The Ruler

The Ruler Matthew 9:32-34

Jesus as soon as he arrives on the scene, truly establishes he is more than messiah. He is God with us. John 1:14 “ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten (monogenous: one and only) of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Matthew 1:22–23 “ So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”” Today we see he can touch like no other can. Matthew 1:21 “ And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”” No other name y’all.

Matthew 9:27–38 “ When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” 31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country. 32 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. 33 And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!” 34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.” 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””

Our text today has us examine an ancient intelligence that seeks to destroy God creation, you!

Matthew 9:32 “ As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed.”

Who went out? Formerly blind men. Men healed by a touch from Jesus. Imagine sitting there and everyone sees healing, love, compassion.

What does it say about this “man”?

They brought to Him. Who brought? Friends, disciples, etc. We could maybe even postulate that the blind men brought him. If you saw someone that others said couldn't be free/healed, then what would you do? Even though Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” Not even out the door, they bring ‘em on back. Because Jesus saves, head to soul, all made whole.

Mute: This man couldn't talk. Whats the relevance of that. Obviously this symptom is looked at as part of his possession but not the only one. What does this mean?

First, demons can cause sickness. Does this mean that every sickness you have is from demons, or that anyone has? They didn't attribute all sickness to demonism, so No, even to the witnesses the man isn't just mute but demon possessed.

Rabbis and other false teachers teach that you have to question the demon to find out its name so you can cast it out. The false teaching that a name has magical power and knowing the name gives power and authority over a being. The rabbis thought it nearly impossible to cast a demon out of a mute or deaf person. And absolutely impossible to cast one out of a deaf/dumb/blind man. Jesus discounts all this.

Matthew 9:33 “ And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!””

No mud, no spit, no anything. We are given no details so Jesus commands and the demons obey. Think about - supernatural beings that can take “possession” of a man, have no choice but to obey to the King of Kings, Lord of All

Look, He heals a paralytic, calls Matthew, ate with sinners, healed a woman who had chronic illness, raised a child from death, and by the statement of faith declared by the blind men, Jesus healed them. Then he casts out a demon and heals a man who's voice was stolen by a malevolent intelligence. Thats just a little bit.

Everyone marveled. ethaumasan: astonished, wonder they were blown away. There was always a multitude around them but

It was never done. No one had healed the mute, deaf, dumb, blind. Neither Elijah, Moses, etc. No one. And the people, direct witnesses, raise this very point. They are coming to true faith and belief that

but its wasn't everyone. It was many but not all.

Matthew 9:34 “ But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.””

The pharisees said, to whom? The multitude. They are watching and witnessing the events. And they essentially gas light the people.

number one, Jesus has told everyone that he is representative of Yahweh, he points to the Law, calls for people to worship and sacrifice, etc.

Isaiah 35:5–6 “ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.”

Now most of us would say this is all about the Ruler of Demons but is this about Satan? He is after all the ruler of demons is he not? Romans 8:38 and Ephesians 6:12, talks about in the plural, principalities and powers.

We are told in 1 John 4:1–3 “ Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.”

Making yourself an enemy of Christ is to be an enemy of the Way/Truth/Life. It casts a veil and attributes the work of the holy Spirit in the testimony of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:3–4 “ But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” This is damning.

This is about the Pharisees making jesus a representative of the worst kind of evils.

Later in Matthew a similar event happens. Matthew 12:22–24 “ Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”” then Jesus will say Matthew 12:31–32 “ “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”

To turn people from Jesus is to turn them away from the only means of Salvation as Jesus is present there in Israel. Its not about rejecting Jesus its about rejecting the Word and Work that God is doing. The pharisees were so dogmatic in their own authority, they dismissed the present, literal work of Gods Spirit in what they were seeing and hearing before them. If you don’t agree with us, you’re the baddy. Thats why this is blasphemy and unforgivable.

Application: In closing. When the blind men cried out, this man, who couldn't, is brought by those who now can. They could've stepped over him, gone around, and left to celebrate. But anyone who is blessed to have encountered Him are forever changed after!

Even satan obeys when Jesus says Matthew 4:10–11 “ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

Jesus “the Word”, created the universe and everything in it. And when He speaks, His word is eternal. His promises are good, He says that there will be no more sorrow, no more pain. To deny Him is to deny eternity. Because, “There is no other name given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)