Opposition of Pharisees. Miracles. Pharisees - Condemnation. Kindred.
Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day
(See Luke 6:1)
through the corn; and His disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat.
(This is a pretty common thing. When you go along without food for awhile, you get hungry.)
2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto Him, "Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day."
(According to them, not God.
Notice it is these self-righteous Pharisees that came to Jesus, to give the report as to what God's law says. The law gets a bad reputation because of ignorance down through the years. The law is very good, but it isn't worth anything when you leave another ingredient out of it's application.)
3 But He said unto them, "Have ye not read
(This question was asked by the Lord on 6 different occasions, and refereed to 7 different books of the O.T., and to 10 different passages)
what David did,
(Ref. to 1 Sam. 21:6)
when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;
4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread,
(See Ex. 25:30. Lev. 24:5-8)
which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?
(Lev. 24:9. Priests work on the sabbath! In Christ we have more than a priest.
When David did this, it also wasn't lawful for David or his men also to eat the shewbread. The ingredient that was missing by the Pharisees, is "common sense". When common sense is applied to the law then it is good, and can be properly applied.
One hundred percent of understanding and applying God's law, must be good old common sense that God gave to each of us, if we will but use it.)
5 Or have ye not read in the law,
(Cp. Num. 28:9,10)
how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?
(The Sabbath day was the busiest day for the priests, for their work was to be done on the Sabbath day, for that is the day of the sacrifices. On that day their duties caused them to break that laws dealing with the Sabbath day, however, they were compelled to do their duties. Common sense tells us that the profane actions of the priest were not a violation of the law. "Profane" in the Greek text means to take something of the Temple, or of God, and treat it as common, or not of the Lord.
Jesus asks these Pharisees, was David not a priest in the eyes of God, and doing His work? David and His men were fighting against ungodly people. The mind of the Pharisee is very common to what we are seeing today in the minds of the environmentalist. They make laws that do not apply in the following of common sense. The things they say about the laws are either not true, or taken out of context. The laws that they respect are not given for the sake of mankind and their well being, but only to advance the control over those that will allow these Pharisee environmentalists to rule over them. This is the type of narrow minded people that were trying to blame our Lord Jesus Christ.)
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.
(The Savior was standing before them, they can't get away with it. Cp. v.41, a greater prophet; and v.42, a greater king; who can be only God Himself.)
7 But if ye had known what this meaneth, 'I will have mercy, and not sacrifice,' ye would not have condemned the guiltless.'
(Quoted from Hos. 6:6.)
8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day."
(As the Son of man. Cp. v.6, Lord of the Temple as the Son of God. See 4:6. 1 John 1:7-11. He is your rest!
This is the proclamation by Jesus Christ that He is The Messiah, the Christ, and the promised Redeemer. The "Lord even of the Sabbath" is the Almighty God, and He is the creator of all things, even the Sabbaths. Jesus is reminding these Pharisees that this is who He is. Do you accept that? If you do, then you are one of Christ's; and if you don't, then you're lost.
Jesus is telling them that what His disciples are doing on this day is legal, and if they had any common sense, they would understand it. Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath, and the Sabbath was made for man and not God, then if you have Christ in you, and the Holy Spirit, you would see that the whole purpose of that Sabbath is to be about Christ's business.)
9-13. MIRACLES.
9,10-. Withered hand.
-10-. Question of the enemies.
-10. Purpose. Accusation.
11,12. Questions of the Lord.
13. Withered hand.
9 And when He was departed thence, He went into their synagogue:
(Probably inhabitants of Tiberias. For, in Mark 3:6, the Pharisees conferred with Herodians, so that the Lord was in Herod's jurisdiction.)
10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days?"
(This was the 1st of 7 miracles worked on the sabbath. See Mark 1:21-31. Luke 13:11; 14:2. John 5:8,9; 9:14.)
that they might accuse Him.
11 And He said unto them, "What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
(The condition is hypothetical.
Jesus is pointing out just how sensitive they were to animals. People are real sensitive to animals, and Jesus could be directing this to the common environmentalist of today. However common sense tells you to help the little creatures out when they are in trouble.)
12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days."
(When you are resting in Christ, you are able to do more on the Sabbath. Like it was pointed out earlier, if you are one of Christ's disciples, or learners, then in fact, you are one of His priests, just as David and his men were, eating the shewbread of the priests.
