When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
– Matthew 12:24-25
These supposed religious leaders, the Pharisees, had seen the miracles Jesus performed and instead of recognizing him as one sent from God their thoughts carried them in the opposite direction. What kind of thinking would lead a person to call evil what is good?
The problem these men had was that if they admitted Jesus was who everyone was saying he was then they would be wrong about him and they would lose the respect of the people. They couldn’t allow that because their objective was not to lead people to God, but it was to secure their own place as a religious authority.
I have seen the same attitude in the religious world of today. Many of us have been raised with the belief system of a particular denomination, or if we weren’t raised that way we came to Christ in a particular church and we adopted their belief system. Our problem comes when we see someone who is not of our particular denomination manifesting miracles and great works in the name of Jesus.
We begin to think, just like the Pharisees, that these people must be of the devil because they are not acknowledging our particular belief system or doctrine. I know the process because I used to have those kinds of thoughts.
Jesus answered this line of thinking with a simple bit of logic. “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” (v25-26).
The Pharisees had thoughts that divide and we must be careful not to foster the same kind of thinking. Let us be careful lest we ascribe to darkness the good deeds of the light.
Rejoice in the works of others when Jesus is given the credit and God receives the glory, even if we don’t have complete doctrinal agreement.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to judge others in my thoughts just because they don’t understand everything just the way I do. In Jesus name, amen.
Principle: The Pharisees had thoughts that divide and we must be careful not to foster the same kind of thinking. Let us be careful lest we ascribe to darkness the good deeds of the light.
Affirmation: I have chosen to rejoice in the works of others in which Jesus is given the credit and God receives the glory, even if I don't have complete doctrinal agreement with them.
Reflection: Most of us have been guilty of discounting the works of others who are not in doctrinal agreement with us. That is human nature. But we are to rise above human nature and be guided by our new nature - the Christ nature in us. Rejoice in the good works of those you might not be in complete agreement with on doctrinal issues and give God the glory.
– Matthew 12:24-25
These supposed religious leaders, the Pharisees, had seen the miracles Jesus performed and instead of recognizing him as one sent from God their thoughts carried them in the opposite direction. What kind of thinking would lead a person to call evil what is good?
The problem these men had was that if they admitted Jesus was who everyone was saying he was then they would be wrong about him and they would lose the respect of the people. They couldn’t allow that because their objective was not to lead people to God, but it was to secure their own place as a religious authority.
I have seen the same attitude in the religious world of today. Many of us have been raised with the belief system of a particular denomination, or if we weren’t raised that way we came to Christ in a particular church and we adopted their belief system. Our problem comes when we see someone who is not of our particular denomination manifesting miracles and great works in the name of Jesus.
We begin to think, just like the Pharisees, that these people must be of the devil because they are not acknowledging our particular belief system or doctrine. I know the process because I used to have those kinds of thoughts.
Jesus answered this line of thinking with a simple bit of logic. “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” (v25-26).
The Pharisees had thoughts that divide and we must be careful not to foster the same kind of thinking. Let us be careful lest we ascribe to darkness the good deeds of the light.
Rejoice in the works of others when Jesus is given the credit and God receives the glory, even if we don’t have complete doctrinal agreement.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to judge others in my thoughts just because they don’t understand everything just the way I do. In Jesus name, amen.
Principle: The Pharisees had thoughts that divide and we must be careful not to foster the same kind of thinking. Let us be careful lest we ascribe to darkness the good deeds of the light.
Affirmation: I have chosen to rejoice in the works of others in which Jesus is given the credit and God receives the glory, even if I don't have complete doctrinal agreement with them.
Reflection: Most of us have been guilty of discounting the works of others who are not in doctrinal agreement with us. That is human nature. But we are to rise above human nature and be guided by our new nature - the Christ nature in us. Rejoice in the good works of those you might not be in complete agreement with on doctrinal issues and give God the glory.
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