Matthew 12:22-32, 38-40
In the text before us, Jesus speaks to an audience which did not believe that He could possibly be the promised Messiah. It was an audience which looked upon Jesus and found Him lacking in righteousness. Jesus healed upon the sabbath day (Matt. 12:13). Jesus’ disciples also violated the sabbath day by plucking kernels of grain and rubbing them with their fingers upon the sabbath (see Matt. 12:2). In the eyes of the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus failed to keep the law of Moses.
The Jesus which the scribes and Pharisees saw was not the same person which people of lesser status saw. When one who was blind and unable to speak and possessed by a devil was brought before Him, Jesus healed the man. The people saw the power of God and said, “I not this the son of David?” (v. 23). The son of David, the promised son of David, was the Messiah who possesses the power and spirit of God and who shall rule over Israel from the throne of David (II Sam. 7:16, Isa. 9:7).
The people looked upon Jesus and saw the power of God. The Pharisees looked upon the healing of the possessed individual who was both bind and dumb as evidence that Jesus was endued with power from Satan (v. 24). Jesus, knowing their thoughts, speaks out beginning in verse 25.
The man was healed; he could now see and speak. The issue was not his healing. The issue was the power by which he was healed. Jesus addressed the issue of power by pointing out the obvious — conflicting powers weaken. If Jesus had cast out the devil by the power of Satan as the Pharisees said, it would mean that Jesus used Satan’s power to weaken Satan. The healing of the man is evidence that Satan’s hold had been weakened. If Satan were working through Jesus, Satan would be working to destroy himself through Jesus. It is wrong thinking to entertain the thought that Satan would ever work against himself.
Because Satan does not work against himself, the casting out of devils must be through and by a different power. In verse 28, Jesus suggests that the Pharisees consider the possibility that the different power by which He (and the children of the Pharisees) cast out devils is by the Spirit of God.
“But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you” (v. 28). These words were spoken to a hostile audience, an audience of Pharisees which rejected the possibility that Jesus was the promised son of David. Fast forward to the present day. Truth does not change — if Jesus cast out devils by the Spirit of God, the kingdom of God took up residency on planet Earth two thousand years ago. Jesus was despised and rejected of men (Isa. 53:3); “ . . . he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities . . . with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5); His days were prolonged (Isa. 53:10); and “ . . . by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many” (Isa. 53:11). New Testament believers are the testimony of the kingdom of God which came and is.
Satan, a strong man (v. 29), is not willing that his house should be entered into and his goods spoiled. This is precisely what occurred when Jesus cast out the devil and made the man whole. His casting out of devils is prima facie evidence that Jesus manifested the power of the Spirit of God and that the kingdom of God is unveiled to all through Him.
In verse 30, Jesus reveals that one is either with Him or against Him. The Pharisees were against Jesus, and consequently, stood with the strong man (Satan) against the Spirit of God. There is an eternity of difference between speaking against Jesus and standing with Satan.
“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” (v. 32). Reread Isaiah 53:3-4. “. . . we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” The Holy Spirit speaks through Isaiah. The Messiah would carry the sins of those who esteemed Him not.
In Matthew 12:31, the all manner of sin and blasphemy that shall be forgiven is that which is spoken against Him who we esteemed not (Isa. 53:3). That which shall not be forgiven is denial of the Spirit who says: “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isa. 53:12). All who believe that Jesus poured Himself out for them embrace the Spirit and shall live.
All present heard the words of the Spirit which Jesus spoke. Certain ones, however, asked for a sign that they might know Jesus spoke the truth (v. 38). Who were these who sought a sign? They were those who had witnessed the power of the Spirit of God and believed not. In verse 39, Jesus describes them as an evil and adulterous generation. Evil and adulterous refers to the scribes and Pharisees who chose not to believe the testimony of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus answered saying the only sign that they would see would be that of the prophet Jonah — as Jonah was in the whale’s belly three days and three nights, so would He (the Son of Man) be in the heart of the earth. Jesus’ death would be like Jonah’s stay in the belly of the fish (Jonah 1:17). Fulfillment of the sign which the scribes and Pharisees asked is that which the Spirit of God prophesied in Isaiah 53. Jesus’ days were prolonged after He was made an offering for sin. Whosoever sees and believes the sign of Jonah shall live. Those who deny the Spirit shall not be forgiven. For them, the door to life shall close.
