An Evil Generation Matthew 12:33-50 Logos Bible Fellowship 7/18/2007

Summary of the Passage Jesus the Lord of the SabbathJesus the Lord of the Sabbath Withered hand healedWithered hand healed First council to put Jesus to deathFirst council to put Jesus to death Many more healedMany more healed Jesus charged with doing miracles by SatanJesus charged with doing miracles by Satan The unpardonable sinThe unpardonable sin Current PassageCurrent Passage –Who is primarily addressed? Pharisees (24-25) –What is the setting? a house (13:1) –Subject: An evil generation who bears evil fruit

33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 "The good man brings out of {his} good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of {his} evil treasure what is evil. 36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." 39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and {yet} no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 "{The} Queen of {the} South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 43 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find {it.} 44 "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds {it} unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." 46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." 48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (New American Standard)

“The tree is known by its fruit…” (33-37) "What is in the well will be in the bucket""What is in the well will be in the bucket" “Generation of vipers”“Generation of vipers” –Not ordinary snakes, but rather poisonous asps or adders. –Commonly 4 Inches and no thicker than wire –Lurk under stones, desert sands, or in cracks of old walls “from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks”“from the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks” –“The Pharisees’ blasphemy was a reflection of their heart –Same warning given to the disciples on the Mount (Lk 6:45) Judgment for every “idle” wordJudgment for every “idle” word –The Great White Throne judgment “according to their works” (Rev 20:12) “according to their works” (Rev 20:12) –“idle” = unprofitable, useless, barren –Words will reward or damn (James 3:2-6)

33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 "The good man brings out of {his} good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of {his} evil treasure what is evil. 36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." 39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and {yet} no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 "{The} Queen of {the} South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 43 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find {it.} 44 "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds {it} unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." 46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." 48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (New American Standard)

The Sign of Jonah (V 38-40) “no sign shall be given”? (of His identity)“no sign shall be given”? (of His identity) –His other miracles were works of compassion (14:14,15:32, 20:34), which confirmed His message. Sign of JonahSign of Jonah –Validation of the Old Testament account –Jonah - a type of Christ –Jesus was dead for 3 full days and nights Challenges the traditional “Good Friday” notionChallenges the traditional “Good Friday” notion Day after His death was a “high day” (Jn 19:31), a special Sabbath of the feast (Lev 23:6-11), 2 days prior to the regular Sabbath.Day after His death was a “high day” (Jn 19:31), a special Sabbath of the feast (Lev 23:6-11), 2 days prior to the regular Sabbath. Christ was buried “after the manner of the Jews” (Jn 19:40)Christ was buried “after the manner of the Jews” (Jn 19:40) –3 days until embalmment (Herodotus) –3 days of mourning

The Sign of Jonah (V 38-40) Are there fish that big?Are there fish that big? –A Mediterranean fish was caught and exhibited in Beirut, whose head alone weighed 6 tons, and whose jaws had an opening of 8 feet. In the April 4, 1896 Literary Digest, a story was recounted of a whale in the Mediterranean Sea that destroyed a harpoon boat and swallowed a sailor named James Bartley. A day and a half later, Bartley was found alive in the whale's belly with only his skin tanned by the gastric juices. Another fish, caught off the coast of Florida, weighed 15 tons and had a 1,500 pound fish in its belly (Dake's Annotated Reference Bible). “heart of the earth”“heart of the earth” –Where was Jesus for 3 days and nights? He was not in Heaven (Jn 20:17)He was not in Heaven (Jn 20:17) Prevalent theory: Jesus descended (Eph 4:7-11) into Hades (Acts 2:31) and proclaimed victory over evil forces (1 Pet 3:18-19), making an example of them openly (Col 2:15), stripping them of the keys of Hades and death (Rev 1:18), and leading the righteous dead out of “paradise” (Lk 23:43)Prevalent theory: Jesus descended (Eph 4:7-11) into Hades (Acts 2:31) and proclaimed victory over evil forces (1 Pet 3:18-19), making an example of them openly (Col 2:15), stripping them of the keys of Hades and death (Rev 1:18), and leading the righteous dead out of “paradise” (Lk 23:43) –Is Hell in the earth? (Dt 32:22, Ezek 31:16-18)

33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 "The good man brings out of {his} good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of {his} evil treasure what is evil. 36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." 39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and {yet} no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 "{The} Queen of {the} South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 43 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find {it.} 44 "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds {it} unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." 46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." 48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (New American Standard)

This Generation Condemned (41-42) Unrepentant heartsUnrepentant hearts –Ninevah repented during Jonah’s preaching (Jonah 3:1-10) –Christ is greater, yet this generation will not repent Unbelieving heartsUnbelieving hearts –Sheba, originally disbelieving Solomon’s wisdom, came to his palace and was convinced to believe it (1 Kings 10:1-13) –Christ is greater, yet this generation will not believe

33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 "The good man brings out of {his} good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of {his} evil treasure what is evil. 36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." 39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and {yet} no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 "{The} Queen of {the} South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 43 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find {it.} 44 "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds {it} unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." 46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." 48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (New American Standard)

Parallel of the Demons (43-45) Facts about demonsFacts about demons –They are “unclean” –They can go out and come into men –They can walk –They seek comfort –They can talk –They make decisions –There are varying levels of wickedness among them –They seek control of men Parallel to IsraelParallel to Israel –Latter state of unbelieving Israel became worse than first –Continual rejection of Christ brought “wrath to the uttermost” (1 Th 2:13-1) & complete blindness (Rom 11:7-10) –Applies to individuals as well (2 Pet 2:20-22)

33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 "The good man brings out of {his} good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of {his} evil treasure what is evil. 36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." 38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." 39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and {yet} no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 "{The} Queen of {the} South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 43 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find {it.} 44 "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds {it} unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." 46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." 48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother." (New American Standard)

New Relationship Defined (46-50) “mother and brothers were standing outside”“mother and brothers were standing outside” –Jesus’ present teaching was inside a house (13:1) –Jesus had brothers and sisters (13:56, Ps 69:8-9, Gal 1:19) –Why were they there? To seize him? (Mk 3:21) “whoever does the will of my Father”“whoever does the will of my Father” –Mt 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (KJV) –We need to know it (Eph 5:17), do it from the heart (Eph 6:6), live it (Eph 2:11-17) –His will is our Sanctification (1 Th 4:3-4, Rom 12:2) “Brother”“Brother” –Term previously used for relatives (Gen 14:16), neighbors (Dt 23:7), any Israelite (Lev 19:17), any man (Gen 9:5), and companions (2 Sam 1:26), is now a fraternal epithet among Christians (1 Cor 7:12)

Group Discussion 1. What stood out to you in today’s teaching? 2. Jesus spoke of a tree bringing forth fruit as a symbol. What are some other essential elements which sustain a tree and what could they be likened to in a person’s life? (Water, light, etc.) 3. What’s wrong with the following statement? “I know he speaks immorally all the time and has a severe alcohol problem, but he really does have a good heart” 4. Who was the greatest preacher? How many people repented when hearing his preaching? Was he a success or failure? Why? 5. Did you ever know someone who understood the things of God and was seemingly on fire for the Lord and then willingly fell back into a life of sin? Was their later state worse than the first? 6. How can we best succeed in doing the will of the Father?