If it is lawful for one of the priests to take the shewbread on the Sabbath, then it is also lawful of one of His elect. The reason for this is that when we are in Christ, all days are our Sabbaths.)
13 Then saith he to the man, "Stretch forth thine hand." And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
12:14-50. EFFECTS.
14. Proposed destruction of the Lord by enemies.
15-21. The Word of God. Fulfilled.
22. Miracle (demoniac) wrought.
23-37. Miracle. Consequences.
38-45. The Word of God. Better than a sign.
46-50. Kindred.
14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against Him, how they might destroy Him.
(These Pharisees are a real tribe of satanic minds. When they saw the healing of this man with the withered hand, they went right out and started planning, [by way of their own council], to kill Christ. This would make them murders, for their council had planned beforehand to do a criminal act, against Jesus. Down through the centuries, there have been more acts of killing for a religious cause, then any other singular cause, except for natural death.)
15 But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew Himself from thence: and great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all;
(This is exactly the reason why they wanted to kill Jesus. He was doing good workS they weren't capable of doing.)
16 And charged them that they should not make Him known:
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,
(Quoting from Isa. 42:1-4. From the Hebrew dialect; but the last clause differs, because the Holy Spirit is recording the act of fulfillment, and varying it by way of Divine comment.)
18 "Behold My servant, whom I have chosen; My beloved, in whom My soul is well pleased: I will put My spirit upon Him, and He shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.
(This is the Father speaking of the Son. Wherever the Father and the Son are, the Holy Spirit is also present.
God poured His Spirit out upon Jesus and His work on earth began. The Gentiles are the nations of the earth. With Jesus Christ's death on the cross, His judgment or righteousness was shown to all peoples and nations of the earth.)
19 He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear His voice in the streets.
(Jesus walked right into the church to make His declaration. That is where the Pharisees would be found.
When you hear Jesus in the streets it will be with firmness and authority, and it will be in love.)
20 A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, till He send forth judgment unto victory.
(What was before hidden, as in v.35 and 13:52. Cp. Deut. 32:34.
When a reed is bruised it just falls apart, and can never be healed again or put back together. When ones life is so broken that you think that there is no hope, Christ will take that life, and restore it.
What is this "smoking flax" that is spoken of here? Remember the old oil burning lamps, and the wicks that they used. It struck up with lots of body, and burned bright, however when it was cold, and you touched it, it fell apart into dust. It had no strength. Christ can take those lives that are stretched and burned out to the point of falling apart, and build the strength back into it.
It is saying that God can trim that wick to put forth a much brighter light, without ever putting out the light. When you feel that you are all burned out from the pressures of the world, Christ can restore your life, and give you a new beginning. When you call out to Him, He is there with His gentle voice, ready to forgive, and set you in the right path.)
21 And in His name shall the Gentiles trust."
(A bruised reed is just barely hanging on. Have you ever been at a point in your life that you were barely hanging on? Jesus can heal broken bodies and broken heart. He can trim your wick to make your life brighter without ever quenching the flame, if you don't try to quench the Holy Spirit. Give yourself to Him. Jesus was quoting Isaiah. When Jesus quotes Scripture in the Old Testament, you always want to check it out. See Isaiah 42:1.)
22 Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
(Can you see why this healing follows the the parable of the flax, and the bruised reed? There are many in this world that are filled with the evil spirits of this world, that can not see nor hear nor see the things concerning Christ. They can't see the truths of the scriptures, for they do not have the "key of David" in them, and they are living in sin and drugs, and all sorts of evil that is becoming common to the worldly mind.
When Jesus touches and heals that soul, they can both see the truths and know the truth, and speak the truth. At that point, the Spirit of God is what fills that heart and mind, and not the spirits of this world. That is why this report follows the parable of the bruised. Jesus can make the change in the heart and soul of a person, regardless of how damaged that soul has become.
When we come to an understanding of the teachings of Christ, we can see the beautiful things that He can bring into our lives. Christ does make a difference, and He can turn things around and take your heavy burdens and lighten your load of the pressures of this everyday world. There is not a single man in this world that can do this for you, for only Christ can take that heavy burden away, He is your Heavenly Father.)
23-37. MIRACLE. CONSEQUENCES.
