Matthew 12: The Lord and His Family (4)

Pray Psalm 35.9, 10.
And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD;
It shall rejoice in His salvation.
All my bones shall say,
“LORD, who is like You,
Delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?”

Sing Psalm 35.9, 10.
(Creation: Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim)
Thus shall our souls rejoice in You
and hold Your salvation ever true.
Our bones as one aloud shall cry,
“Lord, who is like You, enthroned on high,
Who cares for those too frail and meek
to save themselves when they are weak?
Who rescues His afflicted ones
when foes their warfare have begun?”

Read Matthew 12.1-30; meditate on verses 22-30.

Prepare.
1. How did Jesus silence the religious leaders on this occasion?

2. Who’s plundering whom here, and what does that signify?

Meditate.
Jesus continues tossing out demons, healing those who are burdened with the effects of sin, and amazing the multitudes (vv. 22, 23). Imagine how that must have irked Satan. He though, having been bound by the Lord in the early days of Jesus’ ministry (Matt. 4.1-11), could do nothing to stop Him.

But he kept trying. Here he enlisted the Pharisees against Jesus, by suggesting a scurrilous but stupid rumor: The only reason Jesus can cast out demons is because He is the devil himself – or at least, in his employ (v. 24). They had tried that same lame notion once already (Matt. 9.34); now they personalized it even more.

Jesus showed the utter stupidity of that explanation for His power in two ways (vv. 25-27). First, He demonstrated the folly of thinking that Beelzebub would attack his own house. Who does that? Next, He pointed to the Jewish exorcists, and asked whether they, too, might be in Satan’s employ? Were the Pharisees willing to label their own colleagues with that taint? And if not, then why did they do so to Jesus?

If I’m a Pharisee at this point, I’m skulking back and laying low. And getting angrier all the time.

Now Jesus gives the real explanation of His spiritual power (vv. 28-30): He has bound the strong man – Satan – and He is about the business of plundering his house. Satan’s “house” and “goods” had been enjoying a several thousand year run by the time Jesus came around. Now He was taking it all back – souls, people, cultures, societies, and the very creation itself. As Abraham Kuyper put it, “There’s not a single square inch of all creation over which Jesus as Lord does not say, ‘Mine!’” Jesus’ ability to cast out demons signals that the Kingdom of God has come in the power of the Spirit, just as it has come to each of us.

And those who are “with” Jesus, Who is God with us, are joining the plunder as well (v. 30). We do not fear being plundered by the strong man, who wants to take away our freedom, joy, peace, and power to love. Rather, in the Name and power of Jesus, we are taking back everything in our lives – from the depths of our souls to the full extent of our Personal Mission Fields – and making it all obey Jesus (2 Cor. 10.3-5).

Reflect.
1. What does it mean for you to participate with Jesus in plundering the devil’s house and goods?

2. Every objection to Jesus anyone might make is as flimsy as that which the Pharisees made here. Why?

3. How can you make sure that you go “with” Jesus throughout each day?

Jesus here compares the earth with a house and human beings with vessels or possessions. Human beings have become possessions of demons and of the devil, having by evil means been brought under his authority. Thus it was impossible for the demons’ own possessions to be taken away unless the demons were first weakened and bound with chains. Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428), Fragment 68

Give me strength to plunder with joy today, Lord, as I…

Pray Psalm 35.1-8.
Pray that the Lord will clear the path for you today, send His angels to guard you, and be with you as you plunder the devil’s house in your life and Personal Mission Field.

Sing Psalm 35.1-8.
Psalm 35.1-8 (Creation: Exalt the Lord, His Praise Proclaim)
Contend, O Lord, with those who strive with me;
my shield, my strength and buckler be!
Engage with spear and axe to fight
and rescue me with all Your might!
My soul with Your salvation soothe,
and vanquish all who oppose Your truth.
Let those ashamed and humbled be
who would destroy and humble me.

Let all my foes be blown like chaff,
and let Your angel take my behalf.
No cause have they to hide their snare
or for my fall a pit prepare.
Upon them let destruction fall;
disperse, destroy them one and all!
And let the net which they have made
be for their doom and judgment laid.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).