Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus cast a demon out of a blind and dumb man, and the man was able to see and speak afterward. Matthew added, “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. 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”, and in chapter twelve and verse thirty of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “he that is not with me is against me” where we read:
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.
The verse reads, “He that is not with me is against me;” Matthew began with the words, “he that is not with me” which means “the person whether male or female who is not aligned with, after and alongside Jesus” “is against me” or “is opposed, apart, aside and separated from Jesus”. Matthew shared how Jesus said if a person is not “aligned with” Him, they are in “opposition” to Him.
The verse continues, “and he that gathers not with me scatters abroad.” Matthew added the words, “and he” which means “and the person whether male or female” “that gathers not” or “who does not assemble, take in and collect” “with me” or “alongside, after and in alignment with Jesus” “scatters abroad” which means “dispenses as those who are routed, terror stricken or driven by impulses that fly in every direction”. Matthew shared how people who do not “collect or assemble” alongside Jesus actually “dispense and disperse in every direction” that which He came to do.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how there are only two sides to choose when it comes to aligning with Jesus. A person is either “with” Him, or “against” Him. There is no middle ground. The Pharisees behaved in a manner that was in opposition to Jesus, and anyone who aligns themselves in the same way is in opposition to Him as well. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and those who are wise shall keep themselves in a position of “gathering” with Him.
Next time Matthew shares what Jesus says, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men”, 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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; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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