23. People. Amazement.
24-37. Pharisees.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, "Is not this the son of David?"
(When the people saw who Jesus Christ had taken this poor broken man and made him well instantly, they were amazed, and were starting to put things together.) 24-37. PHARISEES. BLASPHEMY.
24-30. Confutation.
31-37. Condemnation.
24-30. CONFUTATION.
24-26. Illustration. Divided kingdom.
27,28. Application.
29. Illustration. Strong man's house.
30. Application.
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."
(See also 10:25.
These Pharisees in most cases were Kenites, those priests that were from the Nethinims that crept into the Levitical priesthood in Ezra's day, and dominated the duties that were set aside by God, for the sons of Aaron. The Pharisees knew that Jesus was not of the devil, for they know the works of their father Satan, through Cain, and healing was not one of those works.
This action of the Pharisees is very common today, for when a ministry that does teach the truth comes along, and point out the errors in the traditions of men, the religious world tares into them just as the Pharisees of old tore into Christ. They lie, and start the rumors, and even plot to end that ministry. There have been attacks where church leaders have assisted the government agencies to support lies, and give assistance to bring one of God's ministries down. This Kenite mind is very much alive today, both in and out of the church world.
The sword of God will do it's work, and in these final days the Spirit of the Living God, the Holy Spirit is coming forth, and lives are being saved in spite of the movement to quench it.)
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
(Denominationalism means divisions. A house divided against itself cannot stand.)
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children
(I.e. the Pharisees' disciples. The Pharisees believed in and practiced exorcism. Cp. Acts 19:13)
cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
(Those Kenites knew who they were and who Christ was, that is why the conflict exists in the first place. Jesus is saying for them to go to their own people and ask the question, for if Christ be of the devil, then He became one of them, and that was not acceptable, for they wanted nothing to do with God, or things of Christ.
Remember, the mind of the Kenite is to protect their father Satan, who in the next chapter is documented as such, through the sexual relations with Eve in the Garden of Eden.
By what power do you cast out demons today? Do they stay gone, and depart for the holding place of demons, or do they hang around? What Jesus is calling the Kenite Pharisees attention to was the fact that they did not cast out devils, for they were of the Devil themselves. They have murder and destruction in their hearts that cannot stand the truth.)
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit
(Gr. Pneuma, put for Divine power. In Luke 11:20 God's "finger" put for the power exercised by it. So in Ex.8:19)
of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
(In other words, the house is the body of the man that Christ cleansed. Jesus cast out the dumb and blind spirit from that house, or man's body. Satan wanted to keep that individual blind and dumb, and we have seen that some of the greatest workers for God, are those that have been at the bottom, and then having seen the light, come out of their sin. They have experienced the hardships that Satan can bring upon somebody, and then they were cleansed to where they could hear, and speak the Word of God; and they become great ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
What Jesus is saying, is that if Satan saw what would happen when the blind and dumb were healed, he would have kept them in their broken condition. But I, the Kingdom of God, cast those devils from him, and now he has the light.)
30 He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad.
(This is how you tell the houses apart, whether they are of Satan, or of Christ. If your are in God's Word, then you can understand the flow of the plan of God, and the Spirit of that understanding will let you know if the work is of God or of Satan. If the teaching, or the words follow the plan of God, then you know that it is of God, and that person is true. You can't have it two ways; you are either for God, or against Him. Any twisting of God's Word, is what Satan does.
It doesn't matter what church a man goes to if they are in God's Word, and studying chapter by chapter, and verse by verse to get the entire Word in its context. To have the truths that Jesus taught, it should also be explained in terms that the lay person can understand. The purpose of the teaching is to give all men and women the hope and life that only Jesus can give. That is what Christianity is all about. It is the reality of changing lives, and changing them for the better. There is only one Christ, and His battle is against Satan.)
31-37. CONDEMNATION.
31,32. Words. Forgiven and unforgiven.
33. Illustration. Trees.
34-. Expostulation.
-34. Reason.
35. Illustration. Characters.
36,37. Words. Justified and condemned.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven unto men.
(This sin is spoken of in Mark 13:11; "But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought before hand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye, for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.")
