24.128 | A RIDICULOUS ACCUSATION | Mark 3:22-27 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Text: Mark 3:22-27 (ESV)

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

A RIDICULOUS ACCUSATION

Jesus had cast out a demon from a man who was blind and mute. [Mat 12:22-23]. When the scribes saw it, they commented, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” Beelzebul is Aramaic and means "lord of the house." The similar "Beelzebub" is a parody which means "lord of the flies." Beelzebul is a variation of Baal, the primary God of the Canaanites and Phoenicians. Were they right? These scribes have a high degree of education and expertise in the Torah. Thus, they feel they have the qualifications to judge Jesus. According to their line of thinking since Jesus doesn't follow the same rules as they do, His supernatural power must come from a different spiritual force other than God.

In His perfect wisdom, Jesus answered by asking a question. “How can Satan cast out Satan? He then explained, “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.”[v.24-26]

Apparently, the accusation of the scribes is out of plain logic. It’s ridiculous. For Jesus has concluded, “But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.” Jesus cannot use Satan's power to cast out the demon. He needs to bind Satan first in order to free the man. He does this through the power of the Holy Spirit.

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