17.

Calling Jesus Satan: Sowing Seeds of Hatred Leading to Doubt and Unbelief

Matthew 12:24-50

  • Session: 17
  • Week: 3
  • Day: 3
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Introduction

In Matthew 12:24-50, Jesus confronts the spirit of religion that hinders the crowds from coming to Him for rest by accusing Him of being Beelzebub. This passage highlights how religious leaders plant seeds of doubt and unbelief in people’s hearts, leading to eternal consequences. Jesus exposes the kingdom of darkness’s opposition by discrediting Him before the crowds and cautions pilgrims to be aware of those who sow hatred and unbelief.

Objectives

By the end of this session, you will have:

  • Understood how to navigate the spiritual roundabout by listing the five possible paths a pilgrim might take and their potential outcomes (e.g., returning to culture for help, seeking the hand of Jesus but not His face, or turning to the way of Beelzebub).
  • Committed to ministering to confused travellers at the spiritual roundabouts by confronting the false teachings they receive from the Pharisees, scribes, and even the family of Jesus—tribal teachings and hearsay.

Outline

  • Navigating the faith roundabout and its possible outcomes.
  • Confronting false teaching and teachers at the faith roundabout.
  • Binding the strong man or the evil one at the faith roundabout (Matthew 12:29).
  • Ministering to confused travellers at the roundabout.
  • Seeking signs and wonders instead of seeking Jesus.
  • The sign of Jonah explained and the misinterpretation of signs.
  • The physical and spiritual family of Jesus explained.

Group Study Time

Matthew 12:24-50

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

What do the verses mean?
(In small groups, attempt the following questions):

  • Read Matthew 12:23. Describe what happens when people on their way to Jesus for rest come to a roundabout. List five possible alternatives (routes) people can take at a normal road roundabout.
  • Read Matthew 12:24-29; Matthew 12:43-45. What did Jesus reveal about the kingdom of darkness, the devil, casting out the devil, the return of the cast-out devils, and how Jesus defeated them?
  • Read Matthew 12:43-45. Why are believers rejecting Christ and returning to their traditional rituals and religion? What is the danger of returning to culture for help?
  • What is blasphemy? What is the danger of calling Jesus the devil (blasphemy)? (Matthew 12:30-32)
  • Read Matthew 12:24-25; Matthew 12:33-37. What did Jesus say about the spirit of the antichrist and the agents of the devil (Pharisees), who confuse travellers or pilgrims at the roundabout of faith?
  • Read Matthew 12:38-42. What are signs and wonders? What dangers did Jesus reveal about seeking signs instead of seeking Him? What one sign would Jesus show them?
  • Read Matthew 12:46-50. What do you learn about the physical family of Jesus? What are the qualifications for becoming part of Jesus’s spiritual family? Why did the physical family of Jesus refuse to believe in Him?

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.