A House Divided Cannot Stand
October 21, 2021
Commentary
After seeing Jesus cast out a demon, He was accused by some of doing it in Satan’s power. They even said that He was possessed by Satan himself (vv. 14-16).
Jesus answered their charges with two basic arguments:
- Their accusation was illogical – It would be ridiculous for Satan to drive out his own demons. Why would he fight against himself (vv. 17-18)?
- Their accusation was really an admission of His power – When their followers drove out demons they claimed it was done by the power of God. Since Jesus cast out demons it too must be done by His power (vv. 19-20).
Jesus then gives them a parable of a strong man and a stronger man. It seems that the strong man refers to Satan and the stronger man to Christ (vv. 21-22). The point is that Jesus, the stronger one, has the right to divide the spoils, or in this case to cast out devils. Jesus goes on to state that it is impossible to be neutral in the battle between Christ and Satan. We must make a choice, and if we choose to make no choice, we are really choosing against Christ. He illustrated this by telling the story of the man and the demon (vv. 23-26). He was illustrating an unfortunate human tendency. Our desire to reform often does not last long. It is not enough to be emptied of evil; we must then be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s new purpose.
Application
This parable shows the battle going on between God and Satan. It points out what will happen to me if I try to remain neutral.
Luke 11:14– 26 (NET)
14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the man who had been mute began to speak, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, he casts out demons!” 16 Others, to test him, began asking for a sign from heaven. 17 But Jesus, realizing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and a divided household falls. 18 So if Satan too is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? I ask you this because you claim that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are safe. 22 But when a stronger man attacks and conquers him, he takes away the first man’s armor on which the man relied and divides up his plunder. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
24 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it passes through waterless places looking for rest but not finding any. Then it says, ‘I will return to the home I left.’ 25 When it returns, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there, so the last state of that person is worse than the first.”