Kingdom Clarity and Christ Compared (Luke 11:14-32)
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Kingdom Clarity (verses 14-28)
In response to the accusations that Jesus was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the chief authority over the demonic world (Satan himself), Jesus exposes the complete lack of logic in their argument. If Satan possessed the man and made him unable to speak, why would he then empower Christ to redeem him? Their unwillingness to believe Jesus leads them to reach absurd and illogical conclusions about Him. The truth is, Satan is strong; but Jesus is much stronger (verse 22). Though we look around and see Satan flexing his muscles, we also look up and see Christ Jesus seated on His throne as the victorious King, who will one day fully apply the victory that He has gained already. Jesus makes the clarification that there is no neutrality with Him (verse 23). It is interesting to note that in drawing a distinction between those who are for Christ and those who are against him, Jesus uses the case of demon possession. While an unbeliever might not be demon possessed, he is no more in Christ than the man who is. It doesn’t matter what the situation might be, if someone is not in Christ he is under the complete influence and power of Satan.
When people realize that there is no neutrality with Him, they often attempt to clean up their lives and get rid of the things that look demonic, or the things that don’t look like Christ (verses 24-26). They seek to be free from Satan’s overwhelming power. However, it is not Satan that disqualifies us from heaven; we disqualify ourselves. We are not only to seek to rid our lives of the wrong things, but also to fill our lives with the right things. Our life must not merely be decorated with an external façade of religion, but it must be filled with the vital power of true religion in our inner man, where God Himself dwells by His Spirit. There is no vacancy within our heart; someone is ruling our life. The most refined and clean life that lacks God’s presence is wide open to evil taking occupancy. In response to the woman’s statement regarding the blessedness of Jesus’ mother, he makes clear that the greatest blessing is not the result of kinship, but that instead it is available to and reserved for all who listen to Him and obey His Word.
– What are other Scripture passages that speak of all non-believers being under the influence of Satan? In what ways has Christ already demonstrated that He is stronger than Satan? In what ways has He yet to fully apply His victory over sin?
Christ Compared (verses 29-32)
Jesus refused to give another sign, since a great number of signs had already been given them, both in His own ministry, as well as in history. He points them back to two in particular.
The battle in Jonah’s heart was between the revealed will of God and his own desired will. Though he could not get away from the presence of God, he did all he could to get away from the will of God. While all of the providences seemed to open the door for Jonah to flee from God (there was a ship sailing that day, he had the money to get on board, etc.), none of those circumstances in any way confirmed that it was God’s desire for him to sail in that direction. We must not be guided by general providences if there is an unwillingness in us to be guided by the revealed will of God in His Word, and if His Word has not been the lamp to our feet. As Jonah’s spiritual decline spirals, God’s wrath is stirred and He hurls a great storm at Jonah. When it was determined that Jonah was the problem, the sailors then hurled Jonah into the sea. As a result, the wrath of the storm rests, but not without costs. The salvation of the others came because the wrath was absorbed in this one man. It is a remarkable glimpse into the work of Christ, the one Man who took on the wrath of God for the many, for sinners like us. In God’s incredible mercy, He sends a fish to rescue Jonah, and as a result the enemies of God’s people, the Ninevites, are saved through Jonah’s preaching. Jonah was thrown overboard for the salvation of his enemies, and the Son of God was crushed for the salvation of His enemies. Those enemies that repented and believed at the preaching of Jonah will stand in judgment against all those who hear the preaching of Jesus and refuse Him, who is much greater than Jonah.
Solomon was greater than all the kings of the earth, richer than anyone who has ever lived, and wiser than all, and all the earth was seeking to be in his presence and hear his wisdom. The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon from far away and made the great trek to visit him to see if the rumors were true. She was not disappointed by what she found! What she had heard about him was great, but not even the half of his greatness had been told her. She is an example of the future worship that the nations would offer to the coming King, who is even more inexplicable and incomprehensible than Solomon! The queen will rise up to condemn those who refuse to seek to know God now, because something much greater than Solomon has come. She had less truth and less privilege than we do, and yet she came. We have the wisdom of God in Christ. Light and privilege are not enough, but we must press on in seeking to know Him more.
– What lessons can we learn from the sign of Jonah? What about from the queen of Sheba? How should Jesus’ reference to each of them affect the way we read His Word and hear the Scriptures preached?