June 13, 2018
Luke 11:14-28 New Living Translation (NLT)
We are tempted to fear many things in life, but Scripture teaches we are to, “Fear not.” In our passage today, Jesus is speaking to the scribes and religious teachers of the Law. They are accusing Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Satan. What is Christ’s response? He challenges his listeners to think about whether or not they are working with or against God.
Making sure we are working with God is a very big responsibility. If we know the Word, we know his heart. Then, Jesus reminds his listeners that only someone stronger than Satan could cast out his demons. Pause. Greater is he who is in us, than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Never forget Christ lives in believers. So, let’s put on our spiritual armor and guard our lives by putting the Word of God into practice. We have no one to fear if we choose to live God’s Word in Christ.
Luke 11:14-28 Jesus and the Prince of Demons
14 One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, 15 but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan,[a] the prince of demons.” 16 Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
17 He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 18 You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? 19 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 20 But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 21 For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— 22 until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.
23 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
24 “When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ 25 So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. 26 Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”
27 As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!”
28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your lessons on pleasing your heart and guarding mine against anything that would oppose you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.