Culver Community Church

Pastor Chris Sweeney

Sermon Notes

March 04, 2018

Unforgiven – Matthew 12:22 – 32

{vs 22-23} This represents an outstanding miracle – the rabbis of the day said that such a man could not be exorcised since he could not hear what the exorcist was saying!  A convenient excuse for others who were trying to cast out demons but were unable.   The healing that Jesus performed was real and complete – undeniable!  The man that they knew to be blind and mute could now both talk and see!  This undeniable power and authority astonished the people and this is in the imperfect tense – describing an ongoing or continual state of wonder!  The Greek construction of their statement (question) "Could this be the Son of David?" is descriptive of their mindset also.  A good translation or paraphrase would be "This fellow cannot be the Messiah, can He?"  They ask in such a way that the negative answer is assumed – you see this fellow (that guy there - almost a derogatory way of addressing Him (also seen in the Pharisees response) was not who they were expecting the Messiah (Son of David) to be!  It is as if they were saying it couldn’t possibly be Him, but is it?  Everything in their culture, everything they had been taught by the religious establishment to look for was wrong – and yet there is such amazing, never before seen miracles from this Man.

{vs 24} In chapter 10, they had already called Jesus Beelzebul – so don’t be surprised if they mistreat you (His follower).  This name came from an idol (false god) from Ekron (2 Kings 1:2) – literally, the Lord of the Flies (fly god) or Beelzebub Lord of the Dung purportedly having the power to drive away pesky flies.  This name became a common way of referring to Satan, lord of the demons.  What we need to understand is that although hesitant to believe that Jesus is the Son of David, they responded with wonder and enough of an open mind to at least consider the possibility (even if leaning heavily against it).  The Pharisees however, had made up their mind – they had rejected Jesus because He did not come from their schools of religion, He did not think and act like they did, and He did not give them the respect and recognition they thought they deserved.  They expected God’s Messiah (God) to bow to them, which is the very nature of Sin (me before God) – as Satan said in his pride “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:14 NIV)  That was the first rebellion and sin, and this attitude has been true for every sinner since!  The more deep and depraved the heart, the more ridged and set the attitude becomes until they become thoroughly wicked as Psalm 10:4 describes “In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”  This describes the Pharisees who upon hearing the crowd had an immediate and visceral response!  In their minds and hearts, “this fellow” could not possibly be Messiah and they would know it, they were the gate-keepers of all things godly!  They were in a tough spot (actually, an impossible spot) – it was undeniable that Jesus healed (they knew it and tried to use it to trap Him).  This particular healing was not only amazing but verifiable – the man was right there and could see and speak!  This was supernatural!  This was spiritual power and they could not deny it (they would look foolish if they tried).  So, there were only two options: 1) believe this spiritual power came from God or 2) attribute it to the Devil.  They chose incorrectly!  They began to poison the crowd, not directly confronting Jesus but telling the people this lie (probably whispering).

{vs 25-26} Jesus continues to give them the opportunity to hear and learn.  God is merciful like that; He knows our hearts but continues to call even to the ones who will not respond.  The first thing Jesus does is use a logical argument – He says to them let us think this through (God is never afraid of His people using their God-given intellects).  Even today, if you will, with an open mind examine the evidence – it points to a God who created and orders the universe, a God who loves each of us so much that He came in the form of humble human flesh to pay the price for our sins so that we can become sons and daughters (heirs) in His Kingdom!  Jesus tells them if Satan is going around destroying or casting down his own forces, then he cannot survive.  Any family, company or nation that is divided or is at war with itself is going to fail, be split apart or destroyed.  Jesus’ first argument is that while Satan and his forces are evil, deceptive and chaotic – even he does not go around shooting himself in the foot by attacking his own forces!  Remember, the Devil is evil, not stupid – everything he does is to further one agenda: to steal, kill and destroy! 

{vs 27-28} Here comes the second argument (the two options).  If I am doing this by Satan’s power then what about those disciples that you have sent out who do the same?  By what power are they trying to cast out demons?  Groups of Jews who had been using Solomon’s name and wisdom (really using spells and herbs from a mystical text he supposedly wrote.)  In Acts 19, we see the Seven sons of Sceva who tried to use the name of Jesus, because they saw God’s power through Paul.  They were beaten, stripped naked and forced to flee for their lives (an amazing story!) because the demons know of Jesus and even Paul, but who are you?  There was no difference between the temple approved exorcists and Jesus from outward appearances.  So in condemning me, you condemn them!  However, the Pharisees gave their stamp of approval to this group, while condemning Jesus because of their prejudices.  They will expose or judge both your statements about this and you!

The second option was to admit that the spiritual power is from God.  Scripture and their theology taught, like our own, that there are only two sources of spiritual power – God and the Devil (an either or situation)!  So, if the power you see in Me (Jesus) is of God, then the only conclusion is that the predicted Kingdom (and King) has come.  Jesus in all of His ministry (His life) was led and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  Even though Jesus walked the Earth as God, having the same knowledge, power and authority in every way as God the Father – He did nothing on His own.  It was the Spirit that led Him into the wilderness, His Father gave Him the words to say and the Father directed all of His life/ministry.  One beautiful reason for this is to show us the way to live – we don’t have to be God incarnate to walk with God and do what He wants us to do.  Like Jesus, we only need to be led by the Spirit and He has made that possible because the Father has given us His Spirit! 

{vs 29} Here we have the common sense example – if you want to take a strong man’s stuff, you’d better first deal with him.  In those days, people kept their valuable or treasures in the home not a bank, not even a safe.  It might be buried under the floor or well hidden.  A thief would need to spend time searching and possibly digging up half the house if you can imagine.  Which means you had better be certain that the home owner was secured!  Jesus is saying Satan is formidable (believers should not go up against him directly, even the Archangel Michael would not – Jude 9) but I am not under his power.  I am your God and nothing/no one is bigger, stronger or able to get the best of Me!

{vs 30-32} Jesus caps the entire section on denying and rejecting with a very solemn warning! 

1. First, there is no middle ground – you are either with me or against me!  Those who think they have time to think about it, who are wishy-washy or ‘undecided’ – they have all made a decision (maybe unknowingly) and it is the wrong one!  No matter how ‘good’ of a person you might think you are, if you’re not with Jesus, serving Him and bringing in the harvest then you are serving Satan, scattering and helping to send others just like you into an eternity without God!

2. Every kind of sin can be forgiven (including speaking against Jesus – God in human form) except the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit!  This is the famous unpardonable sin – which Satan uses to scare many and keep others from seeking forgiveness.  Those who speak against Jesus, have an excuse – this is God in a humble form, “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.” (Isaiah 53:2)  However, those who ‘dis’ the work of the Holy Spirit have no other place to go to find forgiveness!  It is the Holy Spirit that did this miracle and He convicts of sin drawing us to repentance.  Those who continually reject what the Holy Spirit is doing in their life will become hardened beyond reaching; just like Pharaoh (he hardened his heart repeatedly until God also hardened it)!  This is not one word spoken in anger (or several) – look at Saul, who repeatedly rejected and abused Christ (His church).  However, also see at the great lengths that God had to go to in order to change him because of his rejections!  When we reject God’s grace, day by day we push ourselves farther beyond the place where we can receive Him.  That’s why scripture says today is the day – don’t stall, don’t allow the callouses to grow any thinker over your heart because one day you will find yourself not moved by the call.  Those who reject will find themselves beyond salvation in this life, and there are no other chances beyond (age to come)!