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The section of Luke11:14-26 is what is known as the Beelzabub controversy. It happened right after Jesus preached on prayer in vs 14, which says" And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
15: But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
16: And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
17: But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
18: If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
19: And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
20: But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
21: When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
22: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
23: He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
24: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
25: And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26: Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
What we find here is serious wickedness in the sons of Israel toward Jesus. Their unbelief is just too much to take. They have seen with their very own eyes a mute having a demon cast out from one of the people, who was then able to speak again.It is not as if these deliverances were common place in Israel, rather this is the first time in Israels history that they have witnessed such things. Jesus is showing the work of restoration of those held captive by sin and the devil. Instead of responding and praising God by saying how marvelous are your works oh Lord. They accuse Jesus of being a sorcerer of sorts. Their unbelief is unbearable wickedness and slander upon the true King of Israel who has come to save them. They fail to take into account that the miracle Jesus does is that of liberty and not captivity. But Jesus knows their thoughts and that they are terribly wicked. In vs 17 Jesus answers them by saying that a Kingdom divided against itself is brought to ruin and desolation. A house divided against itself certainly falls. With this as His basis for refuting them and having laid it as the first part of the rebuff, Jesus then applies it to Satan. He says if indeed Satan is like this kingdom and house divided against itself. How will Satans Kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out devils through Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils,who do your sons cast devils out by. Therefore your sons will be your judges!! The point is clearly made that if Jesus is doing the devils work then satans kingdom is been destroyed by himself and his armies. To give that answer is clearly ludicrous!! That Satan doesn't work against himself to destroy his own kingdom is not in doubt. Jesus then brings the whole thing back to the Kingdom of God. Jesus says if by the finger of God I cast out demons, then surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you. This is clear evidence that God is visiting Israel in Jesus and setting His people free from their captivity to sin and the devil. If God is doing this, the Kingdom of God and the powers of Gods Kingdom are been revealed in this evil age. This is the salvation of God through His Christ, Jesus.The point is that when someone has a demon cast out by the finger of God, then the person is free from the grip of the devil. Now why would the Satan want his captives to be set free. Clearly the answer is that he doesn't seek his captives liberty, but seeks to hold them captive. Jesus then describes what He is doing to Satan and explains what is actually going on here. "Jesus describes Satan as a strongman, fully armed guarding his own palace, whose goods are at peace, meaning they are completely safe. But when one stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armour in which he trusted and divides his spoils." Jesus is saying that Satan is this mighty strongman. But that Jesus is stronger than this strongman because Jesus has overcome him. Because Jesus has overcome him, Jesus takes away the strongmans goods and divides his spoils. Jesus is robbing the "goods" of the strongman, these are the people being set free from captivity to Satan and sin and being made into the people of God in Jesus Christ. In Jesus ministry right at the end of this evil age Jesus is plundering Satans goods who are the people he holds in captivity. Jesus has overcome the devil in the first battle in the wilderness,then in the last chapter we see that Jesus saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. although this was not the only victory we are told in Collosians 2 that Jesus has disarmed all powers and principalities making a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them at the cross. Ever since then Jesus has been busy with a mopping up operation until He comes and God becomes King and ruler over all. The devil has been put on notice as have all rulers who will not rule by Gods law and gospel. They are put on notice that their rule will soon be totally overthrown and that God will rule in their place in righteousness and justice. This is part of the victory of God over evil. This is why immediatly after Jesus said this, he said you are either for me or against me. There is no middle ground, there is no place for neutrality. Jesus says declare which side you're on!! Who will have your loyalty and allegiance? In another version to this event in Mark 3 and Matthew 12 the scribes and Pharisees accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the ruler of demons, Beelzebub. so in vs 28 and 29 Jesus has a serious warning for these wicked people.. He says all blasphemies will be forgiven the sons of men, but he who blasphemes the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation. This it would seem is the unforgivable sin. The sin is to ascribe the work of God as the work of Satan. This is such a serious blasphemy that it is unforgivable and God will damn those who practice such wickedness. Then Jesus tells what happens when a demonic spirit is cast out. He says this demonic spirit goes through dry places seeking rest and finds no rest. Then the demonic spirit says "I will go back to the house from which I came." When he comes back he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than himself.So they enter and dwell there and the last state of the man is worse than the first. Many people unfortunately fail to understand this passage. On the face of it,it seems straightforward. But we must go to Matthew 12 and see the verse which is added which is not in Luke. In otherwords we must interpret scripture with scripture to get get an accurate interpretation. The verse added after "the last state of that man is worse than at first" in Matthew reads "so shall it be with this wicked generation!!" In Matthew the context is the same and similar. Jesus is dealing with a wicked generation of Israelites. He uses the casting out of a demon to illustrate the condition of this particular wicked generation. So then its not about a person who has a spirit cast out and then comes to the Lord and then backslides and is seven times worse off. Rather we find that the evil spirit is cast out and then after a while returns to the person finding the place clean and swept and so goes for reinforcements. What is clear and what many people miss is that there is no mention of God been in the house at all. Rather that the Pharisees and their kind pretend that they bring cleansing to the house of the human and so think themselves clean. It is a cleaning up of ones life that is apart from turning to and trusting in God. It is those who gladly embrace deliverance from evil, but give no heed to God. If God had been in the house the spirit would not be able to enter. for as Jesus has already explained he is mightier than Satan and is the one who disarms Satan and robs Satan of his goods. Surely it wouldn't be possible for an evil spirit to return, when one stronger than Satan himself occupies the house. So the answer isn't about being reposessed having once been a Christian. It is rather a matter that God has never been in the house and is not in the house which is why the demons can return. There is no mention whatsoever that the person has turned to God in Jesus Christ. What I am saying is farther backed up by what Jesus says to the Pharisees farther on in the chapter by speaking of the judgement of the wicked generation and in vs35 he says to this wicked generation "make sure the light which is in you isn't darkness!" and then later while eating with the Pharisee, we see Jesus points out its the inside that needs cleaning not the outward things. So the person who is clean and swept is one of the Pharisees who clean up their lives outwardly but not inwardly. It is the Pharisees who are seven times worse,if they have had an evil spirit cast out, all because God isn't in the house. After all the context is of Jesus dealing with the Pharisees who are slandering and opposing him in doing the liberating work of the Kingdom of God.. |
