Matthew the apostle shared 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”. In chapter twelve and verse twenty-eight of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told them what exists, “if I cast out devils by the spirit of God” where we read:
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
The verse reads, “But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, ...” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “moreover and” “if I cast out” or “whether Jesus expel, drive out and compel to depart demons” “devils” which means “demons and evil spirits who are the messengers and ministers of the devil” “by the Spirit” or “through and by means of the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal, co-eternal with the Father and the Son” “of God” which refers to “belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Matthew shared how Jesus presented the condition of Him “expelling demons” by the power of God's Holy Spirit.
The verse continues, “... then the kingdom of God is come unto you.” Matthew added the word, “then” which means “therefore and wherefore” “the kingdom” or “the royal power, kingship, dominion and rule” “of God” or “belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “is come” which means “has arrived, appeared and reached” “unto you” or “toward the Pharisees and multitude of people”. Matthew shared Jesus told the Pharisees that “God's kingdom” was among them since He “cast out demons” by God's Spirit.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus told the Pharisees from where His power to “cast out” demons came. God's Spirit was the source of His ability to “expel” evil spirits, and because of this, God's kingdom was among the people there. God desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when He sent Jesus to the earth to die for the sins of the world, He demonstrated His power over “evil and wickedness”. May all who read these words come to know this “Savior and Lord” Jesus Christ who is empowered “by the Spirit of God”.
Next time Matthew shares what Jesus asks, “how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?”, 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"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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