Matthew 12:1-21

Give God your best gift; not sacrifice, but mercy! We are often tempted to focus on the gift that is costly, but not greatest, when often the greatest gift that is needed is mercy.

"Jesus said to [the Pharisees who accused him of allowing his disciples to break the law by working on the Sabbath], "Haven't you read in the..."

"[Jesus healed many and then warned those he healed not to reveal who he was.] This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah concerning him: "Look at my..."

"[Continuing Isaiah's prophecy about Jesus:] "He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put..."

"But Jesus knew [that the Pharisees were plotting to kill him]. So he left that area, and many people followed him. He healed all the sick among them,...."

"Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Does the law permit a person to work..."

"[When the Pharisees asked Jesus if a person could work by healing on the Sabbath,] he answered, "If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the..."

"Then [Jesus] said to the man [with the deformed hand], "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other..."

"At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of..."

"[Talking to the Pharisees after they condemned his disciples for gathering and eating grain on the Sabbath, Jesus continued:] "For the Son of Man is....."

""Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.""

"I tell you that one greater than the temple is here."

"[Talking to the Pharisees, Jesus continued:] "But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: 'I..."

"What a mass of hideous sickness must have thrust itself under the eye of Jesus! Yet we read not that he was disgusted, but patiently waited on every....."

"What is weaker than the bruised reed or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps;...."

Inspirational illustration of Matthew 12:6 -- I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.

Jesus won't let us classify him as just another good teacher: He challenges us to decide if he is Lord, liar, or lunatic! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos to honor Jesus as greater than anything or anyone.

What does it take to find hope in this life? There is real hope for our present lives. God offers us this hope through Jesus, and only through him.

Jesus talked about a haunted house? Don't simply get rid of evil, but fill your life with goodness!