No Neutral Ground: Responding to the Power of Jesus | The Book of Matthew: The King and His Kingdom | Matthew 12: 22-30 | Pastor J. M. Lee

Good morning and welcome to Mission Church! We’re so glad you’re here with us today. At Mission Church, our mission is to partner with God to see His Kingdom come in Northwest Las Vegas as it is in Heaven. Together, we’re growing in our love for Jesus, learning to live like Him, and pursuing faithfulness to His call to make disciples.

If you have a Bible, go ahead and open it to Matthew 12. If you don’t have a Bible, we’d love to give you one—it’s our gift to you! You can find Bibles and other free resources in the foyer. Here at Mission Church, we lead, preach, and sing straight from God’s Word, so you’re going to want a Bible in hand.

Last week, we looked at Matthew 12:9–21, where Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. We saw that Jesus is the Savior who sees and restores. He steps into our brokenness with sovereign compassion, healing and renewing what sin has damaged. And — His mercy is demonstrated not only in His actions but in His character as the humble Servant King, who gently upholds the weary and tenderly leads His people to victory, securing hope for today and tomorrow.

Now, as we continue in Matthew 12, the tension rises as the Pharisees escalate their opposition to Jesus. Today, we’ll see how Jesus reveals His authority over evil and calls us to respond with allegiance to His Kingdom.

If you are able to I would like to invite you to stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Matthew 12:22–30 (CSB)

22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see. 23 All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”

25 Knowing their thoughts, he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. 30 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

This is the Word of the Lord. Praise be to God

Pray

Have you ever completely misunderstood someone? Maybe it was a family member, a friend, or a coworker. Maybe you thought they were doing something wrong—like ignoring you, making a selfish decision, or creating a problem—only to later realize they were actually helping you or doing something far greater than you could see at the moment.

Perhaps you’ve jumped to conclusions about a friend. You thought they were distant or unkind, only to find out later they were carrying a personal burden or trying to protect you from something. Misjudging people happens all the time—doesn’t it? And the consequences can range from mild embarrassment to broken relationships. Sometimes it’s a misunderstanding we laugh about later, but other times, it can cost us something far greater.

Now imagine what happens when you don’t just misjudge a friend or a family member—but someone far more important. What if you misjudge the very One who holds all authority in heaven and on earth? What if you misunderstand Jesus—His power, His authority, His intentions—and you end up not just misunderstanding Him but actually opposing Him?

That’s exactly what happens in today’s passage. Jesus performs an extraordinary miracle, but not everyone responds the same way. Some begin to wonder if He is the long-awaited Messiah, but others—particularly the Pharisees—completely misjudge Him. In their pride, their fear, and their spiritual blindness, they accuse Him of working with Satan.

But the truth is, we’re not so different from the Pharisees, are we? Sure, we may not accuse Jesus of working with Satan, but how often do we fail to see Him for who He truly is? How often do we misjudge His work in our lives? Maybe we doubt His power when life feels overwhelming. Or we resist His authority because we’re too proud to give up control. Or perhaps we’re afraid of what it might cost us to follow Him fully, so we hesitate. And — in moments like these — we’re not just misunderstanding Jesus — we’re actually resisting Him — standing against the very One who came to rescue us.

So how can we open our eyes to the truth about Jesus? How can we make sure we’re standing with Him and not against Him? How can we respond to Him with the wholehearted allegiance He deserves?

Well — here’s the good news — even when we’ve misjudged Him, resisted Him, or failed to trust Him, Jesus has proven exactly who He is. He is the Spirit-empowered King who has defeated Satan and established His kingdom. And because of what He’s done, you and I can trust in His victory, stand with Him wholeheartedly, and join His mission to rescue others from the grip of evil.

We are going to see these encouraging truths as explore our text in three sections:

Jesus’ Power Sets Captives Free vs. 22-23

Jesus’ Power Resisted vs. 24-29

Jesus’ Power Demands a Response vs. 30

Let’s begin with number 1

Jesus’ Power Sets Captives Free

Matthew 12:22 (CSB)

22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to him. He healed him, so that the man could both speak and see.

