*Matthew 12:22-50
Jesus responds to accusations of demonic power, defines true family as those who follow God’s will, and warns against blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
- Miracles and Opposition
- Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute.
- The crowds are amazed and wonder if Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah.
- The Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.
- Jesus responds by explaining the illogical nature of Satan casting out Satan and warns about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
- He asserts that those who are not with Him are against Him, emphasizing the spiritual battle at play.
- The Unforgivable Sin
- Jesus speaks about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, describing it as an unforgivable sin.
- He clarifies that speaking against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but speaking against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, neither in this age nor in the age to come.
- A Tree and Its Fruit
- Jesus uses the analogy of a tree and its fruit to teach about recognizing true and false prophets.
- A good tree produces good fruit, while a bad tree produces bad fruit.
- He emphasizes that our words reveal the condition of our hearts, and we will be judged accordingly.
- The Sign of Jonah
- The scribes and Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign to prove His authority.
- Jesus refers to the sign of Jonah, who was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights, foreshadowing His own death and resurrection.
- He rebukes the lack of faith among the religious leaders and warns of the greater judgment that awaits them.
- Return of the Unclean Spirit
- Jesus tells the parable of an unclean spirit that returns to a person after being cast out, finding the person empty, swept, and put in order.
- The spirit brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and the person’s last state becomes worse than the first.
- This illustrates the importance of not only casting out evil but also filling our lives with goodness and righteousness.
- True Family of Jesus
- Jesus’ mother and brothers seek to speak with Him, but He points to His disciples and says, “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
- He redefines familial relationships based on spiritual kinship rather than biological ties, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God’s will.
Matthew 12:22-50 teaches us the importance of having a heart that is fully devoted to God. Jesus warns against speaking or acting against God’s work and reminds us that our words reflect what is in our hearts. This passage encourages us to be mindful of what we say and do, making sure our actions align with God’s goodness. It also reminds us that true belonging in God’s family comes from listening to His Word and following His will. Instead of just claiming to believe, we should live in a way that shows our faith through love, kindness, and obedience to God.
Matthew 12:22-50 (WEB)
12:22 Then one possessed by a demon, blind and mute, was brought to him; and he healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 All the multitudes were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”25 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house.30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn’t gather with me, scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in that which is to come.33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. 35 The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. 36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge 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 stand up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and will condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, someone greater than Solomon is here.43 “When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places seeking rest, and doesn’t find it. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return into my house from which I came;’ and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.”46 While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. 47 One said to him, “Behold, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you.”48 But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 He stretched out his hand toward his disciples, and said, “Behold, my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”