Matthew 12:22-32

The Holy Spirit Triumphs Over The Evil Spirit World Establishing the Kingly Rule of God For All Who Will Hear And Respond (12:22-32).

Following on this emphasis on the coming of the Servant of YHWH with the Holy Spirit upon Him we are now to learn something of His activity against the powers of evil. Prior to this mention has been made of the casting out of evil spirits Matthew 4:24; Matthew 8:16; Matthew 8:28; Matthew 9:32; Matthew 10:1; Matthew 10:8 (although interestingly not as a sign of the Coming One - Matthew 11:5), and even of the accusation that it was by the prince of demons that Jesus cast them out (Matthew 9:34). But now we are to be introduced to the implications of this situation. The reason that He can cast out evil spirits by a word is because the Spirit of God is now active in Israel through Him. The Servant has come in the full power of the Spirit of God and the forces of evil are in retreat. In this section there is a powerful emphasis on the activity of evil spirits, and Jesus' response to it. For not only does He signify that His activity in casting out evil spirits by the Spirit of God has revealed that Satan has been bound and that the Kingly Rule of God has come to Israel (Matthew 12:28) in power, but He also indicates that Israel as a whole is like a demon possessed man who has been freed from an evil spirit, only for it to return with seven other worse spirits, because he had not responded from his heart to God, so that his position is even worse than before (Matthew 12:43). This picture He applies directly to Israel (Matthew 12:45). He is binding Satan on their behalf. But if they fail to respond to the new Rule that He now offers, the Kingly Rule of God, they must expect something seven times worse.

The very detail with which Matthew goes into this passage demonstrates how important he saw the detail to be, for normally he abbreviates and only states the basically important points. Here all the points are clearly seen as basically important.

First, however, we are brought face to face with the reality of the situation in a blind and deaf/dumb spirit which is possessing a man. This is blindness and deafness is a picture of Israel (Matthew 13:14). And Jesus heals the man so that he can both see and speak, just as He would do to Israel if it would turn to Him. That we are to interpret it in that way comes out in Matthew 12:43.

Prior to the quotation of the prophecy of Isaiah, Matthew had shown us an Israel that was dumb in response to Jesus works (Matthew 11:20), and blind to His message (Matthew 11:17), and even blinder Pharisees who were out to bring Him down (Matthew 12:1). Now here after the quotation pointing to the Servant, new hope springs up for at least some of the blind, and deaf and dumb, of Israel. But for the hardened among the Pharisees there is still seen to be little hope, because they are deliberately closing their minds. Notice that Matthew constantly introduces the Pharisees where the other Gospels are less emphatic. It is clear that he particularly saw them as being against Jesus. This would tie in with he himself being an ex-public servant and thus especially looked down on by the Pharisees.

Analysis.

a Then was brought to him one who was possessed with a demon, blind and dumb (Matthew 12:22 a).

b And he healed him, in so much that the dumb man spoke and saw (Matthew 12:22).

c And all the crowds were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?” (Matthew 12:23).

d But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzeboul, the prince of the demons” (Matthew 12:24).

e And knowing their thoughts he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand, and if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:25).

d “And if I by Beelzeboul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges” (Matthew 12:27).

c “But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the Kingly Rule of God come upon you” (Matthew 12:28).

b “Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house” (Matthew 12:29).

a “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters”

Note that in ‘a' the man is blind and dumb, and in the parallel the one who is not with Him is against Him, and the one who does not gather with Him, scatters. In ‘b' Jesus binds the strong man and enters his house, for He arranges the healing of a demon possessed man, and in the parallel the point is made that no one can enter the strong man's house and free his goods unless He first bind the strong man. Then he may spoil his house. In ‘c' the crowds ask if this is the Son of David, and in the parallel the answer is that the Kingly Rule of God (to be introduced by David's seed) is upon them. In ‘d' the Pharisees say that He casts out spirits by the prince of demons, and in the parallel Jesus asks how, if that is so, there own sons cast them out. Centrally in ‘e' is the concept that if Satan fights against himself his kingdom will collapse. Thus it cannot be true. (It is only men who do stupid things like that).