Matthew 12:22-30
²²Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw.
²³All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”
²⁴But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”
²⁵And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?
²⁷If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges.
²⁸But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
²⁹Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
³⁰He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Devotional
Increasing resistance
A demoniac who is blind and dumb is brought to Jesus.
A human being destroyed by demons. Eyes and mouth have been taken away from him, and with them his possibilities for contact with the world around him.
But Jesus heals and sets him free so that he can see and speak again.
You can imagine how people reacted: wildly enthusiastic.
A buzz goes through the crowd: Could Jesus be the Messiah?
But on the other hand, the enmity against Jesus is growing.
Especially when people think of Him as being the Messiah, The Pharisees’ anger grows.
Viciously they attribute his miraculous power to Beelzebul, the leader of the demons (See also Matthew 10:25). “Therefore He has power over demons.”
They sharpen their conflict with Jesus. Their aversion to Him grows more and more intense. You can also say: they grow in their sin.
Beelzebul means “lord of the house” and is the title of a heathen deity, to whom the Jews ascribed the sovereignty of the evil spirits. It also points to Satan, the prince of the devils. (Matthew 10:25; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15)
(The correct reading is without doubt Beelzebul, and not Beelzebub).
And Jesus? What is He doing?
He is still very mild. He still continues to talk to the Pharisees.
They have rejected Him, He has not yet rejected them.
Jesus is still committed to winning them over to Himself.
By His miracles, it was not possible. Now He tries it with reasonable arguments.
Calmly, Jesus explains that their claim that He casts out demons through the leader of the demons cannot be true.
When Satan drives out Satan, the kingdom of the evil one is divided against itself.
Then Satan will eventually destroy himself.
Jesus’ next argument is that He is not alone in casting out demons.
Others (your sons) do it too (An illustration can be found in Acts 19:13-16). Apparently the Pharisees do see God’s power in that.
Why not with Jesus?
Jesus’ final argument once again appeals to the Pharisees to accept his power.
You can only do something against a strong one if you first make him harmless. Jesus showed that He is the master of the devil. In Him are the powers of God’s Kingdom to be seen!
Then Jesus makes a final appeal to the Pharisees to recognize Him and to build God’s Kingdom with Him.
An invitation with a serious warning, because whoever does not bring people into God’s Kingdom with Jesus will drive them out (Matthew 12:30). He commits a great sin!
Question
- Where do you hear people say: “What the Spirit does is work of the devil” ?
Prayer Suggestion
- Pray that God will keep people from misunderstanding His work
□ ■ □
Read more of these messages at: https://devotionals.harryschoemaker.nl
Download your Bible pictures from: http://bijbelplaatjes.nl
Email: devotionals@harryschoemaker.nl
Twitter: @schoemakerharry
About Author