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
(You can call Jesus Christ what ever you want to, and even deny Christ before men, and upon repentance that act of sin will be forgiven of you. When the Holy Spirit of God wishes to use you, Jesus is warning you against not allowing Him to use your mouth, for He will do the thinking, and do the premeditating for you. When Christ healed the blind and dumb man, he both saw Christ, and spoke of Him. He spoke of the good news that Christ brought to him. This denying of the Holy Spirit then, is the unforgivable sin that only God's elect can commit.)
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
(Jesus Christ is telling us that before we follow some man, check out his fruit. What does he talk about, and what are his main topics of conversation. Are they of God, or of the world. Observe that preacher, and learn to discern, and the standard is whether or not it checks out with the overall plan of God.)
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
(Jesus is telling them that what they speak of, is what is in their heart, and that is what is in their mind. What they speak is what comes from their father the devil. Jesus calls them a "generation of vipers", or snakes, because that is the role of their physical father Cain, the offspring of the affair between Eve and Satan. Satan is the serpent in the Garden of Eden. We will get into this, in Matthew thirteen.
The Kenites speak of evil because that is what is in their heart, however upon repentance they become one of the children of God, and they are just as clean in their heart as any other part of the body of Christ.)
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
(The man is inside exactly what is coming out of his mouth, and the deeds that he is doing. What he holds dear in the physical life is the reflection of the man's heart, and what is in his mind.)
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
(This applies directly to those that claim to teach the Word of God, only instead of giving forth the truth of God's Word, they preached the traditions of men and false doctrines. They will be held accountable for all the sins committed when they spoke of things that were not in God's Word, and presented them in God's name. Every idle word is accountable.
When one does this in ignorance, and then comes to the knowledge of his deeds, and repents, then these words are forgiven. When you say, the Lord saith, and He did not, that is what you will be judged upon.)
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
("Words" are reckoned as deeds [2 Cor. 5:10].
Whether you go to Heaven or are condemned to hell, it will be done by the words and deeds that you have committed. You have the choice of the path that you will take, and that choice will either save, or condemn you.)
38-45. THE WORD OF GOD. BETTER THAN A SIGN.
38-40. Sign given. Asked for. (Historic.)
41,42. Application.
43-45-. Sign given. Unasked. (Experimental.)
-45. Application.
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, "Master, we would see a sign from Thee."
(The first of 6 "signs" asked for. Cp. 16:1; 24:3. Luke 11:16. John 2:18; 6:30.
They call him "Master", or teacher, and they will not believe any of His teachings. They still want a sign. All men will be judged, and if your words are truth, then your judgment brings rewards and blessings to you.
The point that is made here is there are some people that you just can not show the truth to. Even when they have seen with their own eyes, they just won't believe, there minds and hearts are closed.)
39 But He answered and said unto them, "An evil and adulterous generation
(Spiritually. See Jer. 3:9. Ezek. 23:37, &c.)
seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
(The word "Jonas" in the Hebrew tongue means "the dove". It points to the warmth of the dove, in love and understanding. Spiritually the dove is the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came down and rested upon Him, and a voice came down from heaven saying, "This is My Son in whom I am well pleased."
What is this sign of Jonas the prophet, that Jesus told these scribes and Pharisees would be there only sign?)
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; (Quoted from Jonah 1:17.)
so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
(i.e. the sepulcher, or tomb, 27:60. Mark 15:46. Luke 23:53. John 19:40. Acts 13:29. Its a figure of speech = the midst, or "in". See Ex. 15:8. Ps. 46:2. 2 Sam. 18:14. Deut. 4:11. In any case it is not "the center", any more than the heart is in the center of the body, instead of near the top. We are to conclude that the Lord establishes "the literal validity of the history of Jonah", inasmuch as He spoke "not His own words but only the words of the Father" [see John 7:16; 8:28,46,47; 12:49; 14:10,24; 17:8]; so that the assertions of modern critics are perilously near blasphemy against God Himself.)
The fact that "three days" is used by Hebrew idiom for any part of three days and three nights is not disputed; because that was the common way of reckoning, just as it was when used of years. Three or any number of years was used inclusively of any part of those years was used inclusively of any part of those years, as may be seen in the reckoning of the reigns of any of the kings of Israel or Judah.
But, when the number of "nights" is stated as well as the number of "days", then the expression ceases to be an idiom, and becomes a literal statement of fact.
