Matthew 12:24

OPPONENTS OF RELIGION

‘This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.’

Matthew 12:24

There are many difficulties associated with the interpretation of this chapter, yet not a few lessons stand out clearly.

I. Opponents of religion.—There is nothing too blasphemous for hardened and prejudiced men to say against religion. Our Lord casts out a devil; and at once the Pharisees declare that He does it ‘by the prince of the devils.’ This was an absurd charge. Our Lord shows that it was unreasonable to suppose that the devil would help to pull down his own kingdom, and ‘Satan cast out Satan.’ But there is nothing too absurd and unreasonable for men to say when they are thoroughly set against religion. The Pharisees are not the only people who have lost sight of logic, good sense, and temper, when they have attacked the Gospel of Christ.

II. The servant not above his master.—Strange as this charge may sound, it is one that has often been made against the servants of God. Their enemies have been obliged to confess that they are doing a work, and producing an effect on the world. The results of Christian labour stare them in the face: they cannot deny them. What then shall they say? They say the very thing that the Pharisees said of our Lord, ‘It is the devil.’ Such things will be said as long as the world stands. We must never be surprised to hear of dreadful charges being made against the best of men without cause. ‘If they called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?’ It is an old device.

III. A plea for patience.—When the Christian’s arguments cannot be answered, and the Christian’s works cannot be denied, the last resource of the wicked is to try to blacken the Christian’s character. If this be our lot, let us bear it patiently: having Christ and a good conscience, we may be content; false charges will not keep us out of heaven. Our character will be cleared at the last day.

—Bishop J. C. Ryle.