Matthew Twelve

There is far more at stake here than religion. As The Message puts it, quoted the OT in this way:

"I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual."

What do you do with a statement like that?! It reminds me of Ezekiel 36:26.

Matthew goes on to quote the passage that Jesus read from Isaiah about the coming of Jesus. These lines stood out to me:

He won't walk over anyone's feelings;

won't push you into a corner;

the mere sound of His name will signal HOPE.

That's what Jesus came to give us - hope for eternal life with Him. Hope of something better to come. Hope of sins forgiven. Hope of restoration and redemption.

Jesus then talks about being for Him or against Him - there is no in-between. Those who are followers of Jesus will produce healthy fruit because they are attached to, and grow from, a healthy tree.

Then Jesus shocks us with another blunt statement:

It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words.

Boom.

I think that's enough hard truths for this chapter.