Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

A Setup Gone Wrong

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Church Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2021-05-19

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver examines Matthew 12:9-15, where the Pharisees attempt to set up Jesus by asking if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus exposes their hypocrisy by arguing from the lesser to the greater: if they would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, how much more should a man be healed? The sermon emphasizes that works of mercy are necessary, that not doing good when able is equivalent to doing evil, and that obedience to God must be regardless of consequences. The Pharisees' reaction—plotting to destroy Jesus—illustrates that those who reject truth will respond with anger when their errors are exposed. Applications include the call to love truth, avoid hardness of heart, and trust God with the results of obedience.

[John Weaver] All right, let's open our Bible study, if you would please, to the book of Matthew chapter 12. Matthew chapter 12. And we're going to be reading verses 9 through 15. Matthew 12 verses 9 through 15. The title of the message is a set up gone wrong, a set up gone wrong. So look, if you would please, in Matthew chapter 12, beginning there with verse nine. And when he was departed, fence, he went into their synagogue and behold, there was a man which had his hand withered.

[John Weaver] And they asked him saying, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days that they might accuse him? And he said to them, What man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep? And if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore, it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth, and it was restored whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

[John Weaver] But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew himself from fence, and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all. Setups are very, very prominent. Everyone hates them, even those that are supposed to be funny. We've all been set up one way or the other, and usually it's around a birthday or an anniversary or some kind of special event. And sometimes these setups succeed, sometimes they fail, sometimes they are funny, But sometimes you end up crying as well. But setups can become very serious, especially when governmental entities are involved.

[John Weaver] And oftentimes, corrupt police have been known for setting up innocent citizens. I just read an article within the last couple of weeks concerning a man who was trying to go into Mexico to visit relatives. They found five bullets in his truck. just five bullets. Well, the man happened to be an American citizen. He was also a Texan. He also had a concealed carry permit, but there was no weapons on him and there were no weapons in the truck whatsoever.

[John Weaver] But he did stand up for his rights and he evidently made the border patrol agents angry. And so they found these five bullets and declared them to be munitions of war. And they confiscated his truck. And according to the article, it has now been two years, and he's still not gotten his truck back. So obviously, setups can be very, very serious. I've not only read this, but I've also received verification from several sources on how absolutely simple it is for governmental agents to plant pornography on someone's computer, even child porn, pedophilia, and the owner of that computer be completely ignorant of it and have known nothing about it until there's an investigation. And then, of course, that child porn is found on his computer and then he's charged and he's ruined professionally.

[John Weaver] as well as personally as well. And of course, I think most of you who do any reading at all understand that the FBI is well known for its sting operations. But setups occur in the religious area as well. All you have to do is read Fox's book of martyrs and you will see the intrigue, the collusion, and the conspiracy of the Roman Catholics to destroy the reformers and or any that disagreed with them.

[John Weaver] There was one reformer, I have several books by him, Pierre Verret. He was so hated by the Roman Catholics, and especially the priests, that they had this poor man poisoned, which he survived. They ambushed him, they beat him, they stabbed him, and he still survived and preached the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ for many years after that. And of course if you've done any reading on history you've probably come up with the name Cardinal Richelieu. He was in France and of course Cardinal Richelieu was notorious for destroying anyone that opposed him or anyone who stood up against him and very obviously he had many of them set up and put to death and or arrested as well. So over and over in the New Testament You're going to find that it was the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians who tried to set up Jesus Christ. Now, our text happens to be one of those instances where they tried to set up Jesus Christ. But before I expound this text and point it out to you, I want to show you very quickly some other passages of the Bible where they sought to set up Jesus Christ in order that they might accuse him and condemn him.

[John Weaver] So if you look very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 19. Matthew chapter 19. And look if you would please at verse 3. Matthew 19 and verse 3. Here the Bible just simply says this. The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? Notice if you would please. The Bible says the Pharisees came also unto him, tempting him and saying, supposedly asking him this question, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

[John Weaver] Now what appears to be a legitimate question does not necessarily mean that it is a legitimate question. And in this instance, it certainly was not a legitimate question whatsoever. You have to understand the background for this particular question. In Judaism, there were two competing schools. One was known as a school of Shammai and the other was known as a school of Hillel. Now the school of Shammai were ultra-conservatives. They were very religious, known as religious fundamentalists. so to speak. And not only were they religious fundamentalists, they had a pathological devotion to obey what they determined to be the traditions and the ceremonies and rituals concerning the law. And what they believed was simply this, that all of these traditions and all of these ceremonies and all these rituals were nothing more than a fence around the law to protect the law, so to speak. Now when you had the school of El El, the school of El El of course were more liberal, they were milder and less strict in relationship to all of these traditions and ceremonies and rituals as well.

[John Weaver] So now they come to Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 19 and they ask seemingly a simple question, is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any cause whatsoever? So the ploy here was to get Jesus Christ to either side with the school of Shammai or with the school of Hillel because these two schools were very contentious and they argued and they fought and so obviously then if they could get Christ to side with one of these schools of thought then of course they would have him pigeonholed and they could then use the other school to attack him and accuse him. Let me give you another one. If you look very quickly in Matthew chapter 22, since we're talking about set-ups, Matthew chapter 22, look if you would please at verses 15 through 22. We're talking about set-ups, how they tried to set up Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] In Matthew chapter 22, beginning there with verse 15, the Bible says this, Then went the Pharisees and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. Now note, if you would, the word entangle. And they sent out unto him their disciples, that is the Pharisees, with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth. Neither carest thou for any man, for thou regardest not the person of men.

[John Weaver] Now you're talking about something that seemingly would be a compliment, but yet it was a setup because we want you to tell us, we want you to Specify we want you to be very very clear in answering this question And I'm going to show it to you in just a moment what they were trying to do. So notice if you would please In verse 17, they come with this question after they give him this great build-up. Tell us therefore What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not?

[John Weaver] but Jesus perceived their wickedness and said Why tempt you me, you hypocrites? Show me the tribute money.' And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They said unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which are God's. And when they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way."

[John Weaver] Now, here is the setup. They wanted to know if it was lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not. So if Christ said, yes, give Caesar the tax, now he is supporting the hated Roman Empire and all the Judeans would be against him because they despised the Romans. If he said, do not pay the tax, now they're going to report him to the Roman Empire. So that he would be known as an anarchist, an insurrectionist, and someone who was against the Caesar cult and the Emperor cult.

[John Weaver] Obviously, they thought they had him trapped. So, our Lord had just simply got out of their trap by saying, whose image is on this coin? Caesar's. Well, he said, render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which belong to God. By the way, what does belong to God? Everything. everything, the world and they that they're in. He is the creator. Everything basically belongs to him.

[John Weaver] And of course, when they saw they could not take hold of his words, then of course they left him. The interesting thing is right after this, look in verse 23, and I'm not going to go over this one because it is so obvious, the same day, in other words, after the Pharisees failed, after the Herodians failed, the same day came to him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection and ask him, saying, Master, Moses said, if a man die having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed unto his brother. And of course, this had to do with the Leverite marriage. And then they say that there were seven brothers and the first one married a wife that had no child. And then the second one married her. They had no children. The third one married her and right on up to the seventh. And finally, the seventh brother died. The woman was left alive alone, still with no seed. And then they ask him, well, whose wife is she going to be in the resurrection?

[John Weaver] And our Lord said, well, you do her not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God. For in heaven, they do not marry nor are they given in marriage. And then he went on to say, you must remember that God said to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Not I was. He said he is the God of the living and not the God of the dead. So obviously here they are still trying to entangle our Lord and get him set up because clearly they did not want our Lord to be teaching what he was teaching.

[John Weaver] Now, let me give you one more illustration before we go back to Matthew 12. I want you to turn to John chapter eight. John chapter 8, because everywhere you turn, seemingly even today, there are setups. I want you to understand setups can be in any area of life. So in John chapter 8, beginning there with verse 3, we have here the account of the woman taken in adultery. So John 8 and verse 3, And the scribes and the Pharisees brought on him a woman taken in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to their master, this woman was taken in adultery in the very act.

[John Weaver] Now Moses and the law commanded us that such should be stoned. But what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down and with his finger rode on the ground as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. Again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground. When they heard it, being convicts or convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even into the last. And Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers?

[John Weaver] Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more.

[John Weaver] Now obviously, and very clearly, this was a setup. The Pharisees were not interested in righteousness, neither were they interested in justice. If they had been interested in justice, we would have to ask this question. Where was the man? Why did they just bring the woman? It takes two to commit adultery. And they just simply brought the woman. They left the man and did not bring him at all.

[John Weaver] So here's what they're trying to do. If Jesus Christ condemns the woman, he's no longer going to be known as the friend of sinners. If Jesus Christ does not condemn the woman, then of course, He's going to be against the law. And of course, he came to fulfill that law. So either way, the Pharisees believe that they had him and they were pitting him against sinners and against the law of God at the same time. So instead of failing or let me repeat that instead of falling into their trap, he proved himself to be the friend of sinners by obeying the law as well.

[John Weaver] Now let me remind you of something. Many years back, a couple years back, I preached an entire message which I entitled the Clean Hands Doctrine. This is not only a doctrine that is today in our own jurisprudence, but it was a doctrine that was clearly taught in the Bible. So that means this. If I'm going to accuse Gary of a sin, if I'm going to accuse Gary of a crime, That means the clean hands doctrine that I must be innocent and free from that sin and free from that crime myself. In other words, if I condemn him of a crime and I'm guilty of that crime myself, then all I'm doing is condemning myself as well as him. So the clean hands doctrine is very prevalent.

[John Weaver] Now, have you ever wondered what Jesus Christ did when he stooped down and wrote on the ground? I have no idea, and I cannot prove what I'm about to say to you. Except if you go back to the Leviticus, you remember the woman who was taken in adultery. The priest made her drink the bitter water which causes the curse, and then he wrote in the dust there in the tabernacle. I would tend to think that when our Lord wrote on the ground, He was writing down names, dates, places because the Bible says they being convicted and their own conscience went out beginning from the oldest to the last. Now, when our Lord looked up, he said, woman, where are those nine accusers?

[John Weaver] Does no man condemn thee? She said, no man, Lord. Well, he said, neither did I condemn thee.

[John Weaver] Now, how could our Lord say that when he knew obviously that she was guilty? Well, if you go back to Deuteronomy And the book of Numbers, you will find that the law of God demanded a minimum of two witnesses for the death penalty to be executed. Where were her witnesses? They were gone. She had no one to accuse her. So according to the law, the only thing our Lord could do was let her go.

[John Weaver] And therefore, he said, neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more. So they were trying to entrap him here, and of course they failed clearly, and I'm certainly thankful that they did.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn back to Matthew 12, our text, because in our text in Matthew chapter 12, we have a definite design by the Pharisees, by the Jews, to try to set Jesus Christ up in order that they might accuse him. Now, what were they going to accuse him of? Well, they were going to accuse him of healing someone on the Sabbath day.

[John Weaver] Now look in verse 10. And behold, there was a man which had his hand withered, and they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? Note this last phrase, that they might accuse him. Now, to whom would they accuse him? Well, that would be to the Sanhedrin. You remember, When they did take Jesus Christ in John chapter 19, where did they take Him? To the Sanhedrin.

[John Weaver] They took Him there first to the high priests and those 70 that were gathered there together. And they condemned Him and then they took Him to Pilate. So, clearly then, they're going to condemn Him for violating, now listen carefully, they're going to condemn Him for violating not the Sabbath, but their interpretation of the Sabbath. So there's a vast difference between violating God's law and violating how some people interpret God's law.

[John Weaver] And of course, if you'll read Mark chapter 7 in Matthew 15, you'll find that forever and ever, their traditions violated the law of God. And our Lord said, in vain do you keep your traditions that you might make void the law of God. In other words, your traditions are worthless. The only thing they're good for is to make void the law of God. And so, clearly then, they were going to accuse him not of really and truly violating God's law, but in violating their interpretation of God's law. Now, this same incident in Matthew chapter 12 is also recorded in Mark chapter 3 and in Luke chapter 6. And we'll refer to those passages just momentarily, but I just want you to know, this one incident is recorded three times in the gospel.

[John Weaver] Now, look if you would again please at verse 10. And behold, there was a man who had his hand withered, and they asked him, saying, so they asked specifically, they asked deliberately, they asked, well listen, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? And then note this phrase again, that they might accuse him.

[John Weaver] Now, here is an important truth that you and I are to grasp at this particular point. All questions are not necessarily simple questions. Questions may be used as a setup. There is a vast difference between asking a question in order to get a good answer or simply to be informed or desiring to know something. And then asking a question in order to set someone up so that he could be mocked and criticized and condemned and entrapped and ensnared.

[John Weaver] Moreover, you've got to consider this. A lot of times when questions are asked, it's not that the questioner really desires to have an answer. It's so that he can set up the individual who, when he gives an answer, then he can respond and give forth his answer, what he thinks, what he believes, and what he wants to do is to teach. And then you've got to understand that some questions are just simply asked for reasons for debate and challenge. And in each instance where these questions are asked illegitimately, It's usually because someone is wanting to demonstrate an attitude of superiority or arrogance.

[John Weaver] Now let me show you. If you would hold Matthew chapter 12, but turn over your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 2. I want you to understand that the Jews, Pharisees, Sadducees, all of these people, boasted of their superior knowledge. But their superior knowledge was certainly deficient in the sense that they did not obey the law themselves. They just wanted everybody else to do what they were told to do. So look in Romans chapter two in verse 17.

[John Weaver] He says, behold, are called a Jew or a Judahite. You have to remember now, the people that were referred to as Jews, there were several groups. But first of all, geographically, you're talking about the people in Judea, not the northern kingdom, just the southern kingdom. Those in Judea, those who were born of the tribe of Judah were known as Jews as well. But then the ruling elite in the Bible were also called the Jews. So note what he says. Behold, art called a Jew, and restest in the law.

