In The Word
Read: Luke 11:14-36
Pharisees’ Blasphemy
14 And He was casting out a mute demon; when the demon had gone out, the man who was previously unable to speak talked, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out the demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. 17 But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. 18 And if Satan also has been divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you claim that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. 19 Yet if by Beelzebul I cast out the demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges.20 But if I cast out the demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are secure. 22 But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, that man takes away his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. 23 The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.
24 “When the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it then says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they come in and live there; and the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first.”
27 While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that carried You, and the breasts at which You nursed!” 28 But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and follow it.”
The Sign of Jonah
29 Now as the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it demands a sign, and so no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 The Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation at the judgment and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.35 So watch out that the light in you is not darkness. 36 Therefore if your whole body is full of light, without any dark part, it will be wholly illuminated, as when the lamp illuminates you with its light.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Today’s passage opens with Yeshua casting out a demon. Although the onlookers were amazed by Him, many of them ridiculed Him for His actions. Instead of celebrating the fact that the mute man spoke, many people complained. Some said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons,” (Luke 11:15) while others demanded a sign. Despite the many opinions, the Messiah never got distracted by the negative criticism.
Yeshua understood His purpose so well that He did not let the opinions of others sway or deter Him from accomplishing His task. He could have easily become frustrated with the perception of those who witnessed the miracles done by His hand, but He chose to use their negativity as a positive teaching opportunity. He began to address His critics by explaining that “a kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls” (Luke 11:17). He further explained that “anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me” (Luke 11:23)
Although the people around Him did not understand, Yeshua knew He was called to be the light of the world, so He did not allow a moment of temporary criticism to pull Him off course. The same should go for your life. There will be those around you who do not understand why you have chosen to walk in God’s calling. They will disapprove of and interrogate you just as they did our Savior. Do not give in to the judgement of the world, so that His light will shine through you.