067 - Blasphemy of the Spirit
Weekly Reading: Matthew 12:22-37
22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.”
Journal Entry
Jesus came to redeem the elect, but that also implies that he came to crush the serpent—Satan himself. The Pharisees were quick to accuse Jesus of using demonic power to perform the miracles that he was carrying out. Interestingly, Jesus uses logic to refute their claim. If he were casting out demons by the power of demons, he would essentially be fighting against his own team.
Jesus logically proves that he is against Satan and demonic forces. He illustrates this by showing that he will “bind the strong man.” In this illustration, Satan is compared to a physically fit and capable homeowner. If one is to rob from a man like this, the strong man must be restrained in order for the plundering to be successful. In his effort to pull the elect from the grips of Satan and sin, Jesus must restrain Satan.
This passage seems to indicate that Satan was (or still is) bound by Christ’s power. Do you think that Satan is currently bound? (See Revelation 20:1-3 and 1 Peter 5:8)
What do you think the sin of blasphemy against the Spirit actually is? Do you think it’s something that possible for a Christian to do?
068 - Sign of jonah
Weekly Reading: Matthew 12:38-42
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
Journal Entry
Jesus foreshadows his death and resurrection by pointing back to Jonah. All scripture is about Jesus and points to Jesus, thus the sign of Jonah points to Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees were seeking signs to test Jesus. Rather than having faith, they were seeking proof by attempting to test the Lord.
Do you ever ask the Lord for signs, and if so, why?
By our nature, we want proof. Why is it difficult for us to be content in our faith?
Take time to pray. Thank the Lord for the wisdom, the truth, and the proof that we can find in the Bible.
069 - Unclean Spirits & Spiritual Family
Weekly Reading: Matthew 12:43-50
43 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” 46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.””
Journal Entry
Safety and security can be found in the eternal family of God. It is not merely religion and a tidy life that protects us from both sin and Satan, but being adopted into the sacred family.
What is Jesus getting at with a “house swept, empty, put in order”? What does this represent?
How is Jesus redefining family? If we really believe what Jesus is saying, how might this practically look? Do you live this out or is it just a concept for you?