[John Weaver] Now watch, and makest thy boast of God And knowest his will, and approveth the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law. Now here it is. And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which have the form of knowledge, and of the truth of the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself, Now that preaches to man should not steal, does thou steal? Now that says to man should not commit adultery, does thou commit adultery? Thou that abhors idols, does thou commit sacrilege? Now here it is. Thou that makest thy boast of the law through breaking the law dishonors thou God, for the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you. And then he says, and it is written.

[John Weaver] And so here, what he's saying is here's these people who have a form of knowledge and they boasted that they really knew this when in reality they did not know and they were certainly not going to obey at all. Now, it's the height of arrogance and is the height of just pride to demand that others listen to us and do as we say and follow our directions even though we don't even obey ourselves. I'll give you a good clear illustration and I just thought of this this morning.

[John Weaver] We have six grandkids and Renee is our oldest granddaughter. She is now 32 and Casey is our oldest grandson. He's 32. He's a week younger than our oldest granddaughter, and there were four others, and they were all, when this happened, Renee was probably five or six, and the rest of them were four, three, right on down. But they were all down on the pond dam fishing, and Renee was walking up and down the pond dam, telling all the rest of the kids how to fish. what to do. And the funny thing was, she had never been fishing in her life, but she was demanding that everybody fish the way she told them to fish. Finally, Casey, the oldest grandson, looked at her and said, Renee, if you'd be quiet, maybe we can catch some fish.

[John Weaver] So, you know, I thought about that. But, you know, that's the way people are. We just demand that folks do things our way. Whether we do them or not, we think that's the way it should be done and therefore you just need to do it our way. But it is absolutely asinine and it is a display of ignorance to expect and demand that everyone accept your positions and your interpretations and your views without having your background and your opportunities and your experience and your study habits. But see, that's exactly what the Pharisees did.

[John Weaver] They demanded the peasants obey them. and do as they were told because they were the elite. They were the ones who supposedly knew and they boasted that they knew. So, now they come to Jesus Christ and they ask Him, is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? That would be a lawful and a legitimate question if it was being asked in sincerity. But when it is being asked to accuse and condemn, it is evidence of a haughty, arrogant, and wicked motive. Moreover, the evidence in our text demonstrates that the question was asked not out of concern for the sick, not out of concern for the disabled man, not out of concern for anyone who was wounded and helpless, But this question was asked simply that they might outsmart Jesus Christ and thus accuse Him and condemn Him. So here's the setup. If Christ answered that it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath, then they would ask where is His compassion for the weak, the sickly, the disabled, the hurted. If Christ healed on the Sabbath, Now they're going to condemn him because according to their interpretation of the Sabbath, you could not heal on the Sabbath.

[John Weaver] It was considered work. And therefore, since Jesus Christ would not conform to their interpretation, he would certainly be condemned.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look at verses 10 and 11 together. And here's how our Lord gets out of this setup. And behold, there was a man which had his hand withered, They asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath days? That they might accuse him. He said unto them, What man shall be there among you that shall have one sheep? And if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and lift it out? Now, you see, our Lord knew their habits. He knew their deeds. He knew their actions.

[John Weaver] And yes, they would help their animal. they would save the life of their animal. And by the way, it would be biblically right to do that. In fact, the Bible tells you in the book of Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 10 that a righteous man regarded the life of his beast, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. So yes, the problem that you have in this passage is very simple. They were more concerned over a suffering endangered animal than they were over a suffering Disabled man. So look in verse 12. So in verse 11, he asked, if you have a sheep and he fall in the pit, where do you get him out? Now look in verse 12. Then he asked this question, how much then is a man better than a sheep?

[John Weaver] Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days. So in this passage, our Lord is arguing from the lesser to the greater. You will find that argument used many times throughout the Bible. So our Lord is saying it like this. If it is right to save the life of an animal on the Sabbath day, how much more is it right to save the life of a man? If it is right to show mercy to an animal on the Sabbath day, how much more is it right to show mercy to a man on the Sabbath day? So our Lord is not denying the importance of the lives of animals. What he is saying is this. By comparison, the life of a man is more valuable and more important. And if you're going to save an animal's life, then obviously you should be willing to save the life of a man or woman as well.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to understand something. When you read the Bible, contrasts are important. And here are some things that we should learn from this passage. First of all, it is not only lawful, but it is necessary to do well even on the Sabbath day. Now, think about this. If it is lawful and right and necessary to do well on the Sabbath day, how much more is lawful to do that which is right and holy every other day? I mean, if it's right to do this on the Sabbath day, it'd be right to do this any day as long as people are being helped.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold Matthew 12, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Mark chapter 3. I told you we'd look at the same incident from Mark and Luke, but look if you would please at Mark 3 and verse 4 right now. Watch the question that he asked them. And he said to them, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days or to do evil, to save life or to kill?

[John Weaver] But they held their peace. Now, I told you it's important to learn from contrast. So here's what our Lord is saying. Think about this now. He's asking, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days? Is it lawful to save a life or to kill? Is it lawful to do good or to do evil? Here is what our Lord was telling these Pharisees. If you do not do that which is right and holy and lawful on the Sabbath day, then you're doing evil. Now listen carefully. If you do not save the life on the Sabbath day, then you're killing. You're a murderer. If you do not show mercy on the Sabbath day, by contrast, you're showing that you are unmerciful. If you do not show justice on the Sabbath day, by contrast, you're showing that you are cruel and unjust. And our Lord basically cornered his adversaries at this particular point. He shut them up. Now, I'll come back to this, but notice the Bible says they held their peace.

[John Weaver] Here was a startling alternative. Here's a startling truth that we found by way of contrast, and that is this. Not to do good, when it is in the power of our hand to do it, is to do evil. Not to save a life, when it is in the power of our hand to save a life, is to kill. Not to be merciful, when it's in the power of our hand to be merciful, is to be cruel and unjust. Wow.

[John Weaver] So what our Lord was showing these Pharisees was that in reality, their pretense at keeping the law was nothing more than a violation of God's law. Their traditions were completely contrary to the law of God. Let me give you a quick quote. This is from John Calvin. He says, he who takes away the life of a man is held to be a criminal. And there is little difference between manslaughter and the conduct of him who does not concern himself about relieving a person in distress. So then Christ indirectly charges them with endeavoring, under the pretense of a holy act, to compel him to do evil, for sin is committed, as we've already said, not only by him who does anything contrary to the Lord, but also who neglects his duty. So, our Lord is saying, look, it's my duty to heal on the Sabbath day because it is saving life. It is an act of mercy. It is an act of justice. So, if it is lawful and right and holy to save a life and to show justice and to show mercy and compassion on the Sabbath day, how much more is it right to do the same thing every other day of the week?

[John Weaver] I want you to go back to Matthew 12 just momentarily, because look in verse 13. You see, our Lord did that which was right, and he obeyed God's law, regardless of what the Pharisees said or thought. For in verse 13, then said he to the man, stretched forth thine hand, and he stretched it forth, and it was restored whole like the other. Now, I want you to pay close attention to this. Because I'm going to give you a quote, just a moment. But look at verse 13 again. Then said he to the man, stretch forth thine hand, and he stretched it forth. And it was restored whole like the other.

[John Weaver] Adam Clark, in his commentary, said this. Listen, let this sink in. I'm going to read the paragraph, but the first sentence is worth it. The bare command of God is a sufficient reason for obedience. The bare command of God is a sufficient reason for obedience. He then goes on. The man might have reasoned thus, Lord, my hand is withered. How can I stretch it out? Make it whole first, and afterwards I will do as thou commandest.

[John Weaver] This may appear reasonable, but in his case, it would have been foolishness. At the command of our Lord, he made the effort. And in making it, the cure was effected. Faith disregards apparent impossibilities where there is a command and a promise of God. So please let that sink in. The bare command is sufficient for obedience. And wherever God commands and we are obedient, God is the one who gives the power. And just stop and think how often we have despised and disregarded the commands of our Lord to our own detriment. And we've sat back and said, Lord, I don't have the power to do that. That's because you're sitting back in unbelief. If he commands you to do something, that is sufficient and you must do what he commands.

[John Weaver] Now, our Lord then obeyed the law in healing the man. He not only showed mercy, He also showed compassion. He at the same time exposed the error and hypocrisy and heresy and wickedness of the Pharisees. So he asked them in Mark 3 and verse 4, listen carefully. He asked them, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days or to do evil? To save life or to kill? Huh?

[John Weaver] But they held their peace. Their response was understandable. They refused to answer. They could not answer. Or had they answered his question, it would have proven that he was right and they were wrong. Their setup failed miserably. They were hypocrites. They did not know the law of God. They did not care about the law of God. They did not care about the man who was suffering. The only thing they cared about was their interpretation and their traditions.

[John Weaver] Let me show you another incident. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 13. Luke 13. You talk about hypocrisy. Here it is very clearly set forth Luke 13 and let's begin reading there with verse 10 Luke 13 verse 10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath note it was on the sabbath And behold there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity 18 years and was

[John Weaver] bound together or bowed together And could in no wise lift up herself So she was almost bent double. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him and said unto her, Woman, dart loose from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation. Listen to this. He answered with indignation. Because that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath day and said unto the people, there are six days in which men ought to work. In them therefore come and be healed, but not on the Sabbath day. The Lord then answered him and said, Thou hypocrite, dost not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo these eighteen years be loose from this bond on the Sabbath day?

[John Weaver] And when he had said these things, all of his adversaries were ashamed. And all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were being done by him. Note if you, what, what indignation? Why? Why? You, you heal that. It's a Sabbath day. You ought not to do this on the Sabbath day. Six days man ought to work, not on the Sabbath. Our Lord said, you hypocrite, you're, you're worthless.

[John Weaver] You will, you will take your animal and lead him away to drink water. This is the daughter of Abraham. Should she not be healed even on the Sabbath day? Wow.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. In each one of these instances where Jesus Christ was set up or attempted to be set up by the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, He defeated them. And it was not just a defeat. He was exposing the truth. He was exposing their error, their misinterpretation, and the hypocrisy of their lives. So here's my question before we look at the scripture. Do you think that the Pharisees said to themselves and each other, wow, What a wonderful truth.

[John Weaver] You know, this man is right. We've been wrong for hundreds of years. I am so thankful at last, finally, we have the truth and we can change our lives. Do you think that's what they said? Uh-uh. I want you to look to two passages. Look in Matthew 12, verse 14, and then we'll look in Luke chapter 6, okay? Look if you would, Matthew 12 verse 14, after Jesus Christ exposed their error, their hypocrisy and their sin, then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. Wow! Then if you look in Luke chapter 6 and verse 11, Luke 6 and verse 11, here's the same story, and they were filled with madness. and commune one with another what they might do to Jesus. They were insanely mad. They were upset. They said, we've got to get rid of this man. We've got to kill him. We're going to take counsel how we might destroy him.

[John Weaver] Listen to me very carefully. Men that do not love or hold the truth will not take lightly to having their sins and their errors exposed. If you do not love the truth, if you do not want the truth, it will infuriate you to have your sin and your error and your heresy exposed. This is equally true today as it was in the days of Jesus Christ. And I can prove this very simply. For instance, if you don't believe what I've just said, then I would challenge you to just simply begin exposing the corruption that is in our governmental entities today. Take on, if you would, the judicial system and expose the corruption there. Take hold of the IRS. Grab a hold of Congress and expose them to how unbiblical they are, how contrary to the Constitution they are.

[John Weaver] When is the last time you've ever written a congressman or talked to a congressman and he looks at you and says, well, thank you for helping me. I now see the biblical truth and I see where I've been violating my oath to the Constitution and I'm going to change it. I'm going to start obeying my oath and the Bible. How many times has it ever happened? No, they'll get mad at you and the truth of the matter is they'll stick the IRS on you or they'll stick the FBI on you. They'll seek to destroy you just because you've exposed their error, their heresy, their sin.

[John Weaver] If that's not sufficient for you, I'll tell you what you do. You begin a campaign to expose the corruption, the error, and the heresy in the leading denominations of our day. See how far you get with that as well. See if they're saying, wow, I didn't know that we drifted so far from the Word of God. I am so thankful that someone has come along and pointed out to us our error. No, they're not going to say that. They're going to do everything they can to destroy you. And if that's not sufficient, you take one of the mega churches and their mega pastors and you begin exposing his sin, his error, his heresy, and you see how far that goes with his followers.

[John Weaver] And you're going to find something absolutely You're going to find that instead of being happy, that they now have been exposed to the truth. They're going to be full of anger and resentment and hatred and perhaps violence. Because they don't want the truth. Here is something that we must grasp and we must understand. And that is man by nature does not love truth. Man by nature does not want truth, and man by nature will not accept truth. What men by nature want and will hold to are traditions, rituals, ceremonies, habits, customs, feelings, emotions, personal satisfaction, and personal contentment, and they'll place every one of those things above the Word of God, they'd much rather have all those than they had the truth. Now, here's something else we must understand. Our Lord knew the truth, applied the truth, and obeyed the law of God regardless of the circumstances. He knew what their attitude was. He knew what they were going to do. He knew that they would take a counsel to destroy him.

[John Weaver] And so what did he do? He just simply did that, which was right. He told the man, stretch forth thy hand. And when he stretched it forth, it was restored, made whole just like the other. And they were so angry. They sought then counsel to destroy him. The point I'm trying to make is this. We must be like wise. We must give no consideration, listen now, we must give no consideration to the results of our godly, obedient, and biblical actions. If it is godly, if it is biblical, if it is obedience to God, we must obey Him regardless of the outcome and regardless of the circumstances. The duty of obedience is ours, the results belong unto God. We cannot We cannot control the results. The only thing that we are responsible to do is to obey. So understand this duty is ours. The results are God's.

[John Weaver] Now, let me try to make some applications and tie this together. First of all, our Lord teaches us clearly that works of mercy are indeed works of necessity. So if there is a need for mercy, it is a necessary work. And that work of mercy and that work of necessity is to be done regardless of what day it is. Doesn't matter if it's a Sabbath day or regular day. Moreover, if we fail to exercise mercy, he says it's cruelty. If we fail to exercise justice, he says it's injustice. If we fail to save a life, it is the same as killing. Here's the second truth. At times, setups backfire.

