Jesus has just finished arguing with the Pharisees about the Sabbath and has clearly declared Himself to be God. In Matthew 12:14 we learn that they are actively seeking how they may destroy Jesus. The rest of Matthew 12 shows yet another showdown Jesus had with the Pharisees as things continue to deteriorate between them.
In Matthew 12:22, Jesus is approached by a demon possessed man who was unable to speak or see. Jesus removed the demon and the man was instantly able to see and speak again. A crowd witnessed this amazing work that no normal man could possibly achieve.
Matthew 12:23- All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?”
Jesus has been claiming to be the Messiah all along. He’s shown His power clearly to help them understand that His claim is valid. But these folks are still not believing. At least they start to ask the right question. To ask if Jesus is the “Son of David” is to recognize Him as the foretold Messiah.
The Pharisees hear of Jesus’ show of power and the crowds question, and they get the spin machine working quickly.
Matthew 12:24- But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”
They recognize that Jesus isn’t a normal human playing tricks. The miracles and works of His hands are not achievable by tricks and slight of hand. So they resort to the only thing left. “He’s of Satan” is their claim.
JESUS MAKES HIS ARGUMENT
Jesus responds to the Pharisees’ narrative like an excellent lawyer. I would expect that having the religious leaders making such claims would create a lot of confusion amongst the people as they began asking the right question! So Jesus makes his argument, for their sake and for ours today. Remember Matthew is writing this book to convince the Jew, that Jesus was and is the Messiah, the Son of God.
A HOUSE DIVIDED
Jesus makes His arguments against the Pharisees’ charge. His first point may sound familiar.
Matthew 12:25-27- And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason, they will be your judges.
Jesus dismantles the Pharisees’ ridiculous claim with this response. His first statement is that it would make no sense for Satan to cast out his own demons. Satan would never weaken his own kingdom by casting out his own workers. Jesus then puts it back in the Pharisees court. Jesus wonders out loud, how then do you all claim to cast out demons.
We’re never shown in scripture whether or not the Jewish religious leaders were actually capable of casting out demons. Jesus isn’t even necessarily affirming that they can. But they clearly claim they can cast out demons, and it’s likely widely accepted that they can. Jesus knows that they claim to be able to do these works in the name of God. So he puts the doubt back on them. He essentially says, if you claim to be able to do these works, how do we know you’re not also doing it in the name of Satan?!
The final statement from Jesus in verse 27 puts the Pharisees squarely in the corner. He says “For this reason, they will be your judges.” If the Pharisees agree that they cast out demons in the name of the devil, then they condemn themselves for not dealing with the other Pharisees in their midst for being of Satan, because they claim to do the same miracles. Or they backtrack and say it’s true, these works are of God, then they validate Jesus and His works. It’s a brilliant argument.
FRIEND OR ENEMY?
The Pharisees clearly did not correct their narrative about who Jesus was or where He was deriving His power. So Jesus makes His point clear.
Matthew 12:28-29- But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can anyone enter the strong mans house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house?
Jesus reasserts the reality that the kingdom of God is upon them since He is casting out the demons with the authority of God. He also gives an illustration. The ‘strong man’ in this illustration is Satan. There are two kingdoms; God’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom.
Jesus is in the process of total and complete defeat of Satan and his kingdom at a later date. Jesus defeated Satan in Matthew 4 by resisting Satan’s temptations. Now Jesus is showing complete power of his demons. Later, at Jesus death, resurrection, and ascension where Christ will sit at the right hand of God the Father. God will complete His dominance of Satan’s kingdom. At a future date, TBD, Jesus will return and bind Satan and throw him into the abyss. Eventually, God will have His final victory over Satan. Jesus is saying in this verse that this process is taking place. The strongman is being bound. Which sets up Jesus next statement:
Matthew 12:30- He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
This is a red line. Jesus gives no neutral ground. There are two kingdoms and everyone is part of one of them. This is true for every person that has ever walked the earth from the beginning until today. In the context of this passage, Jesus is talking to the Pharisees who claim to be God’s men. They are the righteous men who lead the nation of Israel’s religion. But Jesus is being clear here that they are not of God.
Matthew 12:31 – Therefore I say to you, any sin or blasphemy shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven.
What is it that the Pharisees are doing that is receiving this type of rebuke? Jesus even goes on to call them “A brood of vipers” and tells them that in their evil, they’re incapable of speaking or doing good. In vs. 33, Jesus applies His Sermon on the Mount illustration about good trees bearing good fruit and bad trees bearing bad fruit to the Pharisees.
The Pharisees along with many others in this region were personally witnessing who Jesus was and what He was doing with their own eyes. Some refer to this passage as the “unpardonable sin”. Jesus tells them that blasphemy against the Holy spirit is that sin. What does that look like? It’s unbelief. Jesus says that all sins, including sins committed against Him while on earth can be forgiven, but hard hearted unbelief is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and therefore will not be forgiven.
CONCLUSION
Matthew 12:34- ….For the mouth speaks out that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.
Jesus connects our words directly to our hearts. Jesus again, repeats a section of what He taught in the Sermon on the Mount. What we say and how we say it is rooted firmly in our heart and will show which kingdom we belong to. Sins of the tongue will be accounted for on the day of judgment. Jesus is saying this to the Pharisees in response to their charge that Jesus is of Satan and He is condemning them. He goes on to say they’re worse than the people of Nineveh from the book of Jonah, because they refuse to repent and believe. And their words condemn them.
We should hold this passage up as a mirror to our own lives as well. Are our words indicating a heart seeking God’s kingdom or are we deceived like the Pharisees?