Jesus Accused of Working for Beelzebul

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Sunday July 07, 2024}

Matthew 12:22-45, Luke 11:14-54, Mark 3:22-30

Father, Proverbs 29:25 states that “fear of man is a snare but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe (NIV).” Jesus was fearless in this encounter with the Pharisees. He didn’t fear the consequences of His words. Father, remove from me any fear of man. I too want to be fearless in presenting Your truth to whomever You lead me to speak to. Father, I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I may not be able to think “on my feet” as quickly as others. However, I ask that You give me the ability to use reason and logic to lead those to Christ who only listen to reason and logic. Father, please bring into my path those who are truly searching for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Use me to plant the seeds of salvation or reap the harvest of the seeds of salvation that other believers have planted. Please give me the discernment to know when I have encountered those who have blasphemed the Holy Spirit so that I can focus my ministry on others. Amen.

Father, the text tells us that Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered, most likely clogging the streets, and causing a commotion. The Pharisees and teachers of the law threw more fuel on the rising tension by firing question after question at Jesus in hopes He would make a mistake that would compromise His ministry.

A demon-possessed man was brought to Jesus. The demon had made the man blind and mute. Jesus immediately healed the man, and he could talk and see. He must have been overjoyed with delight. The text tells us that the crowd was amazed, wondering if He was the Son of David, the Messiah.

“What? The Son of David?” the Pharisees whispered amongst themselves. “Are you kidding me? He’s more likely working for Beelzebub.”

Jesus read their minds and humiliated them with pure logic and reason.

Logical argument #1

• A kingdom, a city, or even a family at war with itself will come to destruction.
• Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that no one who oversees a kingdom, a city, or a family would deliberately weaken their community by initiating a civil war.
• I’m going around telling people to flee from Satan and to surrender their lives to his enemy, the Maker of heaven and earth, our Father in heaven.
• Why would Satan send me on a mission to weaken his own grip on society? That makes no sense.
• Therefore, we can conclude that I am not of Beelzebub.

Logical argument #2

• You also drive out demons.
• Should we accuse you of driving out demons in the name of Beelzebub? No?
• By whose name are you driving out demons? The Spirit of God?
• Oh, so you admit the Holy Spirit has come, which is a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Joel 2, Isaiah 44, Ezekiel 36, Zechariah 12) about the coming of the Kingdom of God.
• Therefore, you are acknowledging the Kingdom of God has come, which is in alignment with what I preach.
• If I am preaching what you believe, why are you persecuting Me?

Logical argument #3

• If I am preaching a message that is contrary to the interests of Satan, why isn’t he stopping me? If he is superior to Me, if I am working for him, why hasn’t he stopped Me from preaching against him? If he is stronger than Me, he can tie Me up just like a strong homeowner can do when invaded by a weaker burglar.
• Therefore, we can conclude that Satan is not stopping me because I am stronger than him.
• Who is stronger than Satan other than God?
• Therefore, if I am preaching against the interests of Satan, and he isn’t stopping me, it must be because I am the Son of God.

Logical argument #4

• Why is it so easy for Me to exorcise demons out of people?
• Who else do you know who hardly has to lift His finger to exorcise demons out of people? God?
• Well, if I am easily exorcising demons out of people, I must be receiving help from God.
• If I am receiving help from God to drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
• Therefore, I am of God and not of Beelzebub.

Logical argument #5

• The one who gathers souls for the Kingdom of God is the one who represents God.
• I am gathering souls for the Kingdom of God.
• Satan is not gathering souls for the Kingdom of God. He scatters souls.
• Therefore, I am of the Kingdom of God and not of Beelzebub.

Jesus then shares with the crowd two key truths about salvation:

• It doesn’t matter what sin you have committed, even murder, it can be forgiven through Jesus Christ when you truthfully desire forgiveness for that sin through Him.
• However, anyone who defiantly rejects the gospel of Jesus Christ (blasphemes the work of the Holy Spirit) cannot be forgiven. Jesus is not referring to an individual who passively puts off thinking about his salvation to a later date. The person Jesus has in mind is someone who turns down the gospel and raises his fist in the air and literally, or metaphorically, gives Jesus “the middle finger.” This kind of person deliberately and intentionally labels himself as an enemy of the gospel after having rejected the gospel when it was presented to him. He is at war with the gospel and pledges to do what he can to defeat it. The truth is simple – if you tell the Holy Spirit to get lost and don’t bother me again with the rubbish of the gospel, the Holy Spirit will not return to give you another chance. This is why such a sin is unforgiveable because you are never given another opportunity (“in this age”) to accept Jesus (to receive salvation in the “age to come”).

These Pharisees are committing this blasphemous sin. They are rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus. They are rejecting the gospel message that Jesus preached inspired by the Holy Spirit. Jesus shared the truth about blaspheming the Holy Spirit because it was relevant to His audience. It is with certainty that we can conclude today that those to whom Jesus was directing this message of blaspheming the Holy Spirit never came to faith in Jesus Christ and are now experiencing eternal damnation.

Jesus questions how the Pharisees, whom He has just damned, think they can do anything good to please the Father.

• If a tree is bad, it cannot possibly yield good fruit. If the heart is wicked, rejecting the gospel with fervor, it cannot do good deeds to please the Father. The mouth can only speak what the heart tells it to. If the heart is wicked, the spoken words can only be wicked. Since your words, Pharisees, you brood (children) of vipers, reveal your true evil nature, it is your words that will condemn you on Judgement Day.
• If a tree is good, it cannot possibly yield bad fruit. If the heart is good, embracing the gospel with fervor, it can only do good deeds that please the Father. The mouth can only speak what the heart tells it to. If the heart is good, the spoken words can only be good. Since your words reveal your true redeemed nature, it is your words that will acquit you on Judgement Day.

Jesus was winning, so to speak, the debate. As we all know, when someone feels they are losing an argument, they like to change the subject.

“Hey, Jesus. Show us some tricks!”

They wanted Jesus to entertain them and the gathered crowd. They pictured Jesus with a magician’s cape, hat, and stick pulling rabbits out of a hat. Those who are asking for a sign have no interest in repenting of their sins. They are only looking for a good show. Jesus had no intention to indulge them (paraphrased):

“I’m not giving you any signs. What you are asking for is wicked and adulterous. Do you want a sign? I’ll give you a sign about your eternal destiny, Pharisees:

Jesus went on to describe what happens when someone, who walks in the ways of evil (an impure spirit), hears the gospel but rejects it with bitterness and malice. Their soul will be in much worse shape than it was before the gospel was presented to them (now seven more demons know they each can have a home with such a rebellious heart). The warning for all who would listen is this: no one who rejects the gospel stays the same, but they do become more wicked. Amen.