14. Casting out of the Dumb and Blind Spirit
I. OBSERVATION
A. Passage Selected: Luke 11:14-26
Also in Matt 12:22-32 and Mark 3:22-30
B. Progression Stated: Logical
The effect of the miracle on the audience is the emphasis.
C. Presentation Summarized:
1. Context
In Matt 12:9-17 Jesus healed the man with the withered hand and the pharisees were upset because He healed on the sabbath. Then Matthew quotes from Isa 42:1 in which Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would minister to the Gentiles. This prediction is related to the pharisees reaction to the healing of the man on the Sabbath, but I think it is primarily setting us up for what follows – the miracle we are studying now.
This miracle is extremely important because it is the turning point in the ministry of Jesus. After this miracle He begins to focus more attention on the Gentiles.
2. Content
a. Revelation of the miracle (14a)
The demon was characterized by its effect on the man. Luke mentions that the demon caused speech impairment. If the Matthew account is the same one, we see he was also blind. I think they are the same because the reaction of the religious leaders is the same in both miracles and Jesus’ words are very similar in the following comments.
b. Reaction to the miracle (14b-16)
(1) Marveling
According to both Luke and Matthew the crowds were amazed. People openly question whether or not this is the Messiah. Their questions force the religious leaders to decide or at least voice their already formed opinions. And the fact that the common people are close to accepting Jesus as their Messiah leaves the Jewish leaders with less of an excuse for their response to Jesus and much culpability for leading the common people to hell.
(2) Muttering
The Pharisees reaction is that Jesus gets his power from Beelzebul. In Philistia Baal ze bul meant Lord of the flies. The Jews began to use this term as a derogatory name for Satan. So they are saying that Jesus is casting out demons by the power of Satan.
(3) Mandating
Others ask for a sign from heaven. How could they? Jesus has shown his power and authority over every single sphere possible and this latest miracle was a miracle over the spiritual realm. That seems to me to be as close a sign from heaven as possible.
c. Response to the reaction of the miracle (17-26)
3. Conclusion
No other sign would be given except the sign of Jonah. What does this mean? We have at least 20 more recorded miracles that we are going to study. Weren’t those signs?
From here on out, the miracles are really repeats of earlier miracles, with just different contexts. When he says in Luke 11:29 that no other sign would be given, that doesn’t mean no more miracles would take place. It means that no new type of miracle would occur. There is one remaining sign that hasn’t been performed. He has dealt with death, disease, the demonic, nature (fish), etc. The only sign left is the sign of his own resurrection.
Also, in the context of Matthew’s gospel, what follows this is Jesus begins speaking in parables. Matthew 13:10f says why. He speaks in parables to obfuscate the message for those who don’t want to hear. If you are hungy and listen, you can understand. Otherwise, they just sound like nice stories.
This is the turning point in the ministry of Jesus. From this point on He is secretive in Jewish territory and very vocal in Gentile territory. Prior to this (Matt 10:5f) he had told his disciples not to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans.
Structure of Matthew | |||||
5-7 |
10 |
11-12 |
13 |
14-19 |
20-25 |
Sermon on Mt |
Lost of Israel |
Rejection by |
Parables |
Discipleship Miracles |
Olivet |
Kingdom Ethic |
No Gentiles |
Mystery of Kingdom |
Preparing Disciples The Church |
Israel rejected 2nd Coming Tribulation |
II. INTERPRETATION
III. APPLICATIONS
Related Topics: Miracles