Moreover, as the Hebrew day began at sunset the day was reckoned from one sunset to another, the "twelve hours in the day" (John 11:9) being reckoned from sunrise, and the twelve hours of the night from sunset. An evening-morning was thus used for a whole day of twenty-four hours, as in the first chapter of Genesis. Hence the expression "a night and a day" in 2Cor. 11:25 denotes a complete day (Gr. nuchthemeron).
When Esther says (Est. 4:16) "fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days", she defines her meaning as being three complete days, because she adds (being a Jewess) "night or day". And when it is written that the fast ended on "the third day" (5:1), "the third day" must have succeeded and included the third night.
In like manner the sacred record states that the young man (in 1Sam. 30:12) "had eaten no bread, nor drunk any water, three days and three nights". Hence, when the young man explains the reason, he says, "because three days agone I fell sick". He means therefore three complete days and nights, because, being an Egyptian (vv. 11, 13) he naturally reckoned his day as beginning at sunrise according to the Egyptian manner (see Encycl. Brit., 11th (Cambridge) ed., vol. xi. p. 77). His "three days agone" refers to the beginning of his sickness and includes the whole period, giving the reason for his having gone without food during the whole period stated.
Hence, when it says that "Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights" (Jonah 1:17) it means exactly what it says, and that this can be the only meaning of the expression in Matt. 12:40; 16:4. Luke 11:30, is shown in.
In the expression, "the heart of the earth" (Matt. 12:40), the meaning is the same as "the heart of the sea", "heart" being put by the Fig. Metonymy (of the Subject), Ap. 6 for "the midst", and is frequently so translated. See Ps. 46:2. Jer. 51:1. Ezek. 27:4, 25, 26, 27; 28:2. It is used of ships when sailing "in the heart of the seas", i.e. in or on the sea. See Ezek. 27:25, 26; 28:8; also of people dwelling in the heart of the seas, i.e. on islands (Ezek. 28:2). Jonah uses the Heb. beten (= womb) in the same way (2.2).
41,42. Application.
41-. Persons. Ninevites ("rise").
-41-. Reason. Proclamation of Jonah.
-41. Greater reason.
42-. Person. Queen of the south ("rise").
-42-. Reason. Wisdom of Solomon.
-42. Greater reason.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation,
(Cp. Ps. 1:5)
and shall condemn it: because they repented
(The last mention of repentance in Matthew)
at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
(The very Son of God, Himself came to preach to the people of Judah, and these religious leaders refused to hear or believe in what He had to say. Jesus said because of the rejection they gave to Christ, the men of Nineveh were going to be the ones to judge these scribes and Pharisees. In that judgment, the Jews and Kenites will be found guilty, and condemned. The people of Nineveh heard Jonah's preaching, and they were convicted and repented, they were made righteous before God.)
42 The queen of the south shall rise
(In resurrection)
up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came
(See 1 Kings 10:1, &c.)
from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
(See v.6.
When she was in that far off kingdom, the Queen of Sheba heard of the wisdom of God that Solomon was preaching, and she knew the value of it. She brought great wealth to Solomon, and with her, the Navy of Hiram to bring the gold and precious trees, and and the wealth of stones to pay for the wisdom. She knew the value of the teachings of Christ through Solomon, and she repented, and sought the truths of Solomon from God.
Jesus is saying that even this converted heathen queen will stand in judgment of this generation that crucified our Lord.
Friend, this can apply also to today, for the religious community again is turning their backs on the Word of God, the Wisdom of Solomon, and taking up the traditions of old. The Kenites were blind and dumb to it, and in large part so are many of those leading the church today. God will have His elect, and they will see and understand, for the Holy Spirit will reveal the Word to them. This generation will also be judged; How will those men of Nineveh judge you?)
43-45-. SIGNS GIVEN. UNASKED.
43-. The going out of the unclean spirit.
-43. Action. Seeking rest.
44-. Return. Proposed.
-44. Condition of house.
45-. The going out of the unclean spirit.
-45-. Action. Seeking other spirits.
-45-. Return. Effected.
-45. Condition of the house.
43 When
(Introducing the allegory)
the unclean spirit is gone
(If of its own accord, it has gone out, it returns [v.44]. But not when it is "bound" and cast out, as in v.29)
out
(Temporarily, as at the proclamation of John)
of a man, he walketh through dry places,
(I.e. were no human beings are)
seeking rest, and findeth none."
