Matthew 12 (and analogues)

[CThomas]

Hi. I was wondering if i might be able to get some help with a question posed to me by a friend. The question concerns Jesus's response to the Pharisees about Beelzebub casting out demons at Matthew 12:25 and other gospels where He says that a house divided against itself cannot stand, etc. My friend has a hard time understanding Jesus's point here. Is it not true, he asks, that it might be a clever and effective strategy for Beelzebub to lift up a false teacher of great prominence and power apparently against Satan's house, in order to dupe multitudes? That seems to be the suggestion made by the Pharisees. Is there a way to elucidate the logic of the Lord's response here in His suggestion that the Pharisees' charge is nonsensical or irrational, and not merely false?

Thanks, and best regards,

CThomas

[backwoodsman]

I've wondered the same thing. The key may be in the phrase, Jesus knew their thoughts. The answer may have more to do with what they didn't say, than what they did say.

[mikew]

The Pharisees were aware of Jesus being the Messiah. Yet we see an accusation that Jesus was acting on behalf of Beelzebub. In such accusation, the Pharisees would seek to have people judge Jesus as an evildoer and under the direction of an evil one.

Jesus will turn this accusation back on the Pharisees in v27. Are the Jewish exorcists to be judged differently? If the judgment of the Pharisees is ill-motivated, then the Pharisees are judged for their false accusations. Note that the Pharisees also are promoting teachings of a different religion through the mention of Beelzebub -- a cause for judgment as well.

In the first part of Jesus' response, a general principle regarding divisions was expressed. Divided kingdoms and cities would fall.

Next in Jesus' response that He brings the issue into a discussion on reality by identifying 'Beelzebub' with Satan. In making this connection, Jesus does not endorse the teachings of 'Beelzebub' but merely shows that 'Beelzebub' is loosely derived from ideas about Satan.

Jesus has said that "if Satan is divided against himself how shall his kingdom stand?" The main effect is to show that the healing of the blind and dumb person was good news when presented in the context of discussion of Satan or Beelzebub as defined by the Pharisees. (Its greater news when presented with the idea that the kingdom of God was upon them.)

A further implication arises in light of the proposal about the kingdom, namely that the Pharisees should have endorsed the healing of the blind and dumb. They should have recognized the closeness of the kingdom of God -- even in seeing Satan divided against himself.

The context therefore speaks against the idea that there was a plot of Satan presented or implied in the confrontation.