Now—compared to all the other miracles we’ve read about so far—Matthew records this one with the utmost brevity. However, we must not let the short description cause us to miss its profound significance! Though brief, this miracle demonstrates the incredible power and authority of Jesus.

Think about it—this man who was brought before Jesus wasn’t just dealing with a minor issue. No! He had a ton of problems!

I had a man cold this past week, and let me tell you, I thought I was struggling—but that was nothing compared to this guy.

He was demon-possessed, blind, and unable to hear or speak. To say he was a mess would be putting it lightly for this man’s condition was absolutely desperate.

But let’s take it a step further — you see — this wasn’t just bad luck or a tough season for him. No — this man had so given himself to evil that a demon had taken complete control over his life. His senses were entirely cut off — he couldn’t see — he couldn’t hear — he couldn’t even cry out for help. He was completely captive—body, mind, and spirit—and utterly powerless to change his situation.

Now — this man’s condition gives us a vivid picture of what it means to be totally captive—helpless, enslaved, and in need of restoration and deliverance. Understand — this man couldn’t do anything for himself, but someone cared enough to bring him to the only one who could set him free. And here’s what’s so remarkable — in an instant, Jesus healed him. Not partially, not over time, but completely. His sight was restored, his speech returned, and the demon that had tormented him was cast out.

And — friend — this story isn’t just about one man—it’s about all of us. You see — without Jesus — we’ are all just like this man — we are spiritually blind, unable to see the truth, and captive to sin. We can’t heal ourselves. We can’t free ourselves. There is no amount of effort or self-improvement that will fix what’s broken. But the good news is this: Jesus has the power to set us free. Just as He healed this man — Jesus can restore you, heal you, and bring you out of spiritual darkness and into His light.

Brothers and sisters — it’s important to recognize what’s happening in this miracle — Jesus wasn’t just showing compassion — He was making a statement about His authority — By healing this man — Jesus didn’t just fix physical his blindness or restore his speech — He defeated the powers of darkness. He demonstrated that His authority wasn’t merely limited to the physical realm — but that it extended to the spiritual realm as well. You see — in one decisive act — Jesus showed that the Kingdom of God is stronger than the kingdom of Satan.

And this brings us now to the crowd’s reaction—look with me at verse 23

Matthew 12:23 (CSB)

23 All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

The crowd was absolutely astounded by what they had just witnessed. And here’s the thing — this wasn’t the first miracle they had seen Jesus perform — many in this crowd had likely seen Him heal the sick, cast out demons, or perform other incredible acts of power before.

But — there was something different about this miracle. Something so profound, so overwhelming, that it left the crowd amazed and wondering—Could this be the Son of David?

Now —why would this particular miracle spark that question? Well — because this miracle wasn’t just another display of power — it was an obvious fulfillment of prophecy.

Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah, written centuries earlier about the coming of the Messiah:

Isaiah 35:5–6 (CSB)

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

The crowd would have known this prophecy. Isaiah had painted a picture of the day when God’s Messiah would come to bring healing and restoration— and not just physically, but spiritually. And here — right in front of their eyes — Jesus was doing exactly what Isaiah had promised. He was opening blind eyes, restoring speech to the mute, and bringing hope to the hopeless.

No wonder they were amazed! This miracle wasn’t just about healing—it was a sign that the Kingdom of God was breaking into the world. It was a glimpse of the restoration, the renewal, and the victory that the Messiah was bringing.

And that’s why their question was so significant. Understand — the title "Son of David" wasn’t just a casual phrase—it was a deeply Messianic term and it pointed to the long-awaited King who would come from David’s line to establish God’s Kingdom. You see — their question wasn’t just about Jesus’ power — it was about His identity. Was He really the Messiah? Was He the One who had come to fulfill the promises of God, to defeat evil, and to bring restoration to God’s people?

In this moment — it seems as if the crowd began to see something more in Jesus. Maybe—just maybe—He really was the One they had been waiting for. Maybe He really was the King who would bring God’s Kingdom to earth. Their amazement wasn’t just about the miracle—it was about the possibility that standing before them was the fulfillment of everything they had hoped for.

