Matthew 12:22 says, Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. A man who could not see or speak and was possessed of a devil was brought to Jesus, and Jesus restored the man's sight and his ability to speak, proved by the fact that the man could both see and speak Verse twenty-three states, And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? the people were all amazed, and asked if He were not the Son of David, or the Messiah. Before we can accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we must first acknowledge Who He is. Verse twenty-four states, But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. The Pharisees once more attempted to discredit Jesus, claiming that he cast out devils by the power of the devil. We should never attempt to claim that Jesus is empowered by anyone but the heavenly Father Himself. Verse twenty-five declares, And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: Jesus knew their thoughts, just as He knows ours today, and stated that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. We need to remember that today. Verse twenty-six adds, And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? Jesus then asked if Satan was divided against himself, how could his kingdom stand. Christians may sometimes be divided among themselves, but Satan never is. Verse twenty-seven continues, And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. Jesus asked if He was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, then by whose authority did the people of Israel cast them out, and to let the people be the judge. Verse twenty-eight declares, But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Jesus then said if He cast out devils by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God was come to them. Ultimately, we must decide Who Jesus is individually, and if He is the Messiah, then the kingdom of God has come for us. Verse twenty-nine adds, Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. Jesus said that in order to steal from a strong man while he was in the house, you needed to first bind the strong man. Of course, Jesus cannot be bound except by our lack of faith in Him, and then He is really not bound, but the gift of salvation is bound for anyone who rejects Him. Verse thirty proclaims, He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Jesus made it very clear that there is no neutral ground. Each individual is either for Jesus or against Him. Verse thirty-one adds, Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. If we blaspheme against the Holy Ghost we will not be forgiven. Verse thirty-two continues, And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Jesus said that a person could be forgiven for speaking against Him,, but speaking against the Holy Ghost could not be forgiven, now or in the world to come. I believe that is because once we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and then we should always give God credit for everything in our life. We all at one time spoke against Jesus. Verse thirty-three states, Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. Jesus said that we would be known by our fruit. Verse thirty-four declares, O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Jesus called the people of Israel, and the Pharisees in particular, a generation of vipers. Jesus also said that we will speak what is in our heart. Verse thirty-five continues, A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Jesus said a good man, one who had accepted Him as Savior and Lord, would bring forth good things, and an evil man would bring forth evil things. Verse thirty-six declares, But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Jesus said that we would be accountable for every idle word that we speak. Verse thirty-seven adds, For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. This was speaking about blasphemy, and we cannot attribute the things of God to the world or Satan and be held blameless.
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