Matthew 12:43-45 Return of an Unclean Spirit

Many people were following Jesus for the benefits of healing and exorcism. Many had demons cast out of them recovering their sight, hearing, even health becoming decent citizens of their communities once again. Unfortunately, many of the people who had their demons cast out did not repent and submit to Jesus as the Son of God, but continued their lives without him. Some thinking he was a great prophet. Others thinking he was a great healer. Maybe even some thought he was just a good man. I wonder if there were some who got convinced by the Pharisees that Jesus was acting in the name of Beelzebul.

Jesus warns them with this short parable that the liberation from the power of darkness will be short lived because the disembodied spirits will return with reinforcements to claim their habitat. Evil spirits are not content to be disembodied, but continue to seek ways to have a “home.” Jesus exorcism swept clean and ordered the house, but it continues to be empty unless they embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior. The fate of that evil generation would be such that their last state would be worse than the first. To follow Jesus is not just to have our mess cleaned up by him, but to be filled with his presence as we submit to his lordship.

Lord, help me surrender to you my whole life. May I not be content with you cleaning up my messes, but help me yearn for your presence in me.

Matthew 12:22-32 Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

The miracles Jesus performed were designed to be signs that he is the Son of David, Son of Abraham, Son of God, the Messiah to come and it was working. After the exorcism of a demon possessed man who was blind and mute, people witnessed that he could speak and see and began to wonder if Jesus was the Messiah to come. Unfortunately, the Pharisees started to discredit Jesus’ miracles as being performed by Beelzebul. Beelzebul means “master of the house” and was used to refer to Satan. Jesus proceeds to prove that this assumption is incorrect appealing to some logic: A kingdom, city, or house divided against itself cannot stand. How can Satan cast out his own demons and stand?

Exorcisms performed by the Spirit of God are a sign that the kingdom of God has come. Using the imagery of the plundering of a strong man’s house, Jesus indicates that he is against Beelzebul and not in cooperation with him. Casting out of demons is not possible unless Beelzebul is bound. What is the blasphemy that will not be forgiven? The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The blasphemy that attributes God’s work to Satan. This blasphemy results from a heart that is unable to distinguish God’s work from Satan’s work and is unwilling to give glory to God for what only God can do. It is a heart that is darkened and unwilling to allow God’s light to come in. It is important to note that the blasphemy against the Spirit is not a one time deal of attributing something to Satan that God did, but a lifestyle that refuses to admit God’s work and give him glory.

God wants us to see and live reality. Satan is an expert in deception. If Satan can deceive us to think that what God does is not really his work, then he has a stronghold upon us. To follow Jesus is to perceive his hand at work in the world by the Spirit and to give him glory for his works.

Father, help me see and live in your reality. Deliver me from the evil of blaspheming against your Holy Spirit.

Matthew 9:27-34 Jesus Heals Two Blind Men and a Man Unable to Speak

Two blind men cry out for mercy while following Jesus. They believe he is the Son of David, not just a descendant of David, but the Messiah. The blind men persisted in their following and plea until Jesus probes their faith. He finds that they trust he is able to heal them and he does. Interestingly, Jesus sternly warns them not to tell anyone. While Jesus was interested in keeping his miracles a little more secretive, it was impossible for the blind men to hide it and his fame continued to spread. Also, a demon-oppressed man was brought to Jesus. He was mute, but when Jesus cast out the demon, he was free to speak. It is interesting to see the contrast in reaction among the people. While the crowds marveled, the Pharisees attributed Jesus’ exorcism to the power of the devil.

I’m struggling on how to think about the action of the blind men. They followed. They believed. They were healed. But they could not contain what they experienced despite Jesus’ stern warning. Is this to be considered a disobedience? Or is it the way of Matthew communicating that a grateful soul cannot contain the good news? I’m inclined towards the latter since this scenario is repeated several times throughout Matthew. Especially, when I consider the contrast with the Pharisees’ action of defaming Jesus. To follow Jesus is to spread his fame wherever we go for what he has done in our lives.

Lord, fill my heart with gratitude for all the good things you have done for me. May I, like the blind men, spread your fame wherever I go.

Matthew 8:28-34 Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons

Jesus decides to pass by Gadara, a Gentile town near the sea of Galilee. He chooses a path that seemed to have been guarded by two demon-possessed men for quite some time. They were so fierce that no one dared to go that way. When they meet Jesus, they are able to identify that he is the Son of God who will send them to be tormented on the day of judgment (Rev.20:10) and wonder if his presence on earth is to torment them before their time. The demons begged to be sent into a herd of pigs that was nearby and Jesus casts them out of the two men and into the herd of pigs. Unfortunately, the herd rushed into the sea and drowned. The herdsmen fled to the city and told everything. The people came out to meet Jesus, but they asked him to leave their region.

