Matthew 12:22-32

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Introduction

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Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

At this point in Matthew’s Gospel we reach a climactic explosion between Jesus and the Pharisees. Up to this point the religious leaders in Israel have steadily increased their opposition toward him, and Jesus, though not seeking out the conflict, does not intend to back down.

Increasing Opposition

The religious leaders, while they were seemingly very pious, had in fact perverted the Law. Jesus spent almost his entire Sermon on the Mount teaching his disciples how to rightly understand the Law as it was given to Moses. He would repeatedly say things like, “you have heard that it was said ... but I say to you.” His teaching in many respects was offensive to the religious leaders, because it often contradicted what they taught. And even when it did not Jesus would tell the people to do what they say but not what they do. They were walking hypocrites, and Jesus, by the very nature of his teaching, exposed this. Jesus was like a spotlight in a darkened alley, exposing every detail.
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And Jesus’ countless supernatural deeds only compounded the problem. He healed the sick, commanded the seas, and cast out demons by the thousands with a word. His power and authority was unprecedented and unique. And it was this power and this authority that confirmed and validated his teaching, he not only spoke with authority, but he exercised it over both the natural world and supernatural world.
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Demon Oppression

And, in fact, this is precisely how verse 22 begins,

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

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We’re told that a man who is both blind and mute is brought to Jesus, and the implication is that this man cannot see and cannot speak because of a demonic influence. Matthew tells us at the beginning of verse 22 that this man is demon-oppressed. Now, if you’ll recall, demon-oppression and demon-possession are typically synonomous in the Scriptures, the oppression is a result of the possession. And we’re told that Jesus heals this man, which indicates that Jesus has done so by casting out the demon that is oppressing this man.

Crowd’s Reaction

And it’s at this point in the story that Matthew records for us the reaction of the crowd. He writes, “And all the people were amazed, and said, ‘Can this be the Son of David?’” Now, this isn’t the first time the crowds had been amazed by Jesus’ power to heal and cast out evil spirits. In fact, they’ve been following him all this time leading up to chapter 12, precisely because of their amazement. But what’s unique about this event is that the people respond with these words, “Can this be the Son of David?”
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Now, what’s interesting about their words is that they’re somewhat different than what they had said back in chapter 9 when a similar miracle took place. Listen to them starting in verse 32 of chapter 9,
As we’ve seen already, Matthew, as well as the other Gospel writers, are known for abbreviating various events throughout Jesus’ life and ministry, and they do so with a purpose, to help us to see and understanding certain aspects of Jesus that the writer believes is particularly important. We see this even here in verse 22, where Matthew tells us that this man is demon-oppressed and is both blind and mute

behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.”

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32 As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to him. 33 And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marveled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.”

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Marveled and Amazed

I want to point out a couple of things, first the crowds marveled. This is almost exactly what we see here in chapter 12 when Matthew tells us that the people were amazed. However, there are different Greek words used in each account. Back in chapter 9 the Greek word translated marveled simply means to be very amazed, or in a state of wonder, but the Greek word used here in chapter 12 literally means to be utterly amazed or to become astounded to such a degree as to nearly lose one’s mental composure, or as we might say it blew their minds. You see, their level of amazement has reached a new high. Not only is this miracle more astounding, to heal not only a blind man but a man who is both blind and mute, but this miracle continues to demonstrate the relentless nature by which Jesus is doing these things. It’s unprecedented, and never was anything like this seen in Israel.
1) the crowds marveled. This is almost exactly what we see here in chapter 12 when Matthew tells us that the people were amazed. However, there are different Greek words used in each account. Back in chapter 9 the Greek word translated marveled simply means to be very amazed, or in a state of wonder, but the word used in chapter 12 and translated amazed literally means to be utterly amazed or to become astounded to such a degree as to nearly lose one’s mental composure, or as we might say it blew their minds. You see, their level of amazement has reached a new high. Not only is this miracle more astounding, to heal not only a blind man but a man who is both blind and mute, but this miracle continues to demonstrate the relentless nature by which Jesus does this which is simply unprecedented.

Can this be the Messiah?

Secondly, I want us to see that this heightened level of amazement leads to their question here in chapter 12, “Can this be the son of David?” In other words, “Can this be the Messiah?” Now, up to this point we’ve seen select individuals come to this realization that Jesus is the Messiah, but this is the first time we see the crowds at large begin to seriously consider the messianic identity of Jesus. And it’s for this reason we read there in verse 24 that,

when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”

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Attempt to Discredit Jesus

In other words, when the Pharisees see that the people are moving toward the undeniable conclusion that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, they have no choice but to attempt to discredit him by claiming that he does these miraculous deeds by the power of Satan. Since they cannot discredit the reality of his supernatural power, they believe their only recourse is to question the source of that power. You see, the Pharisees are desperate.

Undeniable Works

And what’s incredible at this point in the story is that the those who oppose Jesus the most make no attempt to call into question the authenticity of Jesus’ miracles. Apparently, his works were undeniable, therefore it would have been completely fruitless for them to claim that his miracles were fake. In fact, we have no reason to believe that the Pharisees themselves didn’t acknowledge the validity of these miracles.
In other words, the Pharisees are desperate, the only argument they
There are many in our own day who claim they can perform the very same miracles that Jesus did, but in fact they’re charlatans. Many of us have seen them on television supposedly healing people of ailments that cannot be proven one way or another by the audience, while those missing limbs, or who are deaf and mute are ushered out the back door. This, however, is not like the ministry of Jesus, where even his worst enemies realize they could never discredit his works, that they’re undeniable.
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Maligning Jesus

So what are the Pharisees to do? Well, their only recourse is to malign him, to tarnish his name, to accuse him of doing his mighty works in the name of Satan. If they cannot deny the truthfulness of his miracles then they must question their source, bring into question the spirit behind these mighty works. So what we see is that Pharisees begin to spread this accusation among the people, that Jesus is doing these things by the power of Satan, but it appears they haven’t made this accusation directly to Jesus. They just whisper these things to the people.
But what does Matthew tell us there in verse 25?

