20 Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21 When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” 23 And he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Prayer Focus: We like to think of Jesus as being all about love and being well liked. How could he be controversial? But apparently even his family was worried about the stir he was causing. He is accused of being crazy and being aligned with Beelzebul. Jesus’ response is that the kingdom of God is breaking forth, and he cannot be working for it and against it at the same time. Some see the image of binding the strong man as a key illustration of Jesus’ ministry. He is overthrowing the powers of the world with his teaching and healing by the power of the Spirit. Pray that you might join this spirit filled effort today.
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