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And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters."
- Luke 11:14-23
In yesterday's reading, it happened as they went that Jesus entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." In between today's reading and the verses from yesterday, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, "Our Father in heaven."
And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." My study bible teaches us that Beelzebub was a pagan god, "derided by Jews as 'The Lord of the Flies.' Here it is a direct reference to Satan."
Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven. My study bible says that "a sign from heaven would be a spectacular miracle validating Jesus' authority. Jesus refused to do such a sign in His temptations in the wilderness by the devil, and He declines here as well."
But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub." As rulers and kings only rule through the strength and loyalty of their own houses, and fall when betrayed by inner strife or mutiny, then how could Satan's kingdom stand if demons were cast out by the ruler of the demons?
"And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges." Jesus is referring here to exorcisms which were a part of Jewish tradition. Jesus is telling them that if He is accused of using satanic power over demons, then those who cast out demons in Jewish tradition will be judges against His accusers as well.
"But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you." My study bible says that the finger of God is the Holy Spirit.
"When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters." Jesus gives an image of Himself as liberator, a spiritual liberator. He is the stronger man who overcomes, and takes away the armor of the evil one, and divides his spoils. The image is one of spiritual power and authority, a direct reference to the casting out of the demons that oppress and afflict human beings in the Gospels. My study bible says of the last sentence here, "This verse is seemingly the opposite of 9:50: 'He who is not against us is on our side.' Here however, the unique action of gathering or scattering in the issue: each person does one or the other."
My study bible's note about "gathering" or "scattering" rings home. In the Greek, the word for "gather" here is συνάγων/synagon. Its obvious relationship to the word synagogue, a place for spiritual assembly, tells us what Jesus is driving at. He's emphasizing His power in this realm of spiritual warfare, and the fact that He casts out demons by "the finger of God" or the Holy Spirit. As we look around in our world, we see a great deal to be concerned about. There is violence, dissension, misunderstanding, terrible crimes reported in the news, and all around us, people abusing their power -- people who victimize others. We ask ourselves why this is so. As believers, we ask ourselves why this is so. If we remember, we look back to our own Leader, who was also a victim of violence, of corruption, of envy. His power was not used to prevent His crucifixion. And I think we have to remember what kind of Liberator He is. Jesus invites each one of us to gather with Him. He welcomes us into His kingdom. But we come as volunteers. He doesn't compel any one of us to enter. He invites us. He welcomes us with love. It is the oppressive kingdom, the "ruler of the demons" who enters and occupies without consent. It is the demonic that bullies and scapegoats. Let us understand, then, what it means to be a part of God's kingdom, to be one of Christ's followers. It doesn't mean there is no longer evil in the world, nor that our lives will be free of encounters with evil, as was the case with the earliest apostles. Martyrdom was a byword for the early saints, as it is even in our time for believers in many parts of the world. But it does mean that we act and live in His name, our good works are done in His name, and every act of healing is a declaration of His power in the world when it is done in His name. "The finger of God" lives and dwells within us and among us, and it is up to us to be bearers of His light into the world. He invites us as loving volunteers, not conscripts. How do you join His assembly? What is your witness to His kingdom? We remember He told the Seventy, when they went upon their first mission, "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves." Let us gather with Him, and remember whose tradition we continue.