(Has no respite)
44 Then he saith, 'I will return into my house from whence I came out;' and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
(What this is saying, is that some Christian came along and planted a seed in the mind of a sinner, and then left a little of the milk of the Word with him, and left. Shortly this man that was saved had nothing to sustain himself with from God's Word, and turned back to the things that he was saved out of. This evil spirit continues to say that he will return to that same person, and will enter right back into him, and he will be received.
When you plant the seed of God's truth, and that person is converted, do you leave him alone, or do you put the meat of the word into His mind so that he has something to stand against the evil spirits?)
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself,
(Showing that there are degrees of wickedness among spirits and demons. See 17:21. Acts 16:16,17, &c.)
and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
(See Dan. 9:27; 11:21,23,&c. Rev. 13; and Cp. John 5:43)
Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation."
(See 11:16. Mark 13:30. Luke 21:32. Acts 2:40.
This applies to the generation we are now in, as well as that of Christ's time. In the first influx of the Nephilim [fallen angels], that is to say the seven unclean spirits, for there are seven thousand of them, just as there are seven thousand of the elect; and the documentation of this is found in Revelation 11. For those seven thousand unclean spirits shall die in the streets of Jerusalem, when the two witness rise from the dead.
Those unclean spirits shall come back a second time with many more unclean spirits, when Satan is booted out of heaven, and all the evil spirits are booted out with him. The second influx of demons will be far worse then the first, for this will be a time that the world has never seen before, and the minds of the men on earth will be sealed by God, and then you will either have the marking [seal] of God, or you will have taken the mark of the beast.
Jesus told us in Matthew 24:36; "But as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." In the days of Noah, the fallen angels came to earth and intermarried with with the daughters of man. They were marring and taking in marriage with mankind and the entire world was infested with these evil beings. Friend, Jesus is telling you that that is exactly how it will be when He comes again. Christians will be intermarry in a spiritual and physical sense, with these evil angels, thinking they are the people of God.
You will see this come to pass before you see our Lord Jesus Christ coming back to earth. This will happen in this last generation, and we had better be aware of it and not caught off guard. In Matthew 24:40 says; "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left." The first one that is taken is taken by the Antichrist, and his evil angels, which the one remaining in the field is the one that is faithful to God to the end.
Better than ninety percent of the churches today teach that it is alright to be taken in adultery to the first christ to come, through their rapture doctrine. That Christ is the Antichrist. They find bliss in their ignorance, as they follow their traditions of men.)
46-50. KINDRED.
46. Mother and brethren. (Natural.) "Without".
47. Their will. Reported (Mark 3:21-31).
48. The Lord's question.
49. Mother and brethren. (Spiritual.) "Within".
50. God's will. Declared.
46 While He yet talked to the people, behold, His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak with Him.
47 Then one said unto Him, "Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee."
48 But He answered and said unto him that told Him, "Who is My mother? and who are My brethren?"
(Jesus was not belittling His mother, or His earthly family; He is stating that He came to this world to minister to all the people.)
49 And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, "Behold my mother and my brethren!
(This is as it is in the family of God, and many times you become closer and find more love in the family of God, then within your earthly family. They are your true brethren, and this bonding of the true brethren will become even stronger, as we come closer to the times of the end, of this generation.)
50 For whosoever shall do the will of My Father Which is in heaven, the same is My brother, and sister, and mother."
(God is the Father of all, and His will is written in His Word. Jesus is stating, If you want to be in His family, joint heirs with Jesus Christ in His heavenly kingdom, you will learn what is in His Fathers will and do it. God created all souls, and called them His children, however sin has separated our Heavenly Father from His children. Because of sin, our Heavenly Father wrote a plan in the heavens [constellations], and sent His Son to fulfill that plan, and it is written in His written Word. This Word, is God's will and Testament that exists in two parts. Those parts are called the Old and the New Testaments. They are "the will of God".
Jesus is telling us that to become a member of the family of God, and Joint heirs with Christ in His kingdom, we must do the deeds that are written in God's will [the Bible]. That is the only way. That way starts when you see yourself as a sinner against God, and repent, You must believe in Jesus, and turn from your sinful ways to do this, for it is only through Christ blood that God the Father will forgive you.)