Jesus and Beelzebul, the Strong Man, and Good and Bad Trees

bee-EL-zə-bub

Matthew 12:22–37 NIV

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?” 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 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? 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. 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. 30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 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, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 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 judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Introduction:

Most Americans don’t think much about the devil or demons. I doubt if many even believe that there is a devil. It was different in first-century Palestine. People were keenly aware of the spiritual realm and lived in fear of evil spirits. Mark records that when Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, he was confronted by a demon in the synagogue at Capernaum Mark 1:21–28 “21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.” . Luke records that the Ephesians burned their books on magic when they became believers—books that were worth a small fortune in today’s currency Acts 19:17–20“17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

The Trap

Jesus did not come to overthrow the Romans

The Pharisees Trap

The man was: blind, mute and possessed with demons

They were doubtful that he could deal with multiple problems at one time

Accusation that he was a Beelzebul

Was a Canaanite god of healing

In the first century it was a code name for Satan

Jesus responds

Ask them would satan wage war against himself

Asked the Pharisees what power did they perform exorcist through?

The charge was not only foolish but inconsistent.

Matthew 12:25–27 “25 Jesus knew their thoughts 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? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.”

The evidence

Jesus states that his power to drive out demons is evidence that the Kingdom of God had arrived

The good and bad tree

The fruit we produce shows whom we serve

He calls them a “brood of vipers”

Their accusations against Jesus are from the very core of their being—their hearts. They might fool people, but they cannot fool God

The power of Jesus

His ability to cast out demons is a sign that the Kingdom of God was real and a present reality.

Establishes that Jesus mission is to overthrow the kingdom of satan.

Shows the strength and authority of Jesus

Matthew 12:29 “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.”

Matthew 28:18 “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Luke 10:19 “19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

A Frightening Warning

The unpardonable sin

Merriam-Webster means “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.”

I don’t believe this is a one-time thing, but it is an ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit, of over and over again attributing his precious work to Satan himself.

The Pharisees by their words were denying the true work of the Holy Spirit. They were giving all the credit to Beelzebub.

Its a rejection that the Spirit of God is at work.

Reflection

Read Matthew 12:22–24 “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?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”” Why do you think that most evangelical Christians in America pay so little attention to the spiritual realm? Do you think we should be more aware of the spiritual conflict between God and Satan? Why or why not?

Read Matthew 12:28 “28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Since Jesus isn’t in our midst driving out demons, what is the evidence today of the Spirit at work in the world?

Read Matthew 12:29 “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.” and Ephesians 1:18–23 “18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” . If Christ is stronger than Satan and has incomparable power over all the powers in the universe, should we as believers fear Satan and his demonic henchmen? Why or why not?

Read Matthew 12:29 “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.” and James 4:7 “7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” . How does the short parable of the strong man give you confidence to withstand Satan and evil spirits?

Read John 16:7–11 “7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.” . What is the work of the Spirit in relation to unbelievers? Is it possible for unbelievers to resist the Spirit?

Read Matthew 12:33–37 “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, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 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 judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”” and James 3:7–12 “7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” . What imagery does James use to warn us of the potential for good or evil of our words? How do our words reveal what is in our heart? What can we do to better control our tongue?

Memory Verse

Philippians 2:9–11 NIV

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.