Matt. 12:22-32 Blaspheming the Spirit

Intro:

Review from last week: The Holy Spirit: Our Helper

Sometimes, following the Spirit’s leading will take you into the wilderness

The Holy Spirit empowers us to walk like Jesus

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Outline:

Strong Opressor: “House Divided” (vs. 22-27)

Stronger Spirit: “Blasphemy” (vs. 28-32)

Summary: The Holy Spirit is blasphemed when the heart habitually attributes His power to another source.

The strength of the oppressor to divide is no match for the forgiveness of the Spirit

Illustration: the picture of Jessi and I on opposite sides of the couch (Raptors vs. Cavs).

Prayer:

Strong Opressor: “House Divided” (vs. 22-27)

A demon-oppressed man (v. 22)

Then

A demon-oppressed man

who was blind

and mute- communication would be very hard for him. He could hear, but only make hand and face guestures not really knowing how others would understand his communication

was brought to him- This man would not have been able to make it to Jesus on his own or at least with a great amount of difficulty

and he healed him

so that he spoke and saw- what had previously been restricted was no longer.

Different opinions (vs. 23-24)

And all the people

were amazed- “existanto” imperfect, mid, ind, 3rd, pl to be utterly amazed, beside themselves

and said- “elegon” imp, act, ind, 3rd, pl

Can this be the Son of David?

But when the Pharisees

heard it

they said

it is only by Beelzebul- not the “Son of David”. This is another name for Satan. The name means “Lord of the high places” similar to Beelzebub- “Lord of the Flies”

the prince of demons

that this man casts out demons- notice the identity piece, the only way that Jesus could do this according to each group is if he is either

the son of David

By the power of Beelzebul- the power comes from the identity.

They take a good thing (miracle of healing), and attribute it to the power, authority (Beelzebul, son of David), and kingdom (prince of demons, Messianic line) of someone else.

Notice, the miracle is not performed on the Sabbath, so the Pharisees are not just against Jesus for doing something they thought ought not be done according to their tradition, they are against Him. The difference of opinion on the application of how to keep the Sabbath Holy has moved to division with competing sides.

Divided Kingdoms (vs. 25-27)

Knowing their thoughts- wow, did we just read that right?

He said to them

every kindgom divided against itself

is laid waste- you can only be loyal to one authority

No city or house divided against itself

will stand

And if Satan casts out Satan

he is divided against himself

How will his kindom stand?- If I am given authority by Satan, than why would he give authority to cast out his own demon?

And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul

by whom do your sons cast them out? The disciples and Jewish exorcists? You believe they are working by the power of God, so why would He be empowered differently?

Therefore they will be your judges

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Jesus often uses physically broken people that are made whole spiritually and physically to point out the spiritual brokeness of the physically healthy religious people. Here a man possessed by demons, he is physically unable to see or talk, yet he is delivered by Jesus and can physically see and speak. The Pharisees are physically able to see and speak and yet Spiritually they are in more bondage than this man.

Yet there is hope! If Jesus can do this physically for a man, he can also do it spiritually.

It is important as a church family and as believers that we see our identity in Christ first and foremost. Then we need to be able to distinguish between division of the family and difference of oppinion.

CIRLCE DIAGRAM

I have heard from some in our congregation that we are a church divided.

Children’s centre- difference of opinion

“A one woman man”- Sin is always present in divorce, it is not the ideal, God is not for it. But is there forgiveness and the possibility for progressive sanctification after?

Division always leads to destruction

Difference of opion leads to discussion that can end with unity even though there is a difference of opinion.

“Will I do not think we should do that”

“I am not sure how that will work, but I am willing to talk it through and not allow it to create bitterness and distance from others in God’s family.

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

Oh Jesus, please don’t do that! People are going to assume that you are doing it for the wrong reason.

Transitional phrase: we must all be vigulant, there is a strong oppressor in our midst that would love nothing more than to see the people of God divided. By God’s grace we cannot allow a difference of opion to grow into division. Praise the Lord, there is a…

Stronger Spirit: “Blasphemy” (vs. 28-32)

A stronger Spirit (vs. 28-29)

But if it is by the Spirit of God- different opion, different authority.

that I cast out demons- “ekballw” pres, act, ind 1st, sg, to drive out, to force to go away or go out

then the kingdom of God has come upon you- a greater kingdom is here! which one will you be loyal to?

Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house

and plunder his goods

unless he first binds the strong man?- “d-eh-s-eh” aor, act, sub, 3rd, sg, to bind, to make fast

then indeed he may plunder his house- Jesus is saying that he is stronger than Satan and has plundered this oppressed man from satan’s house!

belonging to Satan leaves you oppressed, mute, and blind

Belonging to Jesus sets you free to see and speak of his glory

A strong statement (v. 30)

Whoever is not with me

is against me

Whoever does not gather with me

scatters- both “gather” and “scatter” are in the present tense, you cannot presently do them both at the same time. This is a shepherding metaphor.

Slandering the Spirit (vs. 31-32)

Therefore- in light of the stronger man plundering the house

I tell you

every sin

and blasphemy- “blasph-eh-mia” slander, abusive words falsely spoken that damage a person’s reputation

will be forgiven people- when we do this to each other

This is great news that Jesus gives: if you have, or are presently, or will sin and blaspheme someone, you can be forgiven if you humble yourself and ask forgiveness from the one that is stonger and the person you sinned against.

Because of a stronger one’s presence, every sin and blasphemy wil be forgiven- even that sin that is hidden, that no one knows, that you have told yourself or been told “you will never be forgiven for that” I will never forgive myself for…

Satan feeds that lie to keep you oppressed, not possessed, but oppressed, to try to keep you in bondage, to say that his authority is stronger. to keep you blind to the truth and mute from asking for help. In essence, He wants you to be a house that is divided!

but

the blasphemy (discredit) against the Spirit will not be forgiven

Talking the work (power and authority) of the Holy Spirit and attributing it to someone else…To live in the conviction of your own kingdom with you ruling and reigning as king or queen. To regect that the “stonger man” is present, to reject the Son of David, the servant who has been chosen, God’s beloved with whom His soul is well pleased.

and whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man

will be forgiven- we see this in Jesus moments on the cross, with restoring Peter, with saving Saul…

But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit

will not be forgiven

either in this age

or in the age to come

Without repentance and dependance on the blood of Jesus, there is no forgiveness.

ignoring and supressing the work of the Holy Spirit will have an eternal affect on one’s life

The Gospel according to Matthew 6. Conflict with the Pharisees, 12:22–37

Jesus is talking about the set of the life, not any one isolated saying. When a person takes up a position like that of the Pharisees, when, not by way of misunderstanding but through hostility to what is good, that person calls good evil and, on the other hand, makes evil his good, then that person has put himself in a state that prevents forgiveness. It is not that God refuses to forgive; it is that the person who sees good as evil and evil as good is quite unable to repent and thus to come humbly to God for forgiveness. And there is no way to forgiveness other than by the path of repentance and faith

CHART DIAGRAM

Strong- Satan

Stronger- Jesus

Strongest- Holy Spirit

If I live a life of opposition to Him, there is no one stronger that can deliver me.

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Have I been plundered by the stronger man? Do I see Jesus being stronger than the vices, choices, desires, and consequences of my life

Am I gathering or scatting? In what ways does my life reflect that I am for Jesus because of what He has done for me? what would that look like (remember the oppressed man) sound like (remember the mute man). It looked like something for the oppressed man to be plundered by Jesus, it sounded like something for the oppressed man to be plundered by Jesus

Some of us have come to believe that the lies of the oppressor are stronger thanpromises of our saviour

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

Take a minute and read verses 33-37 on your own.

Before Matthew moves on to the next question, what does he end on?

Transitional phrase:

Summary: The Holy Spirit is blasphemed when the heart habitually attributes His power to another source.

Discussion Starters:

What “difference of opion” have I allowed to become “division”?

What promises of God do you need to see and hear as stronger than the lies of the oppressor?

According to verses 33-37, what needs to change?

Song: Holy Forever

“Your name is the highest

Your name is the greatest

Your name stands above them all

All thrones and dominions

All powers and positions

Your name stands above them all”

Benediction/Looking ahead: INVITE PEOPLE TO THE CAFE