek and gentle executor of justice to the nations</p> <p>Entrust yourself to the lowly Servant not the powerful Religionists 11:28-30</p>