25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them,

He Knows Their Thoughts

So despite their attempts to subvert Jesus’ ministry in secrecy, he confronts them, because he knows their thoughts. Jesus is no ordinary man, he is God in the flesh, all-knowing, therefore nothing is hidden from him. And the irony is that Jesus uses the very power that they are seeking to discredit to uncover their schemes. Jesus is well aware of their plot to destroy him and their accusations against him, and so he confronts them, not to save face, not to maintain his popularity but to defend the integrity of the Holy Spirit, to defend him against the slander of the Pharisees.

A Kingdom Divided

And Jesus does so by using a truism, or a statement that’s obviously true, an illustration that will require no explanation because of it’s clarity and simplicity. He says to the Pharisees, and presumably the crowd as well, there in verses 25-26,

“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

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Jesus reminds everyone that a kingdom, city or even a house divided against itself will not stand. In other words, it’s absolutely absurd to assert that Satan is casting out Satan, that Satan is somehow deliberately destroying his own kingdom. It isn’t that Satan can’t or doesn’t often come to us as an angel light in order to tempt or deceive us, but it’s ridiculous to claim that Satan is actively dividing his own kingdom, pitting one demon against another. So Jesus uses this illustration to demonstrate how laughable the claim is that Satan is somehow casting out Satan.

By whom do your sons cast out demons?

And Jesus goes on in verse 27,
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27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

What Jesus is saying is that if I’m supposedly casting out demons by the prince of demons then by whom are we to believe your own disciples are casting out demons? How are we going to know the difference? So by bringing such an accusation against Jesus they were unwittingly calling into question the works of their own practices of exorcism! Surely, these Pharisees aren’t prepared to attribute to Satan the power that works through their own followers, are they? (D.A. Carson, NIV Study Bible) If they are going to claim that Jesus is casting out demons by the prince of demons then how are they going to argue that their own disciples aren’t also doing the same? They can’t have it both ways.

Rejecting the Kingdom of God

If they are going to claim that Jesus is casting out demons by the prince of demons then how are they going to argue that their own disciples aren’t also doing the same? They can’t have it both ways.
Jesus continues in verse 28,

28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

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So then if Jesus is casting out demons, not by the prince of demons, but by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God has come upon you! And if Jesus is doing these things by the Spirit of God then their opposition to Jesus is an opposition to God’s kingdom. The fact that they’re willing to use an argument that falls flat on its face to accuse Jesus demonstrates that they willingly, and knowingly stand ultimately opposed to God and his kingdom. You reject Jesus you reject God’s kingdom. You don’t get to reject Jesus and claim you are for God’s kingdom.
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Jesus is the Strong Man

Continue reading with in verses 29-30,
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29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

You see if one intends to plunder the house of a strong man, that person must first be able to bind the strong man. Therefore, Jesus’ unfailing ability to cast out demon after demon, even thousands at a time, was a public witness to his the power to bind even Satan. You see, Jesus is the strong man. His unprecedented ability to cast out demons at the drop of a hat was a demonstration of his own divine authority. We see this illustrated in the Book of Revelation, chapter 20, when we’re told that Satan is bound for a thousand years during Christ’s reign.
One commentator says it like this,
“Jesus’ exorcisms, far from being in collusion with Satan, [were] a direct assault on his possessions; his kingdom is under attack. The strength of Satan as the god of this world is acknowledged but now at last he has met his match. Jesus has tied him up and so is now free to appropriate his possessions, or in the imagery of , to release his captives.” (RT France, The Gospel of Matthew, Commentary, p.481)
You see, that’s you and I! Therefore we thank our Lord that he sent his Son to bind Satan and plunder his kingdom, to set us free from our bondage to sin and darkness. Yet here we have the religious leaders of Israel setting themselves up, not as shepherds of Israel, but as wolves in sheep’s clothing. Therefore, Jesus says to them there in verses 31-32,

31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

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The Unforgivable Sin

The uniqueness of their sin was a persistent and willful opposition to God’s kingdom by slandering the work of his Holy Spirit. They didn’t merely persecute and oppose Jesus but they maligned the person who was the source of his power, they blasphemed the Holy Spirit. They knowingly and willfully called the Holy Spirit, Beelzebul, they attributed the Holy Spirit’s work to Satan. They called what was manifestly good, evil. And in doing so they willfully set themselves up as enemies of God.
Unfortunately, I believe this text has caused unwarranted concern by Christians. Many wonder if they’ve somehow committed this so-called unforgivable sin, thereby barring themselves from eternity. However, any concern over one’s sin is sure evidence that no such sin has been committed. The religious leaders of Israel would at no point seek repentance, but only continue in their pursuit to murder their own Messiah who came to forgive sin. Our own repentance is a demonstration and witness to the effectual work of the Spirit. The Pharisees represented a deliberate and knowing refusal to the Spirit’s work.
We ought not to fret over this text but rejoice that our God is a forgiving God, it’s a part of his nature. And he promises that if we embrace his Son, and turn from our sin that he will be faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In God’s good providence he intended for his Son to be rejected, and ultimately put to death, he intended that this might happen for our salvation, for all those who would trust in his Son for their salvation. So let us remember this morning that this text “is a wake-up call to the arrogant, not a [devil] to frighten those of tender conscience.” (RT France, The Gospel of Matthew, p. 483)

5  For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,

abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.

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