And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub.
Scribes-a literal knowledge of Scripture vain
These men were learned in the law of Moses, having great knowledge and skill in the letter of it; and yet they were wicked men, and blasphemers of Christ. How vain a thing it is, then, for any to glory in their literal knowledge of the Scriptures, as if this alone could make them good Christians. The Jews boasted of this-that they knew the will of God, and were instructed in the law; and thereupon they thought themselves very religious: yet for all that they were wicked hypocrites, living in manifest breaches of the law. So it is with many nowadays. They think themselves very religious, because they have knowledge in the Scriptures, and can discourse of them in company, and make a great show of acquaintance with God’s precepts. To these I say, it is well that they have knowledge, and I wish that many had more than they have. Yet know withal, that if it be but an historical or literal knowledge, without a sanctified heart to embrace what thou knowest, it shall do thee no good; thou mayest, notwithstanding all thy knowledge, be void of all truth of sanctifying grace. Beware, then, of resting in this. Labour not only to know the Word of God, but for a sanctified heart to yield obedience to it. Everyone has so much saving knowledge, as he has grace and affection of heart to embrace and act upon what he knows; and without this, all knowledge is ignorance in God’s reckoning. The smallest measure of knowledge with a sanctified heart is more pleasing to God, and more available to thy salvation, than all the learning and knowledge of the scribes without sanctifying grace. Look to thy knowledge, therefore, that it be such as not only floats in the head but goes down to the heart, and causes it to yield obedience to the things thou hast learned out of the Word of God. Get this wisdom above all possessions, and thou shalt be rich and learned indeed. (G. Petter.)
Interested lying
From the accounts of Matthew and Luke we learn that Jesus had been casting out a deaf and dumb devil. The work was one of Divine goodness and mercy. The religious world of the period looked on and called it bad. He cast out devils, they said, through Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. Let us beware of thus giving the lie to the moral sense, for it is the very sin against the Holy Ghost, and we may be terribly near it without knowing it. The tendency is a common one. If goodness, or truth, or mercy touch my pocket, or my honour, or my interest, my pleasures, or even my prejudices, I will destroy and deny them, when and how I can. That is the tendency. These are spots in our feasts of charity, blots on our professions. I have known medical men deny cures not wrought by the accredited methods. The disease has been cast out by fraud, by quackery, or not cast out at all, say they. When I was in Italy, and the regular Piedmontese army arrived at Naples after Garibaldi and his irregular volunteers had done all the work down south, one heard nothing but abuse of Garibaldi and his men by the king’s officers. They hated them, they cheapened their valour, they sneered at their sacrifices, even denied their exploits, attributing all to chance, luck, even to mistake. General Garibaldi had won, well, in spite of his stupidity. Such interested lying is not confined to the doctor or the soldier; it is found in the Church. I have heard clergymen deny the good work and righteous fruits of congregations opposed to them. I have seen in the country war between the orthodox rector, who could not fill his church, and the dissenting baptist, whose church over the way was crowded. The fruits of the Spirit were there, the devils were defeated; but the rector still stood out that it was by Beelzebub, the prince of the devils. (H. R. Haweis, M. A.)
Opposition from foes and from friends
I. The opposition.
1. From friends.
2. From foes.
II. How he met the opposition.
1. The opposition of foes.
(1) He shows how unreasonable their words are.
(2) He makes them reflect who He must really be.
(3) He warns them of the danger of so blaspheming.
2. The opposition from friends (verses 33-35). Conclusion: On which side are we? For Christ, or against Him? Are we His open enemies? Are we His half-hearted friends? Are we His faithful disciples? For and against-see what the end of both will be (Matthew 10:32-33). (E. Stock.)
For or against
I. Those who are not Christ’s friends are to be esteemed his foes: “He that is not with Me is against Me” (Matthew 12:30).
1. The issue is clear. Our Lord begins with saying that oven Beelzebub would fall if he suffered his kingdom to be divided against itself.
2. The decision must be clear.
3. If anyone refuses this issue, and defers this decision, it must be because he is not Christ’s friend, but His foe. One would think that human hearts would welcome such an offer, and would stand to it with a joyous acceptance unfalteringly to the end. Alexander the Great was once asked how it was that he had conquered the world; and he answered, “By not wavering.” If men had only held the faith as Jesus has held His covenant, the whole world would have been converted long ago.
II. Those who are not Christ’s foes are His friends; So He says: “He that is not against us is on our part” (Mark 9:40).
III. The enemies of Christ are evidenced by their enmity. At first sight this would seem to be a truism: let us see.
1. An enemy of Christ hates the notion of God’s being.
2. An enemy of Christ hates the notion of God’s character. Holiness is the most unpopular of all the Divine attributes.
3. An enemy of Christ hates the notion of God’s law. It perplexes, restrains, and condemns him.
4. An enemy of Christ hates the notion of God’s plan of redemption. He is not willing to admit his need, and take his pardon as a lost sinner.
5. An enemy of Christ hates the notion of God’s service.
6. An enemy of Christ hates the notion of God’s sovereignty.
IV. The friends of Christ are evidenced by their obedience-“Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” This wonderful verse (John 15:14) will bear an analysis.
1. Obedience to Christ will be active in its nature. The word here is not feel, but “do.”
2. Obedience to Christ will be universal in its reach.
3. Obedience to Christ will be submissive in its temper.
4. Obedience to Christ will be affectionate in its spirit. An old divine says “the obedience of the heart is the heart of obedience.”
V. It is wise foe all immortal beings to settle at once whether they are friends or enemies of Jesus Christ.
1. No neutrality is permitted during these war times in the universe. No negative moral state is possible before God.
2. Those who teach truth must urge immediate decision on all around them.
3. Any enemy of Christ can become a friend in an instant, if he will. (C. S. Robinson, D. D.)
Satan not self-destructive
When the Netherlanders broke away from the bondage of Spain, they still professed to be loyal subjects of King Philip, and, in the king’s name, went out to fight against the king’s armies. That was a kind of loyalty which King Philip refused to recognize. The Pharisees professed to believe that the devil was content with loyalty like this-that, in fact, he hugely enjoyed the destruction of his own works by Jesus, and supplied our Lord with all the help he wanted in that line. A sane man does not burn his insurance policy, and then set fire to his house as a means of providing for his family, A loyal soldier will not undermine his own camp and blow it into the air as a means of increasing the strength of that camp. The captain who is anxious for the safety of his ship will not step down into the hold and bore a hole through the ship’s bottom. Nor will Satan join in destroying his own kingdom. That Christ came and destroyed the works of the devil shows that He is Satan’s enemy and Satan’s conqueror.