Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus cast a demon out of a man who was blind and dumb, and the man was able to see and speak afterward. Matthew continued, “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow does not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils” to which Jesus responded, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you”, and in chapter twelve and verse twenty-nine of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus asked, “how can one enter a strong man's house, and spoil his goods” where we read:
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
The verse reads, “Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, ...” Matthew began with the words, “or else how” which means “in what way and by what manner” “can one enter or “is a certain one able, capable and with power enough to arise and make entrance” “into a strong man's house” which means “in a mighty, violent, forcible, firm and sure person's dwelling place, abode and habitation”, “and spoil” or “and plunder, loot and pillage” “his goods” which refers to “the person's vessels, utensils, domestic gear and chosen instruments”. Matthew shared how Jesus questioned how anyone would be able to “make entrance” into a “mighty person's home” and take away all their “valuables”.
The verse goes on to say, “... except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.” Matthew added the word, “except” which means “if, in case and whether” “he first bind” or “the man entering the strong man's house beforehand and at the beginning tie up, fasten and prohibit” “the strong man” or “the person who is mighty, violent, forcible, firm and sure”? “and then” which means “and afterward or at that time” “he will spoil” or “the man entering the strong man's house will plunder, loot and pillage” “his goods” which means “the strong man's vessels, utensils, domestic gear and chosen instruments”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the Pharisees that the man attempting to “loot” a “strong man's house” would have to “bind and restrict” the strong man before he could rob him.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus reasoned with the Pharisees again with this example. Before a person is able to “steal from or rob” another, they have to first “restrict” those they are robbing from resisting them. This is what Jesus did with the “demon possessed” man who was blind and dumb. Jesus was more powerful than the “demon”, and He bound the “demon” before restoring the effects of the demon upon the man. God desires to have a loving relationship with every person, and there is no force that is more powerful than He and His Son Jesus. Jesus is able to “bind the strong man” in a person's life so they might be free for Him to remove all the deficiencies they have endured from evil's influence.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus says, “he that is not with me is against me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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