GOSPEL READING
THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
The Kingdom of God has come upon you: Mt 12,24-37
Overview: Mt 12,24-50
This speech by Jesus up to 12,32 is parallel to Mk 3,22-30.
Mark is presenting a sandwich concerning the true family of Jesus. As we noted in the overview, Matthew replaced the opening of the sandwich, Mk 3,20-21, with the healing of the demoniac which we have just read, 12,22-23.
Matthew now presents the middle of Mark's sandwich before going his own way with 12,33-37 and 12,38-45.
He then comes back to Mark at the end, 12,46-50, with the closure of the sandwich, Mk 3,31-35
Which Kingdom: 12,24-37
The Pharisees make their appearance again in verse 24, see 12,14.
What is their charge? How do they speak of Jesus?
A response from Jesus follows, 12,25-37. Up to 12,32, Matthew is parallel with Mark as we have seen.
See how from 12,25-30, Jesus presents three arguments in reply to the Pharisees. Summarise each in your own words.
Verse 28 refers to the Spirit. Note how Matthew is different to Luke, Lk 11,20. What is Jesus saying here? See 4,17.
What then is the conclusion in verse 30?
How does verse 31 begin? In verses 31 and 32 Jesus speaks of blasphemy, see Lev 24,13-16. Consider what Jesus means when he speaks about the Spirit and forgiveness. See 18,22.
The parable on good and bad fruit, 12,33-37, is unique to Matthew. See 7,16-20 and also Sirach 27,4-7.
Note the three parts to these verses.
In verse 34, Jesus speaks of the Pharisees as a brood of vipers as did John the Baptist (3,7).
The day of judgement in verse 36 is a frequent theme for Matthew. In this verse and in verse 37 we need to remember to whom Jesus is speaking.
What can we conclude?
Look at my response.
We now come to Jesus speaking about this evil generation (12,38-45).