Matthew the apostle wrote how there was brought to Jesus, “one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?” Matthew continues, “But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow does not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” Jesus continued with this question, “And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?”, and in chapter twelve and verse twenty-seven of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus asked, “if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?” where we read:
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?
therefore they shall be your judges.
The verse reads, “And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?” Matthew began with the words, “and if I by Beelzebub” which means “and whether Jesus through and by way of Beelzebub whose name means lord of the house or flies and is a name of Satan and the prince of evil spirits” “cast out” or “expel, drive out and compel to depart” “devils” which means “demons and evil spirits who are the messengers and ministers of the devil”, “by whom” or “through what entities or persons” “do your children” which refers to “the offspring, posterity and descendants of the Pharisees” “cast them out” or “expel, drive out and compel to depart demons”? Matthew shared how Jesus questioned the Pharisees concerning the source of His ability to “cast out demons” verses the sources of the Pharisees whose own “offspring” expel them.
The verse goes on to say, “therefore they shall be your judges.” Matthew continued with the word, “therefore” which means “then, accordingly and consequently” “they shall be” or “the children of the Pharisees will act and exist as” “your judges” or “the Pharisees' arbitrators, arrogates and ones who pass judgment upon others”. Matthew shared how the people who were students of the Pharisees would be their “judges” because of their ability to “exercise” demons.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the “logic” of the Pharisees is torn apart by the actions of their own “students”. If the pupils of the Pharisees were able to “cast out demons”, then they, like Jesus, would be indited as expelling them by “Beelzebub”. In other words, the same accusation the Pharisees brought against Jesus should be brought against their students. Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was lost”, and God desires to have a personal relationship with every person. No one's thoughts or reasoning are superior to His, and those who are wise will recognize that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God and the “Savior” of the world. Those who are not shall argue against Him and find themselves among those who not only indict themselves, but also any who adhere to their doctrine and teaching.
Next time Matthew shares what Jesus shares what happens if He, “cast out devils by the Spirit of God”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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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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