Luke 11:14–11:36

There are , two types of people in the world.

Those who divide people into two types of people

those who do not

There are three types of people in the world.  Those that can count, and those who cannot.

There are two types of people in the world.  Those that finish what they start.

There arrrrrr two types of people in the world.  Those who like to talk like pirates, and those who do not.

In Luke 11, we are going to find Jesus dividing people into two groups. We like to focus on Jesus bringing everyone together by the power of his sacrifical death on the cross but in that good news and for that good news to have any power, we have to face the reality that there two types of people in the world.

I. There are Two types of people in the world: those who are on God side and those who are not

Luke 11:14–26 (ESV)

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled.

Demons are real. Their activity in the New Testament seems to cluster around the earthly ministry of Jesus.

Demons can harm/harass people.

Jesus rules over and casts out demons.  

But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.

We will get to the asking for a sign part in a bit

They are grasping at straws to try to discredit Jesus and his message so they throw out this crazy theory

Some translations say the devil, satan, or beelzebul/beelzebub. It is talking about Lucifer, the one who lead the rebelion against God and is waging war on him ever since

But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

Evidence that Jesus is God:

1. he cast out a demon

2. he knew their thoughts

He calls them out on the bad logic of their theory

Why would satan do that? It would make him look bad, weak, incompetent and would cause him to lose ground

Then Jesus takes it a step further:

And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

Uh oh, apparently there were Jewish people who had a ministry of cast demons out of people. Obviously they would have been doing that in the name and power of the true God. Jesus does not say they were wrong to be doing this but he is turning around the argument to say If what i am doing is demonic, YOU ARE DOING THE VERY SAME THING!

But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.

Jesus spells it out for them. If what you do is from God then what I do is from God.

Jesus says I am stronger than Satan.

The kingdom of God is here and you don’t like it. They expected the chosen one to come and for him to say WOW GUYS! GOOD JOB! instead Jesus was coming in power, doing miricles AND calling them out for their pride and sinfulness

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

There are two types of people in the world.

Well, come on Jesus, isnt that a little overly simplistic? I mean there are plenty of people in the world who dont believe in Jesus who are pretty much nice people. More good than bad. Live by the law, try to treat others kindly and fairly, work hard, etc

Jesus then uses an example of the formally demon possesed man and the demon he just cast out

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

No neutral parties.

I was trying to think of a comparison here. When it comes to evil, there are few who would argue with the evil of the Nazis.

Were there neutral people in Nazi Germany?

I would say No.

There were actively and undeniably BAD people

There people who were basically good, who kept their head down, obeyed the law, tried to succeed. Got along to get along. (this was probably the vast majority)

There were people who fought for what was right

When it comes to the battle of the kingdom of god vs the kingdom of satan, I would say most people in the world fall into category 2 the category of not actively “EVIL”. They may even be nice, polite, friendly, and commited to a moral code.

Jesus says that person, if they have not put their faith in him is AGAINST him

II. There are two types of people in the world, Those who see and hear and obey and those who WILLFULLY do not.

Luke 11:27-28“27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Obedience is important. birthplace, good family, nationality, race, ethnicity, are not

truly happy and blessed is the one who sees and hears truth and obeys

Jesus contrasts that kind of obedience with the people of Israel

Luke 11:29-30,32 29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.

1. The first example - Jonah and the Assyrians of Nineveh

30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.

Explanation of Jonah and Nineveh

Jonah came speaking the truth and the Assyrians listened and repented.

2. The Second Example - The Queen of Sheba and Solomon

31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Explanation of King Solomon’s wisdom and the queens visit

modern day Yemen, 1300 miles

1 kings 10:6 She exclaimed to the king, “Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true! 7 I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes. In fact, I had not heard the half of it! Your wisdom and prosperity are far beyond what I was told. 8 How happy your people must be! What a privilege for your officials to stand here day after day, listening to your wisdom! 9 Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king so you can rule with justice and righteousness.”

There is a little more to the jonah example

32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

The parallel with Jonah and Jesus. How is Jesus a greater preacher than Jonah?

Matthew 12:40 ESV

40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

3. Third Example - Lighted Lamp

Luke 11:33-36 “33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.

in this example Jesus and the Truth of who he is is the lamp and light.

John 12:44-46 “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness

I am here, my message is clear. The Light is on.

34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.””

Your eyes have to be open to benefit from the light

If you are in Jesus kingdom, how do we actively oppose evil?

Who does Satan and his evil representatives look down on, mistreat, and abuse?

the weak, the weird, the different, the dirty, the annoying, the unintelligent, the poor.