[John Weaver] They backfired on all the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. I read not some time ago of a corrupt cop who wanted to arrest a man and there was nothing to arrest him for. So he was planting some drugs in the man's car. He cut off his body camera. He either didn't know or he forgot. That body camera, once it's cut off, it continues to record for 30 seconds. And he caught himself on his own camera planting the drugs. Then he turned his camera back on and he filmed himself finding the drugs. And of course, at the court, the man was totally exonerated and found innocent when the body camera came into evidence because the cop was very clearly planning the drugs did not belong to the citizens.

[John Weaver] Have you ever stopped to think about this when you read through the Psalms that the Bible says that he that dig at the pit shall fall therein? And he that sets a snare shall be ensnared by a snare. And the Bible says that God shall bring it down upon their own pate, that is the top of their heads. I love that passage in Psalm 2, where the kings of the earth and the heathen all raged together against God and against his Christ. And the Bible says, he that sitteth in heaven shall laugh.

[John Weaver] The Lord shall have them in derision. So obviously, clearly, yes, setups do indeed backfire and in the sovereign Providence of God, many times He's caused some to backfire in our lives of which we probably did not even realize they were set ups. He just protected us and preserved us. But here's the third one. Here's an application that you and I must make, not only in our attitude, but also in our daily life.

[John Weaver] I want you to look in your Bibles back again to Mark chapter three. And I want you to look at this. Look in Mark chapter 3 and let's read verses 4 and 5 together. Here it is. Mark 3 verses 4 and 5. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days, or to do evil, to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. Watch.

[John Weaver] And when he looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts. He said, Then the man stretched forth thine hand, and he stretched it out, and his hand was restored whole as the other. Do you realize that hardness of heart, an unmerciful and an uncompassionate spirit, and a lack of concern for others grieves and angers the Lord Jesus Christ. He looked around with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts.

[John Weaver] You know what the Bible says in Ephesians 4 and verse 30? And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you're sealed unto the day of your redemption. How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? By acting disobediently. by doing those things which are contrary to God in His Word. And so the scripture is teaching us, when you and I have a hard heart, unmerciful, unforgiving, uncaring, unconcerned heart, it angers our Lord and it's grievous unto Him.

[John Weaver] We have to watch our attitude. We have to watch our heart. Let me show you one last one. I want you to look back to Matthew chapter 12. And look, if you would please. At verses 14 and 15. Then the Pharisees went out and held a council against him, how they how they might destroy him. Now, watch. But when Jesus knew it and he did. He withdrew himself from events. Oh, are you listening? Here's what he did. You want your error? You may have it. You want your lies? You may keep them. You want your traditions?

[John Weaver] Follow them to your heart's desire. If you have no regard for truth, and if you do not want the truth, I will leave you to yourself. And if you would turn right over to Matthew chapter 15, I want you to see this stated very bluntly. Matthew 15, beginning there with verse 12, look at it. Then came his disciples and said unto him, knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended after they heard this saying?

[John Weaver] What did our Lord answer? But he answered and said, every plant which my heavenly father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Let them alone. They be blind leaders of the blind. If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. What did our Lord do when he withdrew himself from those Pharisees? He left them alone. I got news for you. If our Lord ever leaves you alone, it will not be to your advantage.

[John Weaver] It will be to your disadvantage. You need to make sure that you love truth. You desire truth, and you want truth, and you're willing to let any error, any heresy, any unmerciful, uncompassionate, wicked attitudes or desires go and say, I want truth. I want truth more than anything else. If you do not want truth, I can assure you our Lord will not give it to you. He will leave you in your error and your sin. Truth is what we need, and truth is how we're to live.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace and your mercy. We ask, Lord, that you would indeed teach us, build us up in the most holy faith. Give us thy truth for thou art truth incarnate. Help us, Lord, to love Thee, to live for Thee, to stand for Thee, to obey Thee, not even thinking of the consequences for our obedience, but just trust Thee with the results. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] so so

A Setup Gone Wrong

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	5Q6FCNSfpck
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2021-05-19
Dictation Name
Book	Book 040: Church Order and Worship - Volume 2 — Chapter 37
Source Timed Segments	79

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Nature of Setups

Setups are common in life, from harmless pranks to serious governmental entrapment. The sermon introduces the theme of religious setups, particularly those against Jesus by the Pharisees.

All right, let's open our Bible study, if you would please, to the book of Matthew chapter 12. Matthew chapter 12. And we're going to be reading verses 9 through 15. Matthew 12 verses 9 through 15. The title of the message is "A Setup Gone Wrong," a setup gone wrong. So look, if you would please, in Matthew chapter 12, beginning there with verse nine.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 12:9-15

"And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: and behold, there was a man which had his hand withered."

"And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him."

"But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all." Setups are very, very prominent. Everyone hates them, even those that are supposed to be funny. We've all been set up one way or the other, and usually it's around a birthday or an anniversary or some kind of special event. And sometimes these setups succeed, sometimes they fail, sometimes they are funny, but sometimes you end up crying as well. But setups can become very serious, especially when governmental entities are involved. And oftentimes, corrupt police have been known for setting up innocent citizens. I just read an article within the last couple of weeks concerning a man who was trying to go into Mexico to visit relatives. They found five bullets in his truck—just five bullets. Well, the man happened to be an American citizen. He was also a Texan. He also had a concealed carry permit, but there were no weapons on him and there were no weapons in the truck whatsoever.

But he did stand up for his rights and he evidently made the border patrol agents angry. And so they found these five bullets and declared them to be munitions of war. And they confiscated his truck. And according to the article, it has now been two years, and he's still not gotten his truck back. So obviously, setups can be very, very serious. I've not only read this, but I've also received verification from several sources on how absolutely simple it is for governmental agents to plant pornography on someone's computer, even child porn, pedophilia, and the owner of that computer be completely ignorant of it and have known nothing about it until there's an investigation. And then, of course, that child porn is found on his computer and then he's charged and he's ruined professionally.

as well as personally as well. And of course, I think most of you who do any reading at all understand that the FBI is well known for its sting operations. But setups occur in the religious area as well. All you have to do is read Foxe's Book of Martyrs and you will see the intrigue, the collusion, and the conspiracy of the Roman Catholics to destroy the reformers and or any that disagreed with them.

Historical Examples of Religious Setups

Examples from Foxe's Book of Martyrs and figures like Pierre Viret and Cardinal Richelieu show how religious authorities have historically used setups to destroy opponents.

There was one reformer, I have several books by him, Pierre Viret. He was so hated by the Roman Catholics, and especially the priests, that they had this poor man poisoned, which he survived. They ambushed him, they beat him, they stabbed him, and he still survived and preached the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ for many years after that. And of course if you've done any reading on history you've probably come up with the name Cardinal Richelieu. He was in France and of course Cardinal Richelieu was notorious for destroying anyone that opposed him or anyone who stood up against him and very obviously he had many of them set up and put to death and or arrested as well. So over and over in the New Testament you're going to find that it was the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians who tried to set up Jesus Christ. Now, our text happens to be one of those instances where they tried to set up Jesus Christ. But before I expound this text and point it out to you, I want to show you very quickly some other passages of the Bible where they sought to set up Jesus Christ in order that they might accuse him and condemn him.

Biblical Examples of Setups Against Jesus

Several passages (Matthew 19, Matthew 22, John 8) are examined to show how the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians repeatedly tried to entrap Jesus with questions about divorce, taxes, and the resurrection.

So if you look very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 19. Matthew chapter 19. And look if you would please at verse 3. Matthew 19 and verse 3. Here the Bible just simply says this:

Scripture Reading — Matthew 19:3

"The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"

Notice if you would please. The Bible says the Pharisees came also unto him, tempting him and saying, supposedly asking him this question,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 19:3

"Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"

Now what appears to be a legitimate question does not necessarily mean that it is a legitimate question. And in this instance, it certainly was not a legitimate question whatsoever. You have to understand the background for this particular question. In Judaism, there were two competing schools. One was known as the school of Shammai and the other was known as the school of Hillel. Now the school of Shammai were ultra-conservatives. They were very religious, known as religious fundamentalists, so to speak. And not only were they religious fundamentalists, they had a pathological devotion to obey what they determined to be the traditions and the ceremonies and rituals concerning the law. And what they believed was simply this, that all of these traditions and all of these ceremonies and all these rituals were nothing more than a fence around the law to protect the law, so to speak. Now when you had the school of Hillel, the school of Hillel of course were more liberal, they were milder and less strict in relationship to all of these traditions and ceremonies and rituals as well.

So now they come to Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 19 and they ask seemingly a simple question, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any cause whatsoever?" So the ploy here was to get Jesus Christ to either side with the school of Shammai or with the school of Hillel because these two schools were very contentious and they argued and they fought and so obviously then if they could get Christ to side with one of these schools of thought then of course they would have him pigeonholed and they could then use the other school to attack him and accuse him. Let me give you another one. If you look very quickly in Matthew chapter 22, since we're talking about set-ups, Matthew chapter 22, look if you would please at verses 15 through 22. We're talking about set-ups, how they tried to set up Jesus Christ.

In Matthew chapter 22, beginning there with verse 15, the Bible says this:

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:15-22

"Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk."

Now note, if you would, the word "entangle."

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:15-22

"And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men."

Now you're talking about something that seemingly would be a compliment, but yet it was a setup because we want you to tell us, we want you to specify, we want you to be very, very clear in answering this question. And I'm going to show it to you in just a moment what they were trying to do. So notice if you would please in verse 17, they come with this question after they give him this great build-up.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:15-22

"Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"

"But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way."

Now, here is the setup. They wanted to know if it was lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not. So if Christ said, "Yes, give Caesar the tax," now he is supporting the hated Roman Empire and all the Judeans would be against him because they despised the Romans. If he said, "Do not pay the tax," now they're going to report him to the Roman Empire so that he would be known as an anarchist, an insurrectionist, and someone who was against the Caesar cult and the Emperor cult. Obviously, they thought they had him trapped. So, our Lord had just simply got out of their trap by saying, "Whose image is on this coin? Caesar's." Well, he said, "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which belong to God." By the way, what does belong to God? Everything—everything, the world and they that dwell therein. He is the creator. Everything basically belongs to him.

And of course, when they saw they could not take hold of his words, then of course they left him. The interesting thing is right after this, look in verse 23, and I'm not going to go over this one because it is so obvious, "The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother." And of course, this had to do with the levirate marriage. And then they say that there were seven brothers and the first one married a wife that had no child. And then the second one married her. They had no children. The third one married her and right on up to the seventh. And finally, the seventh brother died. The woman was left alive alone, still with no seed. And then they ask him, "Well, whose wife is she going to be in the resurrection?"

And our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:23-33

"Well, ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage."

And then he went on to say,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:23-33

"You must remember that God said to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

So obviously here they are still trying to entangle our Lord and get him set up because clearly they did not want our Lord to be teaching what he was teaching. Now, let me give you one more illustration before we go back to Matthew 12. I want you to turn to John chapter 8. John chapter 8, because everywhere you turn, seemingly even today, there are setups. I want you to understand setups can be in any area of life. So in John chapter 8, beginning there with verse 3, we have here the account of the woman taken in adultery. So John 8 and verse 3, "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act."

"Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers?"

"Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Now obviously, and very clearly, this was a setup. The Pharisees were not interested in righteousness, neither were they interested in justice. If they had been interested in justice, we would have to ask this question: Where was the man? Why did they just bring the woman? It takes two to commit adultery. And they just simply brought the woman. They left the man and did not bring him at all.

The Setup in Matthew 12: Healing on the Sabbath

The Pharisees ask Jesus if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, intending to accuse Him before the Sanhedrin. Their question is not sincere but a trap based on their traditions.

Now, I want you to turn back to Matthew 12, our text, because in our text in Matthew chapter 12, we have a definite design by the Pharisees, by the Jews, to try to set Jesus Christ up in order that they might accuse him. Now, what were they going to accuse him of? Well, they were going to accuse him of healing someone on the Sabbath day. Now look in verse 10. "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?" Note this last phrase, "that they might accuse him." Now, to whom would they accuse him? Well, that would be to the Sanhedrin. You remember, when they did take Jesus Christ in John chapter 19, where did they take Him? To the Sanhedrin.

They took Him there first to the high priests and those 70 that were gathered there together. And they condemned Him and then they took Him to Pilate. So, clearly then, they're going to condemn Him for violating—now listen carefully—they're going to condemn Him for violating not the Sabbath, but their interpretation of the Sabbath. So there's a vast difference between violating God's law and violating how some people interpret God's law. And of course, if you'll read Mark chapter 7 and Matthew 15, you'll find that forever and ever, their traditions violated the law of God. And our Lord said, "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." In other words, your traditions are worthless. The only thing they're good for is to make void the law of God. And so, clearly then, they were going to accuse him not of really and truly violating God's law, but in violating their interpretation of God's law. Now, this same incident in Matthew chapter 12 is also recorded in Mark chapter 3 and in Luke chapter 6. And we'll refer to those passages just momentarily, but I just want you to know, this one incident is recorded three times in the gospel.

Now, look if you would again please at verse 10. "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying," so they asked specifically, they asked deliberately, they asked, well listen, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?" And then note this phrase again, "that they might accuse him."

Jesus' Response: The Lesser to Greater Argument

Jesus counters by asking if they would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, then argues that a man is more valuable than a sheep, making it lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

Now, I want you to look at verses 10 and 11 together. And here's how our Lord gets out of this setup. "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?" Now, you see, our Lord knew their habits. He knew their deeds. He knew their actions.

