Thursday 2 January 2020

A time for strong words

Matthew 12:22-37
Opposition from the Pharisees was growing all the time (24). Jesus had to rebuke them in very strong words (30, 32,34,36-37). This was not exactly a 'How to win friends and influence people' approach! Nevertheless, this was a time for strong words. Jesus' ministry illustrates the principle: 'a time to tear down and a time to build' (Ecclesiastes 3:3). There was a time for 'whoever is not against us is for us' (Mark 9:40). This was the time for 'he who is not with me is against me' (30). There was a time for speaking of the Spirit as 'the Comforter' (John 14:16,26). This was the time for the warning about the 'blasphemy against the Spirit' (31). The opposition was severe, but Jesus was victorious - He 'drove out demons by the Spirit of God', in Him 'the Kingdom of God had come' (28). In Him, we are victorious (Romans 8:37; Revelation 12:11).

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