The Perils of Stubborn Unbelief, Matthew 12, Day 35, Feb 5th | Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires

The Pharisees Question Jesus, Tissot

Matthew 12

Jesus and Beelzebul

²² Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. ²³ All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
The simple people are wowed by the undoubted demonstration of power. The professionals however are threatened.Jealous and insecurity can make people say and do strange things.
ESV The amazement of the crowd suggests that Jesus’s casting out demons without a word was unprecedented.

²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”

²⁵ Jesus knew their thoughts
The mark of the Pharisee, they think their thoughts quietly to themselves. Their thoughts do not become words.

and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
ESV–Satan would not work against himself by exorcising a demon which was part of his attempt to control the world.

²⁷ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
ESV–Jesus’ amazing power over demons was due to the power of the Holy Spirit working through him.

²⁹ “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
ESV notes–Jesus was able to expel demons because he had bound Satan. Beginning with Jesus’ victory over Satan during the temptation in the wilderness, Jesus demonstrated that Satan was powerless to prevent him from proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom and demonstrating the reality of its presence through his work and words.

³⁰ “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Neutrality is not possible. There is a saying “If Jesus is not Lord of all, he is not Lord at all.”

³¹ And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

³³ “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers,

Jesus just said what he thought. He did not mince words.

how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Speech is a good indicator of the person. Wicked words reveal evil within the heart.

³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Our words will be taken into particular account on the day of judgment!! ESV Words are an outward evidence of inner character.

The Sign of Jonah

³⁸ Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
Jesus is canny and careful. He thinks before he speaks. So he does not reflexively give a sign. Nor does he fall for their flattery.
He had already done many signs to confirm his Messianic identity. They were asking for a sign which they could use against him.

³⁹ He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign!
Lines worth considering for those who believe Jesus was always nice.
Adulterous–unfaithful to their spiritual husband, God.

But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. ⁴² The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
His death and resurrection will be the sign.

⁴³ “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

⁴⁶ While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

⁴⁸ He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”
⁴⁹ Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Whoever does God’s will is the kin of Jesus!