Parables Series WK 1

For or Against

Matthew 12:22–28 NRSV

Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see. All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out the demons.” He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

Matthew 12:29–30 NRSV

Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

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Matthew The Beelzebul Controversy, 12:22–37

Verse 28 brings this segment to a close by Jesus making the bold statement that if indeed (as is true) he exorcizes demons by the power of the Holy Spirit, then the Dominion of God has broken into their midst or has come upon them. [God’s Finger] The Dominion is visible in the exorcisms because a person has been set free from one sort of dominion or lordship, indicating a more powerful and saving lordship has liberated the person in question. God’s divine saving reign is manifested in their midst in the lives of people like this now healed blind and mute person. Jesus does not merely herald the coming of the Dominion; he brings it in.

Jesus does 3 things

—> Calls the pharisees out on an illogical argument

Matthew 12:25–28 NRSV

He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

—> Tells the pharisees that he is in charge, he has bound the devil and has taken power from the Evil One

Matthew 12:29 NRSV

Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered.

—> Tells them to pick a side

Matthew 12:30 NRSV

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 The Impossibility of Neutrality (Matthew 12:30)

So a wise suggestion has been made. ‘Whoever is not with me is against me’ is a test that we ought to apply to ourselves. Am I truly on the Lord’s side, or am I trying to shuffle through life in a state of cowardly neutrality? ‘Whoever is not against us is for us’ is a test that we ought to apply to others. Am I given to condemning everyone who does not speak with my theology and worship with my liturgy and share my ideas? Am I limiting the kingdom of God to those who think as I do?

The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 2 The Impossibility of Neutrality (Matthew 12:30)

The saying in this present passage is a test to apply to ourselves; the saying in Mark and Luke is a test to apply to others; for we must always judge ourselves with sternness and other people with tolerance.