But … not everyone was amazed.

While the crowd began to wonder if Jesus might really be the long-awaited Messiah, the Pharisees were unwilling to accept the possibility. Instead of acknowledging the power of God at work in Jesus, they hardened their hearts and responded with outright resistance — which leads us to #2

2. Jesus’ Power Resisted

Look at how theses religious leaders react in verse 24

Matthew 12:24 (CSB)

24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”

In their attempt to discredit Him — the Pharisees contemptuously refuse to even acknowledge His name. Instead — they dismissively refer to Him as “This man.” And — understand — this isn’t just a casual reference—NO! — it’s a deliberate effort to degrade and depersonalize Jesus. You see — by avoiding His name — they stripped away the dignity and authority that comes with being addressed directly — ultimately reducing Him to a nameless figure they can easily dismiss. It’s as if they’re saying, “He’s not even worth mentioning by name.”

The depth of their contempt is deep. However — their not so subtle attempt to undermine Christ’s credibility only exposed their own blindness and pride. You see their contempt for Jesus is actually what blinded them to the truth of who He is—the Messiah, the Son of David, the One whose power and authority they cannot deny. Look again at verse 24

Matthew 12:24 (CSB)

24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”

You see—they couldn’t deny what they had just witnessed. The Pharisees had no way to challenge the reality of what had just taken place. A man who was demon-possessed, blind, and mute had been completely healed before their very eyes. The facts spoke for themselves — this was no illusion, no trick. Even the Pharisees had to acknowledge that Jesus had performed a real miracle.

But — while they recognized Jesus’ power — they attributed it to the wrong source. Instead of seeing this miracle as evidence of God’s Kingdom breaking into the world, they accused Jesus of working with Beelzebul, the ruler of demons. Think about the weight of that accusation for a moment. They weren’t just denying Jesus’ identity—they were calling His work evil. They claimed that the very power Jesus used to heal and deliver this man came from Satan himself.

This wasn’t just skepticism—it was outright hostility. Instead of recognizing Jesus’ authority as divine, they twisted it into something diabolical and — ultimately — their response revealed their hardened hearts. They couldn’t deny the power of Jesus, so they had to distort its source. This deliberate insult—refusing to even call Him by name and then accusing Him of being empowered by Satan — showed their complete unwillingness to confront the possibility that Jesus might actually be who He claimed to be.

And Jesus — well — He didn’t let their accusation go unanswered. Look at verse 25

Matthew 12:25 (CSB)

25 Knowing their thoughts…

‌Notice that the Pharisees didn’t actually say anything out loud in Jesus’ presence. Their accusation was something they were quietly spreading behind His back. But Jesus— in His divine knowledge — knew their thoughts. He knew the vicious, blind hatred from which their blasphemy had sprung.

Can you imagine their astonishment? They hadn’t spoken a word — yet suddenly — Jesus began addressing the very accusations they had only been thinking and whispering amongst themselves. And — look back at what Jesus says:

Matthew 12:25–26 (CSB)

25… he told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

Jesus’ first counter-argument is simple — but it was also devastatingly effective! Jesus immediately exposes the absurdity of their accusation. He points out the obvious truth: a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. If Satan were driving out his own demons, his kingdom would collapse from the inside. He’s essentially saying, “Think about what you’re accusing me of. If I were working with Satan to cast out demons, it would mean Satan is working against himself—tearing down his own kingdom. That makes no sense at all!"

Friends — this is just common sense. Whether it’s a human kingdom, a household, or Satan’s kingdom, no rule or power structure can survive if it’s at war with itself. Division will always leads to a collapse.

But notice something else here: Jesus acknowledges that Satan has a kingdom. Consider the fact that Jesus repeatedly referred to Satan as “the ruler of the world.” We see this clearly in John’s Gospel — specifically in John 12:31.

John 12:31 (CSB)

31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

Paul echoes this truth in his letter to the Ephesians. Paul says that Satan is the….