And yes, they would help their animal. They would save the life of their animal. And by the way, it would be biblically right to do that. In fact, the Bible tells you in the book of Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 10 that

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 12:10

"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

So yes, the problem that you have in this passage is very simple. They were more concerned over a suffering endangered animal than they were over a suffering disabled man. So look in verse 12. So in verse 11, he asked, "If you have a sheep and he fall in the pit, will you get him out?" Now look in verse 12. Then he asked this question, "How much then is a man better than a sheep?"

"Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days." So in this passage, our Lord is arguing from the lesser to the greater. You will find that argument used many times throughout the Bible. So our Lord is saying it like this: If it is right to save the life of an animal on the Sabbath day, how much more is it right to save the life of a man? If it is right to show mercy to an animal on the Sabbath day, how much more is it right to show mercy to a man on the Sabbath day? So our Lord is not denying the importance of the lives of animals. What he is saying is this: By comparison, the life of a man is more valuable and more important. And if you're going to save an animal's life, then obviously you should be willing to save the life of a man or woman as well.

Now, I want you to understand something. When you read the Bible, contrasts are important. And here are some things that we should learn from this passage. First of all, it is not only lawful, but it is necessary to do well even on the Sabbath day. Now, think about this. If it is lawful and right and necessary to do well on the Sabbath day, how much more is lawful to do that which is right and holy every other day? I mean, if it's right to do this on the Sabbath day, it'd be right to do this any day as long as people are being helped.

The Principle of Contrast: Doing Good vs. Doing Evil

From Mark 3:4, Jesus presents a stark alternative: not doing good when possible is equivalent to doing evil; not saving life is akin to killing. This exposes the Pharisees' hypocrisy.

Now, I want you to hold Matthew 12, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Mark chapter 3. I told you we'd look at the same incident from Mark and Luke, but look if you would please at Mark 3 and verse 4 right now. Watch the question that he asked them.

Scripture Reading — Mark 3:4-5

"And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?" "But they held their peace."

Now, I told you it's important to learn from contrast. So here's what our Lord is saying. Think about this now. He's asking,

Scripture Reading — Mark 3:4-5

"Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days? Is it lawful to save a life or to kill? Is it lawful to do good or to do evil?"

Here is what our Lord was telling these Pharisees. If you do not do that which is right and holy and lawful on the Sabbath day, then you're doing evil. Now listen carefully. If you do not save the life on the Sabbath day, then you're killing. You're a murderer. If you do not show mercy on the Sabbath day, by contrast, you're showing that you are unmerciful. If you do not show justice on the Sabbath day, by contrast, you're showing that you are cruel and unjust. And our Lord basically cornered his adversaries at this particular point. He shut them up. Now, I'll come back to this, but notice the Bible says they held their peace.

Here was a startling alternative. Here's a startling truth that we found by way of contrast, and that is this: Not to do good, when it is in the power of our hand to do it, is to do evil. Not to save a life, when it is in the power of our hand to save a life, is to kill. Not to be merciful, when it's in the power of our hand to be merciful, is to be cruel and unjust. Wow.

So what our Lord was showing these Pharisees was that in reality, their pretense at keeping the law was nothing more than a violation of God's law. Their traditions were completely contrary to the law of God. Let me give you a quick quote. This is from John Calvin. He says, "He who takes away the life of a man is held to be a criminal. And there is little difference between manslaughter and the conduct of him who does not concern himself about relieving a person in distress. So then Christ indirectly charges them with endeavoring, under the pretense of a holy act, to compel him to do evil, for sin is committed, as we've already said, not only by him who does anything contrary to the Lord, but also who neglects his duty." So, our Lord is saying, look, it's my duty to heal on the Sabbath day because it is saving life. It is an act of mercy. It is an act of justice. So, if it is lawful and right and holy to save a life and to show justice and to show mercy and compassion on the Sabbath day, how much more is it right to do the same thing every other day of the week?

Obedience Despite Opposition

Jesus heals the man with the withered hand, demonstrating that the bare command of God is sufficient reason for obedience. Faith acts on God's command regardless of apparent impossibilities.

I want you to go back to Matthew 12 just momentarily, because look in verse 13. You see, our Lord did that which was right, and he obeyed God's law, regardless of what the Pharisees said or thought. For in verse 13, "Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other." Now, I want you to pay close attention to this. Because I'm going to give you a quote, just a moment. But look at verse 13 again. "Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other."

Adam Clarke, in his commentary, said this. Listen, let this sink in. I'm going to read the paragraph, but the first sentence is worth it. "The bare command of God is a sufficient reason for obedience." The bare command of God is a sufficient reason for obedience. He then goes on: "The man might have reasoned thus, 'Lord, my hand is withered. How can I stretch it out? Make it whole first, and afterwards I will do as thou commandest.'"

"This may appear reasonable, but in his case, it would have been foolishness. At the command of our Lord, he made the effort. And in making it, the cure was effected. Faith disregards apparent impossibilities where there is a command and a promise of God." So please let that sink in. The bare command is sufficient for obedience. And wherever God commands and we are obedient, God is the one who gives the power. And just stop and think how often we have despised and disregarded the commands of our Lord to our own detriment. And we've sat back and said, "Lord, I don't have the power to do that." That's because you're sitting back in unbelief. If he commands you to do something, that is sufficient and you must do what he commands.

Now, our Lord then obeyed the law in healing the man. He not only showed mercy, He also showed compassion. He at the same time exposed the error and hypocrisy and heresy and wickedness of the Pharisees. So he asked them in Mark 3 and verse 4, listen carefully. He asked them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?" Huh?

The Pharisees' Reaction: Anger and Conspiracy

Instead of repenting, the Pharisees are filled with madness and plot to destroy Jesus. This illustrates that those who reject truth will react with hostility when their errors are exposed.

"You know, this man is right. We've been wrong for hundreds of years. I am so thankful at last, finally, we have the truth and we can change our lives." Do you think that's what they said? Uh-uh. I want you to look to two passages. Look in Matthew 12, verse 14, and then we'll look in Luke chapter 6, okay? Look if you would, Matthew 12 verse 14, after Jesus Christ exposed their error, their hypocrisy and their sin, "Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him." Wow! Then if you look in Luke chapter 6 and verse 11, Luke 6 and verse 11, here's the same story,

Scripture Reading — Luke 6:11

"And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus."

They were insanely mad. They were upset. They said, "We've got to get rid of this man. We've got to kill him. We're going to take counsel how we might destroy him."

Listen to me very carefully. Men that do not love or hold the truth will not take lightly to having their sins and their errors exposed. If you do not love the truth, if you do not want the truth, it will infuriate you to have your sin and your error and your heresy exposed. This is equally true today as it was in the days of Jesus Christ. And I can prove this very simply. For instance, if you don't believe what I've just said, then I would challenge you to just simply begin exposing the corruption that is in our governmental entities today. Take on, if you would, the judicial system and expose the corruption there. Take hold of the IRS. Grab a hold of Congress and expose them to how unbiblical they are, how contrary to the Constitution they are.

Application: The Human Rejection of Truth

Man by nature does not love truth but prefers traditions and feelings. Exposing error in modern institutions (government, denominations, mega-churches) often provokes similar anger.

When is the last time you've ever written a congressman or talked to a congressman and he looks at you and says, "Well, thank you for helping me. I now see the biblical truth and I see where I've been violating my oath to the Constitution and I'm going to change it. I'm going to start obeying my oath and the Bible." How many times has it ever happened? No, they'll get mad at you and the truth of the matter is they'll stick the IRS on you or they'll stick the FBI on you. They'll seek to destroy you just because you've exposed their error, their heresy, their sin. If that's not sufficient for you, I'll tell you what you do. You begin a campaign to expose the corruption, the error, and the heresy in the leading denominations of our day. See how far you get with that as well. See if they're saying, "Wow, I didn't know that we drifted so far from the Word of God. I am so thankful that someone has come along and pointed out to us our error." No, they're not going to say that. They're going to do everything they can to destroy you. And if that's not sufficient, you take one of the mega churches and their mega pastors and you begin exposing his sin, his error, his heresy, and you see how far that goes with his followers.

And you're going to find something absolutely—you're going to find that instead of being happy, that they now have been exposed to the truth, they're going to be full of anger and resentment and hatred and perhaps violence. Because they don't want the truth. Here is something that we must grasp and we must understand. And that is man by nature does not love truth. Man by nature does not want truth, and man by nature will not accept truth. What men by nature want and will hold to are traditions, rituals, ceremonies, habits, customs, feelings, emotions, personal satisfaction, and personal contentment, and they'll place every one of those things above the Word of God. They'd much rather have all those than they had the truth. Now, here's something else we must understand. Our Lord knew the truth, applied the truth, and obeyed the law of God regardless of the circumstances. He knew what their attitude was. He knew what they were going to do. He knew that they would take a counsel to destroy him.

Application: Obedience and Trusting God with Results

Believers must obey God regardless of consequences, as duty is ours and results belong to God. Works of mercy are necessary, and failure to show mercy is cruelty.

And so what did he do? He just simply did that which was right. He told the man, "Stretch forth thine hand." And when he stretched it forth, it was restored, made whole just like the other. And they were so angry. They sought then counsel to destroy him. The point I'm trying to make is this: We must be likewise. We must give no consideration—listen now—we must give no consideration to the results of our godly, obedient, and biblical actions. If it is godly, if it is biblical, if it is obedience to God, we must obey Him regardless of the outcome and regardless of the circumstances. The duty of obedience is ours, the results belong unto God. We cannot control the results. The only thing that we are responsible to do is to obey. So understand this: duty is ours. The results are God's.

Now, let me try to make some applications and tie this together. First of all, our Lord teaches us clearly that works of mercy are indeed works of necessity. So if there is a need for mercy, it is a necessary work. And that work of mercy and that work of necessity is to be done regardless of what day it is. Doesn't matter if it's a Sabbath day or regular day. Moreover, if we fail to exercise mercy, he says it's cruelty. If we fail to exercise justice, he says it's injustice. If we fail to save a life, it is the same as killing. Here's the second truth. At times, setups backfire.

Application: The Danger of Hardness of Heart

Jesus' anger and grief at the Pharisees' hardness of heart (Mark 3:5) warns believers against unmerciful, uncompassionate attitudes that grieve the Holy Spirit.

I want you to look in your Bibles back again to Mark chapter 3. And I want you to look at this. Look in Mark chapter 3 and let's read verses 4 and 5 together. Here it is. Mark 3 verses 4 and 5: "And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace." Watch. "And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other." Do you realize that hardness of heart, an unmerciful and an uncompassionate spirit, and a lack of concern for others grieves and angers the Lord Jesus Christ. He looked around with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts.

You know what the Bible says in Ephesians 4 and verse 30?

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:30

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? By acting disobediently, by doing those things which are contrary to God in His Word. And so the scripture is teaching us, when you and I have a hard heart, unmerciful, unforgiving, uncaring, unconcerned heart, it angers our Lord and it's grievous unto Him. We have to watch our attitude. We have to watch our heart. Let me show you one last one. I want you to look back to Matthew chapter 12. And look, if you would please, at verses 14 and 15. "Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him." Now, watch. "But when Jesus knew it," and he did, "he withdrew himself from thence." Oh, are you listening? Here's what he did. You want your error? You may have it. You want your lies? You may keep them. You want your traditions?

Conclusion: Jesus Withdraws from Rejecters of Truth

When the Pharisees rejected truth, Jesus withdrew from them (Matthew 12:15; 15:14). If God leaves a person to their own devices, it is to their disadvantage. The sermon ends with a call to love and desire truth.

Follow them to your heart's desire. If you have no regard for truth, and if you do not want the truth, I will leave you to yourself. And if you would turn right over to Matthew chapter 15, I want you to see this stated very bluntly. Matthew 15, beginning there with verse 12, look at it.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:12-14

"Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?"

What did our Lord answer?

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:12-14

"But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

What did our Lord do when he withdrew himself from those Pharisees? He left them alone. I got news for you. If our Lord ever leaves you alone, it will not be to your advantage.

It will be to your disadvantage. You need to make sure that you love truth. You desire truth, and you want truth, and you're willing to let any error, any heresy, any unmerciful, uncompassionate, wicked attitudes or desires go and say, "I want truth. I want truth more than anything else." If you do not want truth, I can assure you our Lord will not give it to you. He will leave you in your error and your sin. Truth is what we need, and truth is how we're to live. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace and your mercy. We ask, Lord, that you would indeed teach us, build us up in the most holy faith. Give us thy truth for thou art truth incarnate. Help us, Lord, to love Thee, to live for Thee, to stand for Thee, to obey Thee, not even thinking of the consequences for our obedience, but just trust Thee with the results. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Nature of Setups and Entrapment

Summary: Setups are deliberate attempts to ensnare someone, often with malicious intent. The Pharisees repeatedly tried to trap Jesus with questions to accuse Him.

Evidence: The sermon opens with examples of setups in life and history, then focuses on the Pharisees' question in Matthew 12:10: 'that they might accuse him.'

Hypocrisy of Religious Leaders

Summary: The Pharisees boasted of their knowledge of the law but did not obey it themselves. They were more concerned with their traditions than with mercy or truth.

Evidence: Romans 2:17-24 is cited to show their hypocrisy. In Luke 13:15, Jesus calls the synagogue ruler a hypocrite for objecting to healing on the Sabbath while caring for animals.

The Lawfulness of Doing Good on the Sabbath

Summary: Jesus teaches that works of mercy and necessity are lawful on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for man's benefit, not to prevent good deeds.

Evidence: Matthew 12:12: 'Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.' Jesus argues from rescuing a sheep to healing a man.

The Principle of Contrast: Good vs. Evil

Summary: Not doing good when it is in one's power is equivalent to doing evil. Not saving life is akin to killing. This principle exposes the Pharisees' sin.

Evidence: Mark 3:4: 'Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?' The sermon explains the startling alternative.

Obedience to God Regardless of Consequences

Summary: Believers must obey God's commands without calculating the outcome. The bare command of God is sufficient reason for obedience.

Evidence: Adam Clarke's quote: 'The bare command of God is a sufficient reason for obedience.' Jesus healed the man despite knowing the Pharisees would plot against Him.

