Matthew 12:25-37, Messianic Miracle #2 (3)

In Matt. 12:29 Jesus, in essence, refers to the people of Israel as Satan’s house.  How so?  Remember John 8:37-47, where Jesus demonstrated that the people of Israel were not sons of Abraham or sons of God but were of your father the devil.  Their descendance from Satan is demonstrated by the fact that they do what their father does.  He was a murderer and they were trying to kill Jesus; Satan was a liar and the Jews were lying about Jesus. 

What does it mean to “bind” Satan?  Some consider this to be an out-of-the-ordinary action when, in fact, it has to do with how we are to live daily.  It is the practical application of Romans 6.  Paul taught that we were to yield ourselves to God and our bodies to righteousness.  In doing this, Satan cannot reign over us, nor can death, nor can sin.  Rather, Christ reigns in us when we yield ourselves to Him, and when Christ reigns, then grace reigns. 

As Man He (Jesus) overcame the enemy in personal temptation, bound him (Satan), and thereby made Himself able to spoil his house. God's children who have entered into His victory by the Cross, also know something of what it is to bind the strong one.  His Cross is the force that sets us free to spoil the house of the strong one, and rescue other souls. (G. Campbell Morgan)

     The answer of the Pharisees shows they were blind to all this, blind to what the Messiah was doing in their midst.  He was performing “Messianic miracles” and the Pharisees were doing all they could to keep the people from thinking any more that Jesus could possibly be the Son of David.

§  12:30: their answer shows complicity.  In the end the two possible answers were significant.  This is not just a popular vote; we are deeply involved in this choice that must be made concerning Christ.  To reject Christ is to fight with Satan, the very one Jesus is in the process of disabling.

What is your choice?  How do you answer the question, Who is this Man Jesus?  There are only two options.  We cannot serve two masters (Mt. 6:24).  Men have always been called to make the choice.

And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.  But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Josh. 24:15). 

And Elijah came to all the people and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions?  If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”  But the people answered him not a word. (1 Ki. 18:21) 

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (Mt. 11:28).