Ephesians 2:2 (CSB)

2... ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.

So yes—Satan is a ruler, and his kingdom is real. And this speaks to the reality that there are two kingdoms at war: the Kingdom of God, ruled by Jesus, and the kingdom of Satan. However, these two kingdoms are by no means equal. Satan is no match for God. Still, there is an intense battle happening between these kingdoms—even now.

And, Jesus makes it clear that it makes no sense for Satan to intentionally divide his own kingdom — especially while being at war. And while it’s true that evil is chaotic and self-destructive by nature — Satan’s authority depends on maintaining control — and he will not tolerate division or rebellion within his own demonic ranks. And so — the Pharisees’ accusation that Satan would attack his own demons is both absurd and illogical.

Now —after exposing the illogical nature of their claim, Jesus takes His response a step further as He highlights their hypocrisy. Look at verse 27:

Matthew 12:27 (CSB)

27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.

Here, as Jesus refers to the Pharisees’ own “sons”— he speaking of their students or disciples—who also practiced exorcisms. You see — the Pharisees not only knew about these exorcisms, but they approved of them and likely took pride in their disciples’ efforts, believing their work was done in connection with God.

But Jesus flips their argument on its head, exposing their blatant inconsistency. If exorcisms require God’s authority—as they affirmed for their disciples—then how could they claim that Jesus, whose power was undeniably greater, was working with Satan? Their accusation simply doesn’t hold up.

Jesus is essentially saying, “If I cast out demons by Satan’s power, then what does that say about your own students? By your own logic, they would condemn you for your hypocrisy.” His argument is devastatingly clear — their accusation wasn’t just illogical—it was rooted in blind hatred and in the spiritual hardness of their hearts they refused to acknowledge the evidence of God’s Kingdom breaking into the world.

You see — here’s what the Pharisees were missing: — they were missing the truth — that —With every healing and every exorcism — something far greater was taking place than just physical restoration. With every person set free — the kingdom of darkness was coming under direct attack by the Kingdom of God! Understand — Jesus’ exorcisms weren’t just acts of compassion—they were acts of war. Each healing, each deliverance, was a sign that the Kingdom of God was advancing and that Satan’s power was being overthrown. Look at verse 28

Matthew 12:28 (CSB)

28 If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Friends — don’t miss the stern warning in Jesus’ words.

Luke’s Gospel records Jesus saying it this way

Luke 11:20 (CSB)

20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

“The finger of God” is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, — and this metaphor emphasizes that Jesus’ ability to cast out demons with just a word was an unprecedented display of divine power — It was clear evidence that the Kingdom of God was present — just as both John the Baptist and Jesus had proclaimed: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

You see — with the birth of Jesus — the Kingdom of God was inaugurated. On this side of the cross, we know that through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus was elevated to the right hand of the Father. He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth and crowned as the King of kings and Lord of lords. But—even today—the Kingdom of God has yet to be consummated. That is our future hope: the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, when all things will be handed over to Him, and He will reign in fullness forever.

But — given the fact that — here in Matthew 12 — Jesus has yet to go to the cross — He has yet die and be risen from the dead — so —perhaps it’s understandable that the Pharisees were confused. But that is why Jesus gives them this warning: “Wake up! Pay attention! The Kingdom of God is here, and not only are you missing it—you are opposing it!” Understand — Jesus’ miraculous display of divine power left no room for doubt. The Kingdom of God had had arrived, and they were rejecting its King.

But — in His mercy and amazing grace Jesus gives these spiritually blind religious leaders — yet — another illustration to try and break through their blindness. Look at verse 29

Matthew 12:29 (CSB)

29 How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

Here’s the picture — imagine a thief trying to break into a strong man’s house to take his stuff. No one just waltzes in and says, “Excuse me, I’ll be taking your TV, your jewelry, and whatever else I like.” No way! If that strong man is in the house, he’s going to fight back and protect what’s his. The only way the thief can succeed is by first overpowering and tying up the strong man.