Humanity's Natural Rejection of Truth

Summary: Man by nature does not love truth but prefers traditions, feelings, and personal satisfaction. Exposing error often provokes anger rather than repentance.

Evidence: The Pharisees' reaction in Matthew 12:14: they 'held a council against him, how they might destroy him.' The sermon applies this to modern institutions.

The Danger of Hardness of Heart

Summary: An unmerciful, uncompassionate spirit grieves and angers the Lord. Believers must guard against hardness of heart.

Evidence: Mark 3:5: Jesus 'looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts.' Ephesians 4:30 warns against grieving the Holy Spirit.

God's Withdrawal from Rejecters of Truth

Summary: When people persistently reject truth, God may leave them to their own devices, which is to their disadvantage.

Evidence: Matthew 12:15: Jesus 'withdrew himself from thence.' Matthew 15:14: 'Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.'

Key Arguments

The Pharisees' question was a setup, not a sincere inquiry.

Summary: The question 'Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?' was asked with the explicit purpose of accusing Jesus, not to learn truth.

Evidence: Matthew 12:10: 'that they might accuse him.' The sermon notes that questions can be used as traps.

Jesus used the lesser-to-greater argument to expose inconsistency.

Summary: If they would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, how much more should a man be healed? This shows their misplaced priorities.

Evidence: Matthew 12:11-12: 'How much then is a man better than a sheep?'

Not doing good when able is equivalent to doing evil.

Summary: By contrast, failing to heal is to do evil; failing to save life is to kill. This principle condemns the Pharisees' inaction.

Evidence: Mark 3:4 and the sermon's explanation: 'Not to do good... is to do evil. Not to save a life... is to kill.'

Obedience to God's command does not require understanding or ability; faith acts.

Summary: The man with the withered hand obeyed Jesus' command to stretch it out, and in the act of obedience, healing came.

Evidence: Adam Clarke's commentary: 'At the command of our Lord, he made the effort. And in making it, the cure was effected.'

Exposing error often provokes anger, not repentance, in those who reject truth.

Summary: The Pharisees responded to Jesus' correction by plotting to kill Him, demonstrating that truth rejected leads to hostility.

Evidence: Matthew 12:14: 'Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.' Luke 6:11: 'they were filled with madness.'

Believers must obey God regardless of the outcome, leaving results to Him.

Summary: Duty is ours; results are God's. We cannot control how others react, but we must do what is right.

Evidence: The sermon states: 'We must give no consideration to the results of our godly, obedient, and biblical actions.'

Hardness of heart grieves and angers the Lord.

Summary: Jesus was angry and grieved at the Pharisees' lack of compassion, warning believers to avoid similar attitudes.

Evidence: Mark 3:5: 'being grieved for the hardness of their hearts.'

God may withdraw from those who persistently reject truth.

Summary: Jesus left the Pharisees to their own devices when they rejected Him, illustrating the danger of refusing truth.

Evidence: Matthew 12:15: 'he withdrew himself from thence.' Matthew 15:14: 'Let them alone.'

Scripture References

Matthew 12:9-15

Context: The main text: Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees plot against Him.

Matthew 19:3

Context: Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce to tempt Him, illustrating a setup question.

Matthew 22:15-22

Context: Pharisees and Herodians try to entangle Jesus with the question of paying taxes to Caesar.

Matthew 22:23-33

Context: Sadducees question Jesus about the resurrection using a levirate marriage scenario.

John 8:3-11

Context: The woman taken in adultery is brought to Jesus as a setup to accuse Him.

Romans 2:17-24

Context: Paul rebukes the Jews for boasting in the law while breaking it, illustrating hypocrisy.

Proverbs 12:10

Context: A righteous man regards the life of his beast, supporting the principle of caring for animals.

Mark 3:4-5

Context: Jesus asks if it is lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath, and looks at them with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart.

Luke 13:10-17

Context: Jesus heals a woman bent over for 18 years on the Sabbath, and the synagogue ruler objects, showing hypocrisy.

Luke 6:11

Context: After the healing, the Pharisees are filled with madness and discuss what to do to Jesus.

Ephesians 4:30

Context: Believers are warned not to grieve the Holy Spirit, connected to hardness of heart.

Matthew 15:12-14

Context: Jesus tells His disciples to let the Pharisees alone because they are blind leaders of the blind.

Psalm 2:4

Context: God laughs at the rebellious kings and brings their schemes down on their own heads.

Mark 7

Context: Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for making void the law of God through their traditions.

Matthew 15

Context: Jesus teaches that traditions can nullify God's law, and that vain worship comes from teaching human commands as doctrines.

Deuteronomy (implied)

Context: The law required two witnesses for the death penalty; in John 8, the accusers left, so Jesus could not condemn the woman.

Numbers (implied)

Context: The law of witnesses is referenced in the context of the woman taken in adultery.

Leviticus (implied)

Context: The ritual of the bitter water for a woman accused of adultery is mentioned as a possible parallel to Jesus writing on the ground.

Historical References

Foxe's Book of Martyrs

Context: Cited as an example of religious setups and conspiracies by Roman Catholics against reformers.

Pierre Viret

Context: A reformer who was poisoned, ambushed, beaten, and stabbed by Roman Catholics but survived and continued preaching.

Cardinal Richelieu

Context: A French cardinal notorious for destroying opponents through setups and arrests.

School of Shammai and School of Hillel

Context: Two competing Jewish schools of thought on divorce; the Pharisees' question in Matthew 19 was designed to force Jesus to side with one.

Sanhedrin

Context: The Jewish ruling council to whom the Pharisees would accuse Jesus of Sabbath-breaking.

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Context: Quoted on the principle that the bare command of God is sufficient reason for obedience.

John Calvin's Commentary

Context: Quoted on the idea that neglecting to relieve a person in distress is akin to manslaughter.

Important Quotes

The bare command of God is a sufficient reason for obedience.

Significance: This quote from Adam Clarke encapsulates the sermon's emphasis on obeying God without questioning or calculating consequences.

Not to do good, when it is in the power of our hand to do it, is to do evil. Not to save a life, when it is in the power of our hand to save a life, is to kill.

Significance: This summarizes the principle of contrast from Mark 3:4, showing the moral weight of inaction.

Man by nature does not love truth. Man by nature does not want truth, and man by nature will not accept truth.

Significance: This statement explains why the Pharisees reacted with anger instead of repentance, and applies to modern rejections of truth.

Duty is ours. The results are God's.

Significance: A key application: believers are responsible for obedience, not for controlling outcomes.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein.

Significance: A proverbial truth that setups often backfire, as seen in the Pharisees' failed trap.

If our Lord ever leaves you alone, it will not be to your advantage.

Significance: A warning that God's withdrawal is a judgment on those who reject truth.

Discussion Questions

In what ways do we see 'setups' or entrapment in religious or political contexts today? How should Christians respond?

Context: The sermon opens with modern examples of setups, such as corrupt police and government sting operations.

How can we discern whether a question is sincere or a trap? What principles from Jesus' responses can guide us?

Context: The Pharisees' question in Matthew 12:10 was asked 'that they might accuse him.' The sermon notes that not all questions are simple.

What does it mean that 'not to do good is to do evil'? Can you think of a situation where inaction was sinful?

Context: From Mark 3:4, the sermon argues that failing to do good when able is equivalent to doing evil.

Why is it difficult to obey God without considering the consequences? How can we grow in trusting God with the results?

Context: The sermon emphasizes that duty is ours and results are God's, using Jesus' healing as an example.

What are some modern 'traditions' that can make void the Word of God, similar to the Pharisees' traditions?

Context: Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for elevating traditions above God's law (Mark 7, Matthew 15).

How does hardness of heart manifest in our lives? What steps can we take to maintain a soft, compassionate heart?

Context: Mark 3:5 shows Jesus grieved by hardness of heart; Ephesians 4:30 warns against grieving the Spirit.

Have you ever experienced anger or defensiveness when your sin was exposed? How can we cultivate a love for truth that welcomes correction?

Context: The Pharisees reacted with madness and plotted to kill Jesus when their error was exposed.

What does it mean for God to 'leave someone alone'? How should this warning affect our pursuit of truth?

Context: Jesus withdrew from the Pharisees and told His disciples to let them alone (Matthew 12:15; 15:14).

Applications

Perform works of mercy regardless of the day or circumstances.

Summary: Works of mercy are necessary and should be done whenever there is a need, even on the Sabbath or when it is inconvenient.

Evidence: Matthew 12:12: 'Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.' The sermon states, 'works of mercy are indeed works of necessity.'

Obey God's commands without calculating the outcome.

Summary: Believers must act on God's Word regardless of potential negative consequences, trusting Him with the results.

Evidence: The quote from Adam Clarke and the example of the man stretching out his hand. 'We must give no consideration to the results of our godly, obedient, and biblical actions.'

Guard against hardness of heart and an unmerciful spirit.

Summary: An uncompassionate attitude grieves the Lord. Believers should cultivate mercy and compassion.

Evidence: Mark 3:5: Jesus was 'grieved for the hardness of their hearts.' The sermon warns that such attitudes anger God.

Love and pursue truth above traditions and personal preferences.

Summary: Man naturally rejects truth, but believers must desire truth more than comfort, tradition, or approval.

Evidence: The sermon states, 'If you do not want truth, I can assure you our Lord will not give it to you.'

Be willing to expose error, but expect opposition.

Summary: Exposing sin and error in institutions or individuals may provoke anger, but it is necessary for truth.

Evidence: The Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus after He exposed them. The sermon applies this to modern contexts.

Do not be like the Pharisees who demanded obedience from others but did not obey themselves.

Summary: Hypocrisy in teaching or leading is condemned. Believers must practice what they preach.

Evidence: Romans 2:21-23: 'Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?'

Recognize that not acting when you have the power to do good is sinful.

Summary: Inaction in the face of need is equivalent to doing evil. Believers must actively do good.

Evidence: The principle from Mark 3:4: 'Not to do good... is to do evil.'

Trust that God can cause setups to backfire on the wicked.

Summary: God's sovereignty ensures that those who dig pits for others will fall into them. Believers can trust His justice.

Evidence: Psalm 2:4 and the proverb 'he that diggeth a pit shall fall therein.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:32:00Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:58:09Z

