Matthew 12, Part Two

The Pharisees and demons (vs. 22-37)—The setting for this contest was Jesus healing a demon-possessed man (v. 22). Some in the attending multitudes asked “Could this be the Son of David?” (v. 23), in other words, the Messiah. The Pharisees couldn’t handle that, so they claimed that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of “Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons” (v. 23). Jesus told them that that wasn’t terribly intelligent or logical, because “every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation…If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself” (vs. 25-26). Thus, Jesus is casting out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit, which indicates that “surely the kingdom of God has come upon you” (v. 28). You are either with Me or against Me, Jesus said, and from His language to the Pharisees, it’s pretty obvious He didn’t think they were with Him: “Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (v. 34). A good heart brings forth good things and an evil heart brings forth evil things (v. 35). This section ends with a very frightening warning: “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Of course, in the context, Jesus is talking about the Pharisees and their blasphemy, but the principle is certainly valid and established elsewhere in the New Testament (cf. James 3).

The most difficult part of this section is vs. 31-32: “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.” This statement of Christ has caused no small amount of puzzlement among Bible readers. Blasphemy against Christ can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit cannot? Very confusing, indeed, and I make no pretense to having an absolute, final answer to the problem. My solution to the dilemma runs as follows: Each of the Godhead three, Father, Son, and Spirit, had their distinct works to perform in the plan of salvation. The Father, in effect, was the “planner;” He sent the Son. Well, if one rejects, “blasphemes,” the Father, there is still the Son Who can convict us. The Son did His work on earth, and sent the Holy Spirit. Well, if we reject—“blaspheme”—the Son, there is still the Spirit in His work of convicting through the Word of God which He inspired (John 16:13). But if we reject—“blaspheme”—the Spirit, what’s left? He’s the final hope—His word, that it might convict us of sin. If we refuse Him, and do so for the rest of our lives, there can be no forgiveness of that because there is simply no place else to go for salvation. Hence, we can “blaspheme” the Son (which the Pharisees were doing while He was on the earth) and still have hope, for the Son sent the Spirit, with His word, a hope of forgiveness, the final message. But “blaspheme” the Spirit, and remain in the state, and there can be no pardon.

I do not know if that is the proper explanation for what Jesus is saying here. But it’s the best I can come up with, and I certainly will not be dogmatic about it.

The scribes and Pharisee want to see a sign from Jesus (vs. 38-42)—Jesus’ frustration must have been prodigious. He had just cast out a demon-possessed man. He had been doing all sorts of miracles, things that only God could do. And yet, they ask Him for a sign! They wouldn’t have believed Him if He had done something else. He did say that He would give them one more sign—just like Jonah was in the belly of the great fish (not whale) for three days and three nights, so the Son of man would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. These Pharisees were worse than ancient Nineveh, who repented at Jonah’s preaching, and “indeed, a greater than Jonah is here” (v. 41).

The restless unclean spirit (vs. 43-44)—These verses are interesting. An unclean spirit gets cast out of a man and wanders, trying to find another home. He can’t locate one, so he returns from whence he came, hoping to reclaim his earlier abode. Sure enough, the original home is available—“empty, swept, and put in order” (v. 44). So the unclean spirit goes and gets seven buddies and they enter and dwell in the empty home. Moral? When you are cleansed of sin, replace it, fill your life, with righteousness and godliness. No unclean spirit can dwell in a heart filled with God’s spirit. But leave your life empty, don’t replace what was ejected, and sin will return with a vengeance and you’ll be worse off than before.

The true family of God (vs. 46-50)—While He was speaking, His mother and brothers wanted to talk to Him. Jesus turns this into a wonderful spiritual lesson: “’Who is My mother and who are My brothers?’ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’” (vs. 48-50). Jesus, of course, is not denigrating physical family relations. He is simply saying that our spiritual family is, ultimately, more important than the natural. Remember: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). There is no condemnation here of loving father and mother; certainly not. Just don’t love them more than Jesus.