Now — let’s unpack what Jesus is saying here. The “strong man” represents Satan. His “house” is his domain — it’s this fallen world where he exerts his influence and holds people captive through sin, sickness, and spiritual oppression. And his “possessions” are the people under his control.

But Jesus — well Jesus is the stronger Man! He’s the one who entered Satan’s house, tied him up, and is plundering his possessions. Every healing, every exorcism, every act of forgiveness is proof that Jesus has bound Satan and is taking back what rightfully belongs to God. Think about it—when Jesus cast out that demon, restored that man’s sight, and gave him back his speech, He was plundering Satan’s house! He was setting that man free from the grip of the enemy.

And the Pharisees completely missed it. They were so busy accusing Jesus that they couldn’t see the obvious — they couldn’t see that everything Jesus was doing—healing the sick, forgiving sins, casting out demons, even raising the dead—was in direct opposition to Satan’s work. Jesus was dismantling Satan’s kingdom piece by piece, proving His power and authority over the enemy.

And here’s what’s amazing — this wasn’t just a one-time thing. Jesus’ ministry on earth was the beginning of something far greater. At the cross, Jesus delivered the death blow to Satan, securing victory once and for all. As Paul says in Colossians 2:15,

Colossians 2:15 (CSB)

15 [Jesus] disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

And while Satan’s ultimate defeat is guaranteed 0— the battle continues until Jesus returns and fully establishes His Kingdom.

Now — heres what that means for us — it means that no matter how strong Satan might seem, he’s no match for Jesus. His power is limited, he is a defeated enemy, and today Jesus is actively rescuing His people from Satan’s grasp.

But — it also means something else — it means that there’s no neutral ground. You see — In this very real and present battle between God’s Kingdom and the kingdom of darkness — we’re either with Jesus or against Him.

3. Jesus’ Power Demands a Response

Brothers and sisters — the crucial truth is that there is no neutral ground. Look at verse 30

Matthew 12:30 (CSB)

30 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not gather with me scatters.

You see — you don’t have to openly oppose Jesus to be against Him. And you don’t have to actively interfere with His mission to be someone who scatters. All you have to do is refuse to gather with Him. That’s all it takes.

The truth is crystal clear — if you are not with Jesus, you are against Him. If you do not belong to God, you are His enemy. If you are not a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ, then right now, you are a rebel against Him. Understand — there are only two possible relationships with God — you are either with Him or against Him. There is no middle ground. There is no neutral ground.

Yet — the truth is — we rarely hear unbelievers say, “I’m against Jesus.” Some do — but most — instead — they say things like, “I just don’t believe in Jesus,” or, “I don’t think I really need Jesus in my life.” They think they can take Him or leave Him. They think they can sit on the fence. But Jesus is saying, “that’s not possible!” Anyone who is not actively for Him—living in faith, obedience, and allegiance to Him—is truly against Him.

Think about it — it’s both spiritually and rationally impossible to accept Jesus as just a kind man, a good teacher, or even a great prophet—and nothing more. Why? Because only God has the authority to make the kinds of claims Jesus made about Himself. Only God has the power over disease, sin, demons, Satan, and death that Jesus displayed time and time again.

If Jesus is who He claimed to be—if He is the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior of the world—then the only response that makes sense is to bow your knee, trust Him, and follow Him with everything you’ve got. Anything less is rejection, even if it looks like indifference.

So let me ask you: Will you recognize Him for who He truly is—the King of kings, the Savior of the world, the one who has defeated Satan and established His Kingdom? Will you stand with Him, trusting in His victory, and join Him in His mission to rescue others? Or will you resist Him?

Remember, there is no neutral ground. You’re either with Jesus or against Him. But here’s the incredible news: even if you’ve misjudged Him — even if you resisted Him or doubted Him in the past — Jesus still offers you grace today. The same Jesus who defeated Satan and set captives free stands ready to forgive you — restore you — and invite you into His Kingdom. So what’s your response?

If you’ve been resisting Him, I invite you to repent of your sin and trust in Jesus. And if you’re already standing with Jesus, I invite you to renew your commitment to follow Him with wholehearted allegiance.

Lets pray