Clean Transcript

A Setup Gone Wrong

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

All right, let's open our Bible study, if you would please, to the book of Matthew chapter 12. Matthew chapter 12. And we're going to be reading verses 9 through 15. Matthew 12 verses 9 through 15. The title of the message is "A Setup Gone Wrong," a setup gone wrong. So look, if you would please, in Matthew chapter 12, beginning there with verse nine. "And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: and behold, there was a man which had his hand withered."
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"And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him."
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"But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all." Setups are very, very prominent. Everyone hates them, even those that are supposed to be funny. We've all been set up one way or the other, and usually it's around a birthday or an anniversary or some kind of special event. And sometimes these setups succeed, sometimes they fail, sometimes they are funny, but sometimes you end up crying as well. But setups can become very serious, especially when governmental entities are involved.
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And oftentimes, corrupt police have been known for setting up innocent citizens. I just read an article within the last couple of weeks concerning a man who was trying to go into Mexico to visit relatives. They found five bullets in his truck—just five bullets. Well, the man happened to be an American citizen. He was also a Texan. He also had a concealed carry permit, but there were no weapons on him and there were no weapons in the truck whatsoever.
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But he did stand up for his rights and he evidently made the border patrol agents angry. And so they found these five bullets and declared them to be munitions of war. And they confiscated his truck. And according to the article, it has now been two years, and he's still not gotten his truck back. So obviously, setups can be very, very serious. I've not only read this, but I've also received verification from several sources on how absolutely simple it is for governmental agents to plant pornography on someone's computer, even child porn, pedophilia, and the owner of that computer be completely ignorant of it and have known nothing about it until there's an investigation. And then, of course, that child porn is found on his computer and then he's charged and he's ruined professionally.
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as well as personally as well. And of course, I think most of you who do any reading at all understand that the FBI is well known for its sting operations. But setups occur in the religious area as well. All you have to do is read Foxe's Book of Martyrs and you will see the intrigue, the collusion, and the conspiracy of the Roman Catholics to destroy the reformers and or any that disagreed with them.
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There was one reformer, I have several books by him, Pierre Viret. He was so hated by the Roman Catholics, and especially the priests, that they had this poor man poisoned, which he survived. They ambushed him, they beat him, they stabbed him, and he still survived and preached the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ for many years after that. And of course if you've done any reading on history you've probably come up with the name Cardinal Richelieu. He was in France and of course Cardinal Richelieu was notorious for destroying anyone that opposed him or anyone who stood up against him and very obviously he had many of them set up and put to death and or arrested as well. So over and over in the New Testament you're going to find that it was the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians who tried to set up Jesus Christ. Now, our text happens to be one of those instances where they tried to set up Jesus Christ. But before I expound this text and point it out to you, I want to show you very quickly some other passages of the Bible where they sought to set up Jesus Christ in order that they might accuse him and condemn him.
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So if you look very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Matthew chapter 19. Matthew chapter 19. And look if you would please at verse 3. Matthew 19 and verse 3. Here the Bible just simply says this: "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" Notice if you would please. The Bible says the Pharisees came also unto him, tempting him and saying, supposedly asking him this question, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"
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Now what appears to be a legitimate question does not necessarily mean that it is a legitimate question. And in this instance, it certainly was not a legitimate question whatsoever. You have to understand the background for this particular question. In Judaism, there were two competing schools. One was known as the school of Shammai and the other was known as the school of Hillel. Now the school of Shammai were ultra-conservatives. They were very religious, known as religious fundamentalists, so to speak. And not only were they religious fundamentalists, they had a pathological devotion to obey what they determined to be the traditions and the ceremonies and rituals concerning the law. And what they believed was simply this, that all of these traditions and all of these ceremonies and all these rituals were nothing more than a fence around the law to protect the law, so to speak. Now when you had the school of Hillel, the school of Hillel of course were more liberal, they were milder and less strict in relationship to all of these traditions and ceremonies and rituals as well.
#9 | 6:29 to 7:58 | cleaned
So now they come to Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 19 and they ask seemingly a simple question, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any cause whatsoever?" So the ploy here was to get Jesus Christ to either side with the school of Shammai or with the school of Hillel because these two schools were very contentious and they argued and they fought and so obviously then if they could get Christ to side with one of these schools of thought then of course they would have him pigeonholed and they could then use the other school to attack him and accuse him. Let me give you another one. If you look very quickly in Matthew chapter 22, since we're talking about set-ups, Matthew chapter 22, look if you would please at verses 15 through 22. We're talking about set-ups, how they tried to set up Jesus Christ.
#10 | 7:58 to 8:57 | cleaned
In Matthew chapter 22, beginning there with verse 15, the Bible says this: "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk." Now note, if you would, the word "entangle." "And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men."
#11 | 8:57 to 9:29 | cleaned
Now you're talking about something that seemingly would be a compliment, but yet it was a setup because we want you to tell us, we want you to specify, we want you to be very, very clear in answering this question. And I'm going to show it to you in just a moment what they were trying to do. So notice if you would please in verse 17, they come with this question after they give him this great build-up. "Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"
#12 | 9:29 to 10:04 | cleaned
"But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way."
#13 | 10:06 to 10:35 | cleaned
Now, here is the setup. They wanted to know if it was lawful to give tribute unto Caesar or not. So if Christ said, "Yes, give Caesar the tax," now he is supporting the hated Roman Empire and all the Judeans would be against him because they despised the Romans. If he said, "Do not pay the tax," now they're going to report him to the Roman Empire so that he would be known as an anarchist, an insurrectionist, and someone who was against the Caesar cult and the Emperor cult.
#14 | 10:35 to 11:13 | cleaned
Obviously, they thought they had him trapped. So, our Lord had just simply got out of their trap by saying, "Whose image is on this coin? Caesar's." Well, he said, "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things which belong to God." By the way, what does belong to God? Everything—everything, the world and they that dwell therein. He is the creator. Everything basically belongs to him.
#15 | 11:13 to 11:42 | cleaned
And of course, when they saw they could not take hold of his words, then of course they left him. The interesting thing is right after this, look in verse 23, and I'm not going to go over this one because it is so obvious, "The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother." And of course, this had to do with the levirate marriage. And then they say that there were seven brothers and the first one married a wife that had no child. And then the second one married her. They had no children. The third one married her and right on up to the seventh. And finally, the seventh brother died. The woman was left alive alone, still with no seed. And then they ask him, "Well, whose wife is she going to be in the resurrection?"
#16 | 11:42 to 12:39 | cleaned
And our Lord said, "Well, ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage." And then he went on to say, "You must remember that God said to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living." So obviously here they are still trying to entangle our Lord and get him set up because clearly they did not want our Lord to be teaching what he was teaching.
#17 | 12:40 to 13:17 | cleaned
Now, let me give you one more illustration before we go back to Matthew 12. I want you to turn to John chapter 8. John chapter 8, because everywhere you turn, seemingly even today, there are setups. I want you to understand setups can be in any area of life. So in John chapter 8, beginning there with verse 3, we have here the account of the woman taken in adultery. So John 8 and verse 3, "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act."
#18 | 13:17 to 14:03 | cleaned
"Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers?"
#19 | 14:03 to 14:53 | cleaned
"Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
#20 | 14:54 to 15:02 | cleaned
Now obviously, and very clearly, this was a setup. The Pharisees were not interested in righteousness, neither were they interested in justice. If they had been interested in justice, we would have to ask this question: Where was the man? Why did they just bring the woman? It takes two to commit adultery. And they just simply brought the woman. They left the man and did not bring him at all.
#21 | 15:02 to 15:35 | cleaned
So here's what they're trying to do. If Jesus Christ condemns the woman, he's no longer going to be known as the friend of sinners. If Jesus Christ does not condemn the woman, then of course, he's going to be against the law. And of course, he came to fulfill that law. So either way, the Pharisees believe that they had him and they were pitting him against sinners and against the law of God at the same time. So instead of failing—or let me repeat that—instead of falling into their trap, he proved himself to be the friend of sinners by obeying the law as well.
#22 | 15:36 to 16:20 | cleaned
Now let me remind you of something. Many years back, a couple years back, I preached an entire message which I entitled "The Clean Hands Doctrine." This is not only a doctrine that is today in our own jurisprudence, but it was a doctrine that was clearly taught in the Bible. So that means this: If I'm going to accuse Gary of a sin, if I'm going to accuse Gary of a crime, that means the clean hands doctrine that I must be innocent and free from that sin and free from that crime myself. In other words, if I condemn him of a crime and I'm guilty of that crime myself, then all I'm doing is condemning myself as well as him. So the clean hands doctrine is very prevalent.
#23 | 16:21 to 17:12 | cleaned
Now, have you ever wondered what Jesus Christ did when he stooped down and wrote on the ground? I have no idea, and I cannot prove what I'm about to say to you, except if you go back to the Leviticus, you remember the woman who was taken in adultery. The priest made her drink the bitter water which causes the curse, and then he wrote in the dust there in the tabernacle. I would tend to think that when our Lord wrote on the ground, He was writing down names, dates, places because the Bible says they being convicted by their own conscience went out beginning from the oldest to the last. Now, when our Lord looked up, he said, "Woman, where are those thine accusers?"
#24 | 17:13 to 18:06 | cleaned
"Hath no man condemned thee?" She said, "No man, Lord." Well, he said, "Neither do I condemn thee."
#25 | 18:06 to 18:11 | cleaned
Now, how could our Lord say that when he knew obviously that she was guilty? Well, if you go back to Deuteronomy and the book of Numbers, you will find that the law of God demanded a minimum of two witnesses for the death penalty to be executed. Where were her witnesses? They were gone. She had no one to accuse her. So according to the law, the only thing our Lord could do was let her go.
#26 | 18:12 to 18:45 | cleaned
And therefore, he said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." So they were trying to entrap him here, and of course they failed clearly, and I'm certainly thankful that they did.
#27 | 18:46 to 18:58 | cleaned
Now, I want you to turn back to Matthew 12, our text, because in our text in Matthew chapter 12, we have a definite design by the Pharisees, by the Jews, to try to set Jesus Christ up in order that they might accuse him. Now, what were they going to accuse him of? Well, they were going to accuse him of healing someone on the Sabbath day.
#28 | 18:59 to 19:26 | cleaned
Now look in verse 10. "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?" Note this last phrase, "that they might accuse him." Now, to whom would they accuse him? Well, that would be to the Sanhedrin. You remember, when they did take Jesus Christ in John chapter 19, where did they take Him? To the Sanhedrin.
#29 | 19:26 to 19:55 | cleaned
They took Him there first to the high priests and those 70 that were gathered there together. And they condemned Him and then they took Him to Pilate. So, clearly then, they're going to condemn Him for violating—now listen carefully—they're going to condemn Him for violating not the Sabbath, but their interpretation of the Sabbath. So there's a vast difference between violating God's law and violating how some people interpret God's law.
#30 | 19:56 to 20:29 | cleaned
And of course, if you'll read Mark chapter 7 and Matthew 15, you'll find that forever and ever, their traditions violated the law of God. And our Lord said, "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." In other words, your traditions are worthless. The only thing they're good for is to make void the law of God. And so, clearly then, they were going to accuse him not of really and truly violating God's law, but in violating their interpretation of God's law. Now, this same incident in Matthew chapter 12 is also recorded in Mark chapter 3 and in Luke chapter 6. And we'll refer to those passages just momentarily, but I just want you to know, this one incident is recorded three times in the gospel.
#31 | 20:30 to 21:25 | cleaned
Now, look if you would again please at verse 10. "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying," so they asked specifically, they asked deliberately, they asked, well listen, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?" And then note this phrase again, "that they might accuse him."
#32 | 21:25 to 21:49 | cleaned
Now, here is an important truth that you and I are to grasp at this particular point. All questions are not necessarily simple questions. Questions may be used as a setup. There is a vast difference between asking a question in order to get a good answer or simply to be informed or desiring to know something, and then asking a question in order to set someone up so that he could be mocked and criticized and condemned and entrapped and ensnared.
#33 | 21:49 to 22:31 | cleaned
Moreover, you've got to consider this. A lot of times when questions are asked, it's not that the questioner really desires to have an answer. It's so that he can set up the individual who, when he gives an answer, then he can respond and give forth his answer, what he thinks, what he believes, and what he wants to do is to teach. And then you've got to understand that some questions are just simply asked for reasons for debate and challenge. And in each instance where these questions are asked illegitimately, it's usually because someone is wanting to demonstrate an attitude of superiority or arrogance.
#34 | 22:32 to 23:21 | cleaned
Now let me show you. If you would hold Matthew chapter 12, but turn over your Bibles to the book of Romans chapter 2. I want you to understand that the Jews, Pharisees, Sadducees, all of these people, boasted of their superior knowledge. But their superior knowledge was certainly deficient in the sense that they did not obey the law themselves. They just wanted everybody else to do what they were told to do. So look in Romans chapter 2 in verse 17.
#35 | 23:22 to 24:01 | cleaned
He says, "Behold, thou art called a Jew," or a Judahite. You have to remember now, the people that were referred to as Jews, there were several groups. But first of all, geographically, you're talking about the people in Judea, not the northern kingdom, just the southern kingdom. Those in Judea, those who were born of the tribe of Judah were known as Jews as well. But then the ruling elite in the Bible were also called the Jews. So note what he says. "Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law."
#36 | 24:01 to 24:36 | cleaned
Now watch, "and makest thy boast of God, And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written."
#37 | 24:37 to 25:35 | cleaned
And so here, what he's saying is here's these people who have a form of knowledge and they boasted that they really knew this when in reality they did not know and they were certainly not going to obey at all. Now, it's the height of arrogance and is the height of just pride to demand that others listen to us and do as we say and follow our directions even though we don't even obey ourselves. I'll give you a good clear illustration and I just thought of this this morning.
#38 | 25:35 to 26:17 | cleaned
We have six grandkids and Renee is our oldest granddaughter. She is now 32 and Casey is our oldest grandson. He's 32. He's a week younger than our oldest granddaughter, and there were four others, and they were all, when this happened, Renee was probably five or six, and the rest of them were four, three, right on down. But they were all down on the pond dam fishing, and Renee was walking up and down the pond dam, telling all the rest of the kids how to fish, what to do. And the funny thing was, she had never been fishing in her life, but she was demanding that everybody fish the way she told them to fish. Finally, Casey, the oldest grandson, looked at her and said, "Renee, if you'd be quiet, maybe we can catch some fish."
#39 | 26:18 to 27:22 | cleaned
So, you know, I thought about that. But, you know, that's the way people are. We just demand that folks do things our way. Whether we do them or not, we think that's the way it should be done and therefore you just need to do it our way. But it is absolutely asinine and it is a display of ignorance to expect and demand that everyone accept your positions and your interpretations and your views without having your background and your opportunities and your experience and your study habits. But see, that's exactly what the Pharisees did.
#40 | 27:23 to 27:56 | cleaned
They demanded the peasants obey them and do as they were told because they were the elite. They were the ones who supposedly knew and they boasted that they knew. So, now they come to Jesus Christ and they ask Him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day?" That would be a lawful and a legitimate question if it was being asked in sincerity. But when it is being asked to accuse and condemn, it is evidence of a haughty, arrogant, and wicked motive. Moreover, the evidence in our text demonstrates that the question was asked not out of concern for the sick, not out of concern for the disabled man, not out of concern for anyone who was wounded and helpless, but this question was asked simply that they might outsmart Jesus Christ and thus accuse Him and condemn Him. So here's the setup. If Christ answered that it was wrong to heal on the Sabbath, then they would ask where is His compassion for the weak, the sickly, the disabled, the hurted. If Christ healed on the Sabbath, now they're going to condemn him because according to their interpretation of the Sabbath, you could not heal on the Sabbath.
