Tuesday, June 13, 2006
WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
Matt. 12:27-28. "And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Consequently they shall be your judges. 28. "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
The question now has become, who is on whose side? Jesus asks the scribes, “And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons [your protégés] cast them out?” With a tinge of righteous sarcasm, Jesus alludes to asking them as He says, “Consequently they shall be your judges.”
I am not, at this point prepared to prove or disprove the facts of the Pharisees having power to cast out demons. However their friends and associates claimed that they did and they were proud enough to publicly take the glory for this ability. The point examined is, by whose power was it done; God’s or Satan’s? There is no way that they would align themselves with Satan and Jesus has given an airtight argument as to Satan being divided. Those questioning the origination of Jesus power to cast out demons could only come from God because He is the only One stronger than Satan. Even the sons of these mentors would have to side with Jesus on this argument.
Jesus now puts it all on the line for His would be adversaries to either reject the truth or ally with Satan, or align themselves under His authority. He does this by an airtight conditional clause begun with the “if” (protasis) and logically following the truth of that condition it will lead to the “then” (apodosis). He lays forth: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God; the origination of My power, then it is the only logical conclusion that the kingdom of God has come upon you.” There is no question as to the vulnerability of Satan’s power by Jesus so an alignment must transpire.
The most important question anyone must answer is “what do I do about Jesus?” That most important question is still being asked by the resurrected Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15)
It is interesting to note that in this place, Matthew abandons his more commonly used phrase, “the kingdom of heaven,” for the fully orbed “kingdom of God.” This kingdom has come upon you and continues to call its citizens by the means of those inside proclaiming the gospel to those on the outside so that they may enter. This mighty kingdom will one day culminate without opposition. What a day of rejoicing that will be! The next question; will you be in it?
The question now has become, who is on whose side? Jesus asks the scribes, “And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons [your protégés] cast them out?” With a tinge of righteous sarcasm, Jesus alludes to asking them as He says, “Consequently they shall be your judges.”
I am not, at this point prepared to prove or disprove the facts of the Pharisees having power to cast out demons. However their friends and associates claimed that they did and they were proud enough to publicly take the glory for this ability. The point examined is, by whose power was it done; God’s or Satan’s? There is no way that they would align themselves with Satan and Jesus has given an airtight argument as to Satan being divided. Those questioning the origination of Jesus power to cast out demons could only come from God because He is the only One stronger than Satan. Even the sons of these mentors would have to side with Jesus on this argument.
Jesus now puts it all on the line for His would be adversaries to either reject the truth or ally with Satan, or align themselves under His authority. He does this by an airtight conditional clause begun with the “if” (protasis) and logically following the truth of that condition it will lead to the “then” (apodosis). He lays forth: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God; the origination of My power, then it is the only logical conclusion that the kingdom of God has come upon you.” There is no question as to the vulnerability of Satan’s power by Jesus so an alignment must transpire.
The most important question anyone must answer is “what do I do about Jesus?” That most important question is still being asked by the resurrected Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15)
It is interesting to note that in this place, Matthew abandons his more commonly used phrase, “the kingdom of heaven,” for the fully orbed “kingdom of God.” This kingdom has come upon you and continues to call its citizens by the means of those inside proclaiming the gospel to those on the outside so that they may enter. This mighty kingdom will one day culminate without opposition. What a day of rejoicing that will be! The next question; will you be in it?
# posted by Castusfumus : 6:07 PM
