This observation of grain plucking began the argument, then Matthew says, "He went to their synagogue." I expect he went looking for a fight. It was his design to continue this conflict, not theirs, even though they brought the man with the withered hand and intended to fight.
A bruised reed he won't break and a smoldering wick he won't snuff out. I love that!
When accused of casting out demons by Beelzebub Jesus uses four lines of argument to refute them:
- "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
- Your sons cast out demons. How do they do it?
- If I cast out demons by the Holy Spirit then the kingdom of God has come. (This is the heart of the issue).
- Bind the strong man, then plunder his house.
2 comments:
It seems incredible to me that anyone could react to the miracles that Jesus performed in the way that the Pharisees did. Why wouldn't you be happy for someone who could see and speak after years of being deaf and dumb? This passage just goes to show that the Pharisees weren't children of God.
Does anyone know what verses 31 & 32 mean? What is this unforgivable sin, this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
Speaking against the Holy Spirit is equivalent to rejecting Christ with such a finality that no future repentance is possible. Speaking against the Son of Man might be due to a failure to recognize Him for what He is or who He is. Paul in his pre-Christian days thought it was his duty to oppose the name of Jesus and did everything in his power to impede the gospel, but if, having seen the light on the Damascus road he had deliberately closed his eyes to it and fought against that which was directing him into the true light that would have been the sin against the Holy Spirit. "Anyone who rejects the Holy Spirit's convicting influence and does not repent will not be forgiven, 'neither in this world, neither in the world to come' (Matt 12:32) This is what I believe the passage is meaning.
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