#41 | 27:57 to 29:32 | cleaned
It was considered work. And therefore, since Jesus Christ would not conform to their interpretation, he would certainly be condemned.
#42 | 29:32 to 29:43 | cleaned
Now, I want you to look at verses 10 and 11 together. And here's how our Lord gets out of this setup. "And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?" Now, you see, our Lord knew their habits. He knew their deeds. He knew their actions.
#43 | 29:43 to 30:19 | cleaned
And yes, they would help their animal. They would save the life of their animal. And by the way, it would be biblically right to do that. In fact, the Bible tells you in the book of Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 10 that "A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." So yes, the problem that you have in this passage is very simple. They were more concerned over a suffering endangered animal than they were over a suffering disabled man. So look in verse 12. So in verse 11, he asked, "If you have a sheep and he fall in the pit, will you get him out?" Now look in verse 12. Then he asked this question, "How much then is a man better than a sheep?"
#44 | 30:20 to 31:10 | cleaned
"Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days." So in this passage, our Lord is arguing from the lesser to the greater. You will find that argument used many times throughout the Bible. So our Lord is saying it like this: If it is right to save the life of an animal on the Sabbath day, how much more is it right to save the life of a man? If it is right to show mercy to an animal on the Sabbath day, how much more is it right to show mercy to a man on the Sabbath day? So our Lord is not denying the importance of the lives of animals. What he is saying is this: By comparison, the life of a man is more valuable and more important. And if you're going to save an animal's life, then obviously you should be willing to save the life of a man or woman as well.
#45 | 31:11 to 32:13 | cleaned
Now, I want you to understand something. When you read the Bible, contrasts are important. And here are some things that we should learn from this passage. First of all, it is not only lawful, but it is necessary to do well even on the Sabbath day. Now, think about this. If it is lawful and right and necessary to do well on the Sabbath day, how much more is lawful to do that which is right and holy every other day? I mean, if it's right to do this on the Sabbath day, it'd be right to do this any day as long as people are being helped.
#46 | 32:13 to 32:57 | cleaned
Now, I want you to hold Matthew 12, but turn in your Bibles to the book of Mark chapter 3. I told you we'd look at the same incident from Mark and Luke, but look if you would please at Mark 3 and verse 4 right now. Watch the question that he asked them. "And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?"
#47 | 32:57 to 33:28 | cleaned
"But they held their peace." Now, I told you it's important to learn from contrast. So here's what our Lord is saying. Think about this now. He's asking, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days? Is it lawful to save a life or to kill? Is it lawful to do good or to do evil?" Here is what our Lord was telling these Pharisees. If you do not do that which is right and holy and lawful on the Sabbath day, then you're doing evil. Now listen carefully. If you do not save the life on the Sabbath day, then you're killing. You're a murderer. If you do not show mercy on the Sabbath day, by contrast, you're showing that you are unmerciful. If you do not show justice on the Sabbath day, by contrast, you're showing that you are cruel and unjust. And our Lord basically cornered his adversaries at this particular point. He shut them up. Now, I'll come back to this, but notice the Bible says they held their peace.
#48 | 33:30 to 34:49 | cleaned
Here was a startling alternative. Here's a startling truth that we found by way of contrast, and that is this: Not to do good, when it is in the power of our hand to do it, is to do evil. Not to save a life, when it is in the power of our hand to save a life, is to kill. Not to be merciful, when it's in the power of our hand to be merciful, is to be cruel and unjust. Wow.
#49 | 34:50 to 35:19 | cleaned
So what our Lord was showing these Pharisees was that in reality, their pretense at keeping the law was nothing more than a violation of God's law. Their traditions were completely contrary to the law of God. Let me give you a quick quote. This is from John Calvin. He says, "He who takes away the life of a man is held to be a criminal. And there is little difference between manslaughter and the conduct of him who does not concern himself about relieving a person in distress. So then Christ indirectly charges them with endeavoring, under the pretense of a holy act, to compel him to do evil, for sin is committed, as we've already said, not only by him who does anything contrary to the Lord, but also who neglects his duty." So, our Lord is saying, look, it's my duty to heal on the Sabbath day because it is saving life. It is an act of mercy. It is an act of justice. So, if it is lawful and right and holy to save a life and to show justice and to show mercy and compassion on the Sabbath day, how much more is it right to do the same thing every other day of the week?
#50 | 35:20 to 36:46 | cleaned
I want you to go back to Matthew 12 just momentarily, because look in verse 13. You see, our Lord did that which was right, and he obeyed God's law, regardless of what the Pharisees said or thought. For in verse 13, "Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other." Now, I want you to pay close attention to this. Because I'm going to give you a quote, just a moment. But look at verse 13 again. "Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other."
#51 | 36:47 to 37:28 | cleaned
Adam Clarke, in his commentary, said this. Listen, let this sink in. I'm going to read the paragraph, but the first sentence is worth it. "The bare command of God is a sufficient reason for obedience." The bare command of God is a sufficient reason for obedience. He then goes on: "The man might have reasoned thus, 'Lord, my hand is withered. How can I stretch it out? Make it whole first, and afterwards I will do as thou commandest.'"
#52 | 37:28 to 38:05 | cleaned
"This may appear reasonable, but in his case, it would have been foolishness. At the command of our Lord, he made the effort. And in making it, the cure was effected. Faith disregards apparent impossibilities where there is a command and a promise of God." So please let that sink in. The bare command is sufficient for obedience. And wherever God commands and we are obedient, God is the one who gives the power. And just stop and think how often we have despised and disregarded the commands of our Lord to our own detriment. And we've sat back and said, "Lord, I don't have the power to do that." That's because you're sitting back in unbelief. If he commands you to do something, that is sufficient and you must do what he commands.
#53 | 38:06 to 39:01 | cleaned
Now, our Lord then obeyed the law in healing the man. He not only showed mercy, He also showed compassion. He at the same time exposed the error and hypocrisy and heresy and wickedness of the Pharisees. So he asked them in Mark 3 and verse 4, listen carefully. He asked them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?" Huh?
#54 | 39:02 to 39:37 | cleaned
"But they held their peace." Their response was understandable. They refused to answer. They could not answer. Or had they answered his question, it would have proven that he was right and they were wrong. Their setup failed miserably. They were hypocrites. They did not know the law of God. They did not care about the law of God. They did not care about the man who was suffering. The only thing they cared about was their interpretation and their traditions.
#55 | 39:41 to 40:23 | cleaned
Let me show you another incident. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Luke chapter 13. Luke 13. You talk about hypocrisy. Here it is very clearly set forth. Luke 13 and let's begin reading there with verse 10. Luke 13 verse 10: "And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath." Note it was on the sabbath. "And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was"
#56 | 40:24 to 40:59 | cleaned
"bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself." So she was almost bent double. "And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation," listen to this, he answered with indignation, "because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?"
#57 | 40:59 to 42:01 | cleaned
"And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him." Note if you would, what indignation? Why? Why? You heal that. It's a Sabbath day. You ought not to do this on the Sabbath day. Six days man ought to work, not on the Sabbath. Our Lord said, "You hypocrite, you're worthless."
#58 | 42:02 to 42:26 | cleaned
You will take your animal and lead him away to drink water. This is the daughter of Abraham. Should she not be healed even on the Sabbath day? Wow.
#59 | 42:28 to 42:37 | cleaned
Now let me ask you a question. In each one of these instances where Jesus Christ was set up or attempted to be set up by the scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, He defeated them. And it was not just a defeat. He was exposing the truth. He was exposing their error, their misinterpretation, and the hypocrisy of their lives. So here's my question before we look at the scripture. Do you think that the Pharisees said to themselves and each other, "Wow, what a wonderful truth."
#60 | 42:39 to 43:35 | cleaned
"You know, this man is right. We've been wrong for hundreds of years. I am so thankful at last, finally, we have the truth and we can change our lives." Do you think that's what they said? Uh-uh. I want you to look to two passages. Look in Matthew 12, verse 14, and then we'll look in Luke chapter 6, okay? Look if you would, Matthew 12 verse 14, after Jesus Christ exposed their error, their hypocrisy and their sin, "Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him." Wow! Then if you look in Luke chapter 6 and verse 11, Luke 6 and verse 11, here's the same story, "And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus." They were insanely mad. They were upset. They said, "We've got to get rid of this man. We've got to kill him. We're going to take counsel how we might destroy him."
#61 | 43:37 to 44:49 | cleaned
Listen to me very carefully. Men that do not love or hold the truth will not take lightly to having their sins and their errors exposed. If you do not love the truth, if you do not want the truth, it will infuriate you to have your sin and your error and your heresy exposed. This is equally true today as it was in the days of Jesus Christ. And I can prove this very simply. For instance, if you don't believe what I've just said, then I would challenge you to just simply begin exposing the corruption that is in our governmental entities today. Take on, if you would, the judicial system and expose the corruption there. Take hold of the IRS. Grab a hold of Congress and expose them to how unbiblical they are, how contrary to the Constitution they are.
#62 | 44:51 to 45:50 | cleaned
When is the last time you've ever written a congressman or talked to a congressman and he looks at you and says, "Well, thank you for helping me. I now see the biblical truth and I see where I've been violating my oath to the Constitution and I'm going to change it. I'm going to start obeying my oath and the Bible." How many times has it ever happened? No, they'll get mad at you and the truth of the matter is they'll stick the IRS on you or they'll stick the FBI on you. They'll seek to destroy you just because you've exposed their error, their heresy, their sin.
#63 | 45:51 to 46:30 | cleaned
If that's not sufficient for you, I'll tell you what you do. You begin a campaign to expose the corruption, the error, and the heresy in the leading denominations of our day. See how far you get with that as well. See if they're saying, "Wow, I didn't know that we drifted so far from the Word of God. I am so thankful that someone has come along and pointed out to us our error." No, they're not going to say that. They're going to do everything they can to destroy you. And if that's not sufficient, you take one of the mega churches and their mega pastors and you begin exposing his sin, his error, his heresy, and you see how far that goes with his followers.
#64 | 46:31 to 47:22 | cleaned
And you're going to find something absolutely—you're going to find that instead of being happy, that they now have been exposed to the truth, they're going to be full of anger and resentment and hatred and perhaps violence. Because they don't want the truth. Here is something that we must grasp and we must understand. And that is man by nature does not love truth. Man by nature does not want truth, and man by nature will not accept truth. What men by nature want and will hold to are traditions, rituals, ceremonies, habits, customs, feelings, emotions, personal satisfaction, and personal contentment, and they'll place every one of those things above the Word of God. They'd much rather have all those than they had the truth. Now, here's something else we must understand. Our Lord knew the truth, applied the truth, and obeyed the law of God regardless of the circumstances. He knew what their attitude was. He knew what they were going to do. He knew that they would take a counsel to destroy him.
#65 | 47:23 to 49:02 | cleaned
And so what did he do? He just simply did that which was right. He told the man, "Stretch forth thine hand." And when he stretched it forth, it was restored, made whole just like the other. And they were so angry. They sought then counsel to destroy him. The point I'm trying to make is this: We must be likewise. We must give no consideration—listen now—we must give no consideration to the results of our godly, obedient, and biblical actions. If it is godly, if it is biblical, if it is obedience to God, we must obey Him regardless of the outcome and regardless of the circumstances. The duty of obedience is ours, the results belong unto God. We cannot control the results. The only thing that we are responsible to do is to obey. So understand this: duty is ours. The results are God's.
#66 | 49:04 to 50:08 | cleaned
Now, let me try to make some applications and tie this together. First of all, our Lord teaches us clearly that works of mercy are indeed works of necessity. So if there is a need for mercy, it is a necessary work. And that work of mercy and that work of necessity is to be done regardless of what day it is. Doesn't matter if it's a Sabbath day or regular day. Moreover, if we fail to exercise mercy, he says it's cruelty. If we fail to exercise justice, he says it's injustice. If we fail to save a life, it is the same as killing. Here's the second truth. At times, setups backfire.
#67 | 50:09 to 51:03 | cleaned
They backfired on all the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians. I read not some time ago of a corrupt cop who wanted to arrest a man and there was nothing to arrest him for. So he was planting some drugs in the man's car. He cut off his body camera. He either didn't know or he forgot. That body camera, once it's cut off, it continues to record for 30 seconds. And he caught himself on his own camera planting the drugs. Then he turned his camera back on and he filmed himself finding the drugs. And of course, at the court, the man was totally exonerated and found innocent when the body camera came into evidence because the cop was very clearly planting the drugs that did not belong to the citizen.
#68 | 51:06 to 52:11 | cleaned
Have you ever stopped to think about this when you read through the Psalms that the Bible says that "he that diggeth a pit shall fall therein"? And "he that setteth a snare shall be ensnared by it." And the Bible says that God shall bring it down upon their own pate, that is the top of their heads. I love that passage in Psalm 2, where the kings of the earth and the heathen all raged together against God and against his Christ. And the Bible says, "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." So obviously, clearly, yes, setups do indeed backfire and in the sovereign providence of God, many times He's caused some to backfire in our lives of which we probably did not even realize they were setups. He just protected us and preserved us. But here's the third one. Here's an application that you and I must make, not only in our attitude, but also in our daily life.
#69 | 52:11 to 52:42 | cleaned
I want you to look in your Bibles back again to Mark chapter 3. And I want you to look at this. Look in Mark chapter 3 and let's read verses 4 and 5 together. Here it is. Mark 3 verses 4 and 5: "And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace." Watch.
#70 | 52:44 to 53:16 | cleaned
"And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other." Do you realize that hardness of heart, an unmerciful and an uncompassionate spirit, and a lack of concern for others grieves and angers the Lord Jesus Christ. He looked around with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts.
#71 | 53:16 to 53:46 | cleaned
You know what the Bible says in Ephesians 4 and verse 30? "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? By acting disobediently, by doing those things which are contrary to God in His Word. And so the scripture is teaching us, when you and I have a hard heart, unmerciful, unforgiving, uncaring, unconcerned heart, it angers our Lord and it's grievous unto Him.
#72 | 53:47 to 54:32 | cleaned
We have to watch our attitude. We have to watch our heart. Let me show you one last one. I want you to look back to Matthew chapter 12. And look, if you would please, at verses 14 and 15. "Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him." Now, watch. "But when Jesus knew it," and he did, "he withdrew himself from thence." Oh, are you listening? Here's what he did. You want your error? You may have it. You want your lies? You may keep them. You want your traditions?
#73 | 54:33 to 55:08 | cleaned
Follow them to your heart's desire. If you have no regard for truth, and if you do not want the truth, I will leave you to yourself. And if you would turn right over to Matthew chapter 15, I want you to see this stated very bluntly. Matthew 15, beginning there with verse 12, look at it. "Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?"
#74 | 55:10 to 56:00 | cleaned
What did our Lord answer? "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." What did our Lord do when he withdrew himself from those Pharisees? He left them alone. I got news for you. If our Lord ever leaves you alone, it will not be to your advantage.
#75 | 56:00 to 56:34 | cleaned
It will be to your disadvantage. You need to make sure that you love truth. You desire truth, and you want truth, and you're willing to let any error, any heresy, any unmerciful, uncompassionate, wicked attitudes or desires go and say, "I want truth. I want truth more than anything else." If you do not want truth, I can assure you our Lord will not give it to you. He will leave you in your error and your sin. Truth is what we need, and truth is how we're to live.
#76 | 56:35 to 57:07 | cleaned
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace and your mercy. We ask, Lord, that you would indeed teach us, build us up in the most holy faith. Give us thy truth for thou art truth incarnate. Help us, Lord, to love Thee, to live for Thee, to stand for Thee, to obey Thee, not even thinking of the consequences for our obedience, but just trust Thee with the results. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
#77 | 57:09 to 57:58 | cleaned
Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we ask you for your grace and your mercy. We ask, Lord, that you would indeed teach us, build us up in the most holy faith. Give us thy truth for thou art truth incarnate. Help us, Lord, to love Thee, to live for Thee, to stand for Thee, to obey Thee, not even thinking of the consequences for our obedience, but just trust Thee with the results. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
#78 | 58:00 to 58:33 | cleaned
so so
#79 | 58:55 to 58:56 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:32:00Z

