2. His answer is given in PARABLES, vv. 23-27; Psalms 49:4, “I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp.”
a. He called the Jerusalem scribes to Himself as one desirous that they should be convinced and asked, “How can Satan cast out Satan?” v. 23.
b. If Satan was divided against himself, his kingdom could not stand, vv. 24-26; James 3:16, “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
1) The strong man is Satan or devils, v. 27; Isaiah 49:24, “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?”
2) The house is the poor sinner who is possessed.
3) Christ binds the strong man. v. 27; Isaiah 49:25, “But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”
3. The awesome sin, vv. 28-30.
a. They committed this UNFORGIVABLE sin by saying that Jesus did His work by the POWER of an UNCLEAN SPIRIT.
b. They saw His person and His work, yet they BELIEVED NOT.
c. A saved person is SEALED and CANNOT COMMIT THIS SIN, Ephesians 1:13, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED unto the day of redemption.”
d. This passage is not a refuge for the Charismatics, tongues speakers, and snake handlers.
1) They are FAKERS, FALSE TEACHERS, and HERETICS and are NOT doing the work of God at all.
2) It was a SIN to ATTRIBUTE the true work of the Holy Spirit TO SATAN.
3) IS IT NOT ALSO A SIN of the same magnitude TO DO SATAN’S WORK and THEN ATTRIBUTE THAT WORK TO THE HOLY SPIRIT?
B. Jesus Changes Relationships, vv. 31-35
1. His mother and half brothers were outside calling Him, vs. 31-32.
a. Friends had tried to hinder Him in v. 21.
Note: “Not his spiritual friends, his disciples and followers, that believed in him; but his kinsmen, …who were so according to the flesh; when they heard where he was, and what a crowd was about him, so that he could not so much as take the necessaries of life for his refreshment and support.” —John Gill’s Expositor.
b. Now His own fleshly relatives are there to hinder, whether they meant to do so or not.
Note: “A pathetic picture of the mother and brothers standing on the outside of the house thinking that Jesus inside is beside himself and wanting to take him home. They were crowded out.” —A. T. Robertson’s Word Picture of the New Testament.
2. Spiritual relationship is more important than physical relationship, vs. 33-35; Luke 2:49, “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”
3. Our DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES to Christ and His church are NOT TO BE NEGLECTED, just TO PLEASE FAMILY members. Many Baptists do not seem to understand this.