Jesus is the Son of God. He is sovereign over diseases. He is in control of nature. He rules over the spirit world as well. These demons give testimony to the reality of a future judgment and hell. During his temptation, Jesus overcame the devil. Such event represented his victory over sin and evil in the world. Now again, he confronts the powers of darkness to demonstrate his sovereign control of the spirit world. The drowning of the herd of pigs gives us a picture of the reality of the spirit world. Many of us have fallen into the belief that evil is simply bad choices devoid of the reality of personal, spiritual entities who roam upon the earth to oppress us even possess us if possible. While Jesus is the Son of God who has sovereign control over the spirit world, he is rejected by the very people he came to save.

Father, may I always welcome Jesus, your Son, into my life and believe that he has sovereign control over the spirit world. Instill in me that I have nothing to fear today or on the day of judgment if I continue to follow him.

Matthew 17:14-20 Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon

A man kneels before Jesus pleading for his epileptic son who often falls in water and fire because the disciples were not able to heal him. Jesus is disappointed with the disciples and asks the man to bring the child to him. Jesus rebuked the demon and when it came out, the boy was healed. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by loss of consciousness and convulsions due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The boy was demonized making his condition even worse and the Lord heals him by exorcizing the demon.

It is important that we understand that there are physiological issues that could be caused by spiritual oppression, even possession. But we should not tag every epilepsy or mental illness with demon possession. Mental illness is tabu in the Church to this day and it shouldn't be. It is my conviction that physical illnesses that weaken the mind create an open door for the enemy to come in and wreak havoc. But a Christian, even with a mental illness, cannot be demon possessed if his/her faith is in Christ and his soul is sealed with the Holy Spirit.

The obvious question from the disciples is: Why couldn't we do it? Jesus' answer is because of your little faith. It is important to distinguish between saving faith and faith to work miracles. It is possible to have one and not the other. I can trust Christ for the salvation of my soul and have a hard time believing that I can be used to pray for someone's healing. Faith of this kind is a gift of the Spirit. Moving a mountain is a common Jewish metaphor for the impossible. Faith is not going to move a mountain, but it will accomplish many impossible things. Christ says that just a little faith (like the grain of a mustard seed) can go a long way.

I find myself battling prejudice against mental illness sufferers. At times, I think everything is  caused by a demon. I have to be wise and ask for discernment to know how to minister to those who suffer it. Ultimately, it comes down to my faith - not the saving kind, but the kind needed to believe that the Lord is compassionate upon those who suffer and can heal them. I must confess that a mustard seed is a mountain next to my faith. 

Lord, help my unbelief. Fill me with your Holy Spirit to be able to discern how to minister to people suffering of mental illness. Grow my faith through your word to believe that you can heal the worst of cases. I need you; without you I can do nothing.

Matthew 12:22-32 Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

What exactly is the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the unforgivable sin? Let's follow the story and we will find out. A demon possessed man who was blind and mute is exorcised by Jesus. Exorcism is one of the signs of the coming of the kingdom of God and the Messiah. Signs are meant to point to a reality and compel people to believe. That's why some raised the question: "Can this be the Son of David?" The Pharisees accuse Jesus of performing the exorcism by Beelzebul. Beelzebul is a term derived from an ancient pagan god Baal and used by the Jews to refer to Satan or a demon.

Christ's argument against such a thought is that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. He also points out that some Pharisees, in the past, had attempted to exorcise though without success - he questions by whom or in whose name did they try to exorcise. The only way to cast out demons (plunder the house) is by binding the devil (strong man) first. And to be able to bind the devil there must be faith in Jesus; there must be an allegiance to the Messiah and his kingdom. So the unforgivable sin, the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is to continually refuse to make an allegiance with the Messiah despite the display of signs by the Spirit. It is unbelief in the face of the Spirit's call, through signs, to believe.

I wouldn't limit the work or signs of the Spirit to an era of miracles in Jesus' time and later the apostles'. The Spirit is alive and continues to work even today until the Lord's return. There are signs all around me. God is at work every day. The proclamation of the Gospel must be followed up by signs to drive people to believe. I must pray to my God to manifest himself in ways that serve to point people to the reality of the kingdom. I must pray that God will lift the blindness of this world so they may see Jesus. 

My emphasis on intellectual proof alone is not going to cut it. I need to believe that God will intervene in people's lives and pray to that end to see it become a reality. Arguments alone will not bring people into the kingdom. We need the demonstration of God's power in people's lives. Many times we think this must be a demonstrable miracle, but God can break through into people's lives in so many different ways. Do I believe? Am I praying for it?

Lord, grant me a passion to see you at work in people's lives. Move me to pray for signs in our day so people can me moved to believe. Help my unbelief. Open my eyes to see the splendor of your work as you give signs of the reality of your kingdom.