A Setup Gone Wrong

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver examines Matthew 12:9-15, where the Pharisees attempt to set up Jesus by asking if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath. Jesus exposes their hypocrisy by arguing from the lesser to the greater: if they would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, how much more should a man be healed? The sermon emphasizes that works of mercy are necessary, that not doing good when able is equivalent to doing evil, and that obedience to God must be regardless of consequences. The Pharisees' reaction—plotting to destroy Jesus—illustrates that those who reject truth will respond with anger when their errors are exposed. Applications include the call to love truth, avoid hardness of heart, and trust God with the results of obedience.

Introduction: The Nature of Setups

Setups are common in life, from harmless pranks to serious governmental entrapment. The sermon introduces the theme of religious setups, particularly those against Jesus by the Pharisees.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 12:9-15

"And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: and behold, there was a man which had his hand withered."

Historical Examples of Religious Setups

Examples from Foxe's Book of Martyrs and figures like Pierre Viret and Cardinal Richelieu show how religious authorities have historically used setups to destroy opponents.

Biblical Examples of Setups Against Jesus

Scripture Reading — Matthew 19:3

"The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"

Notice if you would please. The Bible says the Pharisees came also unto him, tempting him and saying, supposedly asking him this question,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 19:3

"Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?"

In Matthew chapter 22, beginning there with verse 15, the Bible says this:

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:15-22

"Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk."

Now note, if you would, the word "entangle."

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:15-22

"And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men."

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:15-22

"Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"

And our Lord said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:23-33

"Well, ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage."

And then he went on to say,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 22:23-33

"You must remember that God said to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living."

The Setup in Matthew 12: Healing on the Sabbath

The Pharisees ask Jesus if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, intending to accuse Him before the Sanhedrin. Their question is not sincere but a trap based on their traditions.

Jesus' Response: The Lesser to Greater Argument

Jesus counters by asking if they would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, then argues that a man is more valuable than a sheep, making it lawful to do good on the Sabbath.

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 12:10

"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

The Principle of Contrast: Doing Good vs. Doing Evil

From Mark 3:4, Jesus presents a stark alternative: not doing good when possible is equivalent to doing evil; not saving life is akin to killing. This exposes the Pharisees' hypocrisy.

Scripture Reading — Mark 3:4-5

"And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?" "But they held their peace."

Now, I told you it's important to learn from contrast. So here's what our Lord is saying. Think about this now. He's asking,

Scripture Reading — Mark 3:4-5

"Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath days? Is it lawful to save a life or to kill? Is it lawful to do good or to do evil?"

Obedience Despite Opposition

Jesus heals the man with the withered hand, demonstrating that the bare command of God is sufficient reason for obedience. Faith acts on God's command regardless of apparent impossibilities.

The Pharisees' Reaction: Anger and Conspiracy

Instead of repenting, the Pharisees are filled with madness and plot to destroy Jesus. This illustrates that those who reject truth will react with hostility when their errors are exposed.

Scripture Reading — Luke 6:11

"And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus."

They were insanely mad. They were upset. They said, "We've got to get rid of this man. We've got to kill him. We're going to take counsel how we might destroy him."

Application: The Human Rejection of Truth

Man by nature does not love truth but prefers traditions and feelings. Exposing error in modern institutions (government, denominations, mega-churches) often provokes similar anger.

Application: Obedience and Trusting God with Results

Believers must obey God regardless of consequences, as duty is ours and results belong to God. Works of mercy are necessary, and failure to show mercy is cruelty.

Application: The Danger of Hardness of Heart

Jesus' anger and grief at the Pharisees' hardness of heart (Mark 3:5) warns believers against unmerciful, uncompassionate attitudes that grieve the Holy Spirit.

You know what the Bible says in Ephesians 4 and verse 30?

Scripture Reading — Ephesians 4:30

"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

Conclusion: Jesus Withdraws from Rejecters of Truth

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:12-14

"Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?"

What did our Lord answer?

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:12-14

"But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

What did our Lord do when he withdrew himself from those Pharisees? He left them alone. I got news for you. If our Lord ever leaves you alone, it will not be to your advantage.

A Setup Gone Wrong

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	5Q6FCNSfpck
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2021-05-19
Dictation Name
Book	Book 040: Church Order and Worship - Volume 2 — Chapter 37
Source Timed Segments	79

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Nature of Setups: Setups are common in life, from harmless pranks to serious governmental entrapment. The sermon introduces the theme of religious setups, particularly those against Jesus by the Pharisees.
Historical Examples of Religious Setups: Examples from Foxe's Book of Martyrs and figures like Pierre Viret and Cardinal Richelieu show how religious authorities have historically used setups to destroy opponents.
Biblical Examples of Setups Against Jesus: Several passages (Matthew 19, Matthew 22, John 8) are examined to show how the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians repeatedly tried to entrap Jesus with questions about divorce, taxes, and the resurrection.
The Setup in Matthew 12: Healing on the Sabbath: The Pharisees ask Jesus if it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath, intending to accuse Him before the Sanhedrin. Their question is not sincere but a trap based on their traditions.
Jesus' Response: The Lesser to Greater Argument: Jesus counters by asking if they would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, then argues that a man is more valuable than a sheep, making it lawful to do good on the Sabbath.
The Principle of Contrast: Doing Good vs. Doing Evil: From Mark 3:4, Jesus presents a stark alternative: not doing good when possible is equivalent to doing evil; not saving life is akin to killing. This exposes the Pharisees' hypocrisy.
Obedience Despite Opposition: Jesus heals the man with the withered hand, demonstrating that the bare command of God is sufficient reason for obedience. Faith acts on God's command regardless of apparent impossibilities.
The Pharisees' Reaction: Anger and Conspiracy: Instead of repenting, the Pharisees are filled with madness and plot to destroy Jesus. This illustrates that those who reject truth will react with hostility when their errors are exposed.
Application: The Human Rejection of Truth: Man by nature does not love truth but prefers traditions and feelings. Exposing error in modern institutions (government, denominations, mega-churches) often provokes similar anger.
Application: Obedience and Trusting God with Results: Believers must obey God regardless of consequences, as duty is ours and results belong to God. Works of mercy are necessary, and failure to show mercy is cruelty.
Application: The Danger of Hardness of Heart: Jesus' anger and grief at the Pharisees' hardness of heart (Mark 3:5) warns believers against unmerciful, uncompassionate attitudes that grieve the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion: Jesus Withdraws from Rejecters of Truth: When the Pharisees rejected truth, Jesus withdrew from them (Matthew 12:15; 15:14). If God leaves a person to their own devices, it is to their disadvantage. The sermon ends with a call to love and desire truth.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

The Pharisees' question was a setup, not a sincere inquiry.

The question 'Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?' was asked with the explicit purpose of accusing Jesus, not to learn truth.

Matthew 12:10: 'that they might accuse him.' The sermon notes that questions can be used as traps.

Jesus used the lesser-to-greater argument to expose inconsistency.

If they would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, how much more should a man be healed? This shows their misplaced priorities.

Matthew 12:11-12: 'How much then is a man better than a sheep?'

Not doing good when able is equivalent to doing evil.

By contrast, failing to heal is to do evil; failing to save life is to kill. This principle condemns the Pharisees' inaction.

Mark 3:4 and the sermon's explanation: 'Not to do good... is to do evil. Not to save a life... is to kill.'

Obedience to God's command does not require understanding or ability; faith acts.

The man with the withered hand obeyed Jesus' command to stretch it out, and in the act of obedience, healing came.

Adam Clarke's commentary: 'At the command of our Lord, he made the effort. And in making it, the cure was effected.'

Exposing error often provokes anger, not repentance, in those who reject truth.

The Pharisees responded to Jesus' correction by plotting to kill Him, demonstrating that truth rejected leads to hostility.

Matthew 12:14: 'Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.' Luke 6:11: 'they were filled with madness.'

Believers must obey God regardless of the outcome, leaving results to Him.

Duty is ours; results are God's. We cannot control how others react, but we must do what is right.

The sermon states: 'We must give no consideration to the results of our godly, obedient, and biblical actions.'

Hardness of heart grieves and angers the Lord.

Jesus was angry and grieved at the Pharisees' lack of compassion, warning believers to avoid similar attitudes.

Mark 3:5: 'being grieved for the hardness of their hearts.'

God may withdraw from those who persistently reject truth.

Jesus left the Pharisees to their own devices when they rejected Him, illustrating the danger of refusing truth.

Matthew 12:15: 'he withdrew himself from thence.' Matthew 15:14: 'Let them alone.'

Scripture References

Matthew 12:9-15: The main text: Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, and the Pharisees plot against Him.
Matthew 19:3: Pharisees ask Jesus about divorce to tempt Him, illustrating a setup question.
Matthew 22:15-22: Pharisees and Herodians try to entangle Jesus with the question of paying taxes to Caesar.
Matthew 22:23-33: Sadducees question Jesus about the resurrection using a levirate marriage scenario.
John 8:3-11: The woman taken in adultery is brought to Jesus as a setup to accuse Him.
Romans 2:17-24: Paul rebukes the Jews for boasting in the law while breaking it, illustrating hypocrisy.
Proverbs 12:10: A righteous man regards the life of his beast, supporting the principle of caring for animals.
Mark 3:4-5: Jesus asks if it is lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath, and looks at them with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart.
Luke 13:10-17: Jesus heals a woman bent over for 18 years on the Sabbath, and the synagogue ruler objects, showing hypocrisy.
Luke 6:11: After the healing, the Pharisees are filled with madness and discuss what to do to Jesus.
Ephesians 4:30: Believers are warned not to grieve the Holy Spirit, connected to hardness of heart.
Matthew 15:12-14: Jesus tells His disciples to let the Pharisees alone because they are blind leaders of the blind.
Psalm 2:4: God laughs at the rebellious kings and brings their schemes down on their own heads.
Mark 7: Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for making void the law of God through their traditions.
Matthew 15: Jesus teaches that traditions can nullify God's law, and that vain worship comes from teaching human commands as doctrines.
Deuteronomy (implied): The law required two witnesses for the death penalty; in John 8, the accusers left, so Jesus could not condemn the woman.
Numbers (implied): The law of witnesses is referenced in the context of the woman taken in adultery.
Leviticus (implied): The ritual of the bitter water for a woman accused of adultery is mentioned as a possible parallel to Jesus writing on the ground.

Historical References

Foxe's Book of Martyrs: Cited as an example of religious setups and conspiracies by Roman Catholics against reformers.
Pierre Viret: A reformer who was poisoned, ambushed, beaten, and stabbed by Roman Catholics but survived and continued preaching.
Cardinal Richelieu: A French cardinal notorious for destroying opponents through setups and arrests.
School of Shammai and School of Hillel: Two competing Jewish schools of thought on divorce; the Pharisees' question in Matthew 19 was designed to force Jesus to side with one.
Sanhedrin: The Jewish ruling council to whom the Pharisees would accuse Jesus of Sabbath-breaking.
Adam Clarke's Commentary: Quoted on the principle that the bare command of God is sufficient reason for obedience.
John Calvin's Commentary: Quoted on the idea that neglecting to relieve a person in distress is akin to manslaughter.

Important Quotes

The bare command of God is a sufficient reason for obedience.

This quote from Adam Clarke encapsulates the sermon's emphasis on obeying God without questioning or calculating consequences.

Not to do good, when it is in the power of our hand to do it, is to do evil. Not to save a life, when it is in the power of our hand to save a life, is to kill.

This summarizes the principle of contrast from Mark 3:4, showing the moral weight of inaction.

Man by nature does not love truth. Man by nature does not want truth, and man by nature will not accept truth.

This statement explains why the Pharisees reacted with anger instead of repentance, and applies to modern rejections of truth.

Duty is ours. The results are God's.

A key application: believers are responsible for obedience, not for controlling outcomes.

He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein.

A proverbial truth that setups often backfire, as seen in the Pharisees' failed trap.

If our Lord ever leaves you alone, it will not be to your advantage.

A warning that God's withdrawal is a judgment on those who reject truth.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways do we see 'setups' or entrapment in religious or political contexts today? How should Christians respond?

[Context]

The sermon opens with modern examples of setups, such as corrupt police and government sting operations.

[Question]

How can we discern whether a question is sincere or a trap? What principles from Jesus' responses can guide us?

[Context]

The Pharisees' question in Matthew 12:10 was asked 'that they might accuse him.' The sermon notes that not all questions are simple.

[Question]

What does it mean that 'not to do good is to do evil'? Can you think of a situation where inaction was sinful?

[Context]

From Mark 3:4, the sermon argues that failing to do good when able is equivalent to doing evil.

[Question]

Why is it difficult to obey God without considering the consequences? How can we grow in trusting God with the results?

[Context]

The sermon emphasizes that duty is ours and results are God's, using Jesus' healing as an example.

[Question]

What are some modern 'traditions' that can make void the Word of God, similar to the Pharisees' traditions?

[Context]

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for elevating traditions above God's law (Mark 7, Matthew 15).

[Question]

How does hardness of heart manifest in our lives? What steps can we take to maintain a soft, compassionate heart?

[Context]

Mark 3:5 shows Jesus grieved by hardness of heart; Ephesians 4:30 warns against grieving the Spirit.

[Question]

Have you ever experienced anger or defensiveness when your sin was exposed? How can we cultivate a love for truth that welcomes correction?

[Context]

The Pharisees reacted with madness and plotted to kill Jesus when their error was exposed.

[Question]

What does it mean for God to 'leave someone alone'? How should this warning affect our pursuit of truth?

[Context]

Jesus withdrew from the Pharisees and told His disciples to let them alone (Matthew 12:15; 15:14).

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T12:58:09Z