Matthew 12:22-26

²² Then a blind and mute demonized man who was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the mute man could speak and see.

²³ And all the people were astounded, and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard of it, they said, “He could not cast out demons without the power of Beelzebul, ruler of the demons.”

²⁵ Knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed and deserted, and no city or family divided against itself will stay intact.

²⁶ And if Satan is now casting out Satan, he is divided against himself. Then how will his kingdom stay intact?

_________________________________________

critics of the rescue

Jesus was calling on his critics to examine the nature of their criticism. The Pharisees had accused him of drawing on Satan’s power to deliver the demonized.

We know that sometimes that does happen. Sometimes Satan takes on the guise of a deliverer to deceive. The apostle Paul predicted an apostate church which would deceive people with all kinds of miracles and signs.[1] John attributes those miracles to the false prophet.[2] Believers need to be careful not to assume that anyone who seems to be empowered by God is actually getting his power from God.

But Jesus is stressing the other side of the issue. He asks his critics to take a good look at what is being done in the name of the coming sky kingdom. People are being rescued from sin, shame, and suffering. Satan’s kingdom is being ransacked, destroyed and left desolate. These are not miracles done to deceive. These miracles set people free. If Satan were doing them, it would be like a civil war going on in his kingdom.

Jesus was content to keep rescuing people, even if those acts of mercy were used against him. No criticism from the other side would stop him.

LORD, teach us how to rescue people from the grasp of Satan’s kingdom. Give us courage to keep doing so, even when we are criticized.

[1] 2 Thessalonians 2:9.

[2] Revelation 19:20.