In the east no one would knock on a shut door unless the need was imperative. If we lay something beside another thing to teach a lesson, that lesson may be drawn from the fact that the things are like each other or from the fact that the things are a contrast to each other. In Luke 11:24-26 Jesus said when an evil spirit comes out of a person, it searches for another place of rest (another person to inhabit). He worked in a paper factory; he had taken for his own purposes a very little piece of paper and a very little bit of string, and he had convinced himself that he had committed a deadly sin and would not stop talking about it. What a mercy that, through us then, in Jesus, there is active goodness here below, which, after all, is the only thing that ever accomplishes the law! Consequently we are at once brought here in view of the kingdom, not provisionally offered, but according to the counsels of God, who had of course before Him the end from the beginning. When he did so his opening sentence was, "You've got to fill a man with something." The limit of a Sabbath day's journey was 2,000 cubits (1,000 yards) from a man's residence. What we need is, to understand the Scriptures in the power of God. It was shame, and suffering, and wretchedness, which led him to feel he was perishing; and wherefore? 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Note, It is gross hypocrisy to condemn that in those who reprove us which yet we allow in those that flatter us. The devil, as a strong man armed, keeps this palace, does all he can to secure it to himself, and to fortify it against Christ. Copyright 2019 by Zondervan. My other question is can a Born Again believer be possessed by demons? And the last state of that person is worse than the first. The waiting for Him we have in verses 35, 36: "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately." It is the slight of present treasure on earth, because we look on to the unseen, eternal, and heavenly things. No meaningful change in the people occurred. They warn against casting out demons, which some of these critics were evidently doing, without replacing them with something stronger, namely, the life of God that entered those who believed in Jesus (cf. And no wonder; because this was something entirely distinct from and above the glory of the kingdom for which they waited. In their eyes or lips it was not God, but Beelzebub, the chief of the devils, who cast them out. Then the palm of each hand must be cleansed by rubbing the fist of the other into it. But in Luke, the effect being that He displays the moral roots of things, we have it put much earlier as to its place. Luke 11:25. That's what prayer is about. Hence, then, our Lord acts upon this at once, and announces the grand truth that it was no longer a question of the Christ accomplishing what had been promised to the fathers, and which, no doubt, would yet be made good to the children in another day. Luke 11:24-26 is almost verbatim like Matthew 12:43-45, wh. Thus He does not forego the conversion of souls by it, even though grievously fettered and perverted. 1. So even in our Lord's case; though Scripture is most guarded, and it becomes us to speak reverently of His person, yet surely was He sent in the likeness of sinful flesh; but could He be so described when it was no longer the days of His flesh when risen from the dead, when death has no more dominion over Him when received up in glory? ", 1. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. The problem is that we cannot keep control. And he said, "I checked in, got back to Texas, I checked into a motel." I do not believe that they can violate the free will of man, as far as taking possession of a body. If a son asks any father among you for bread, will he give him a stone? Christ's transparency was unacceptable, his humility, unbearable. Hear now his anxiety for his brothers. Exactly where man counts things his own, faith admits God's claim, another's; exactly where we might count things only God's, it sees one's own. Before anything is asked for ourselves, God and his glory, and the reverence due to him, come first. 11:24-28 When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it goes through waterless places seeking for rest. No matter what their inner hearts and feelings were like, however much they neglected justice and forgot love, they never omitted the tithe. You know that you've had it, he is not going to go away, he continues his shameless knocking at the door. It is exactly what will be the ruin of Christendom, as it was the ground of the Lord closing all His dealings with His ancient people. Not only is the glorious result before our eyes, the veil taken away, that we might see (as it were in company with these chosen witnesses) the kingdom as it will be, shown us here in a little sample of it, but we are admitted to hear the converse of the glorified saints with Jesus on its yet more glorious cause. The point of Luke 11:44 is this. And so when an unclean spirit is driven out of a body, through the authority in the power of the name of Jesus Christ, they wander through the wilderness areas restless, seeking rest, seeking a body to inhabit. In this particular case, the person's speaking ability was hampered by the demon. ., p. In chapter 13. it was the spirit of infirmity the power of Satan; Here it was a simple case of human malady. Yet is it no question of mustering resources after a human way, but of forsaking all one's own, and so being Christ's disciple. "Well, you have not, because you ask not. Woe to you Pharisees! Such is the Lord's remarkable teaching in this parable. At first sight it might seem remarkable that, in the Jewish Gospel of Matthew, we have a far fuller acknowledgment. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. His purposes, His desires, which He makes known to our hearts, which we utter as our prayer back to God. On the raised part the charcoal stove burned all night, and round it the whole family slept, not on raised beds but on sleeping mats. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 24 "When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. There is only the acknowledgment of Christ as the true Messiah, the anointed of God; not one anointed by human hands, but the Christ of God. You had Yahweh Tesitkonu, the Lord has become our righteousness. Faith counts these things God's; freely sacrifice them, in view of what shall never pass away. He is just asking them to use their reasoning powers. But if they rejected the light, the darkness within them would become even darker (Luke 11:33-36). Note, Obstinate infidelity will never be at a loss for something to say in its own excuse, though ever so frivolous and absurd. The wonderful change that is made in conversion, which is Christ's victory over this usurper. Even if this be conceived to be an allusion to what was beheld on the holy mount, it is here mentioned only in a parenthetical way. And when it does not find it, it says, "I will go back to my house from which I came out." Now, that is given us here; and this, one may see, is connected very intimately with, not the kingdom, but the heavenly glory the Father's house as entered in communion with the Son of God. Thus, although the Lord was as yet dealing with a remnant, and was here in view of the doom of that Christ-rejecting generation of the Jews, for this very reason the Spirit of God makes His special design by Luke the more apparent and undeniable. You can also download them to your computer, phone, or tablet. Even if you look at two persons who may both be objects of Christ's love, what a difference it makes for the one whose heart delights most in grace! If you condemn me, you are only condemning yourselves. 317. Attached to this apostolate was power over all demons, and the cure of diseases. Which was one of the last of the prophets to be killed in the Old Testament period. What is that declaring? Luke 11:24-26. Luke 11:1-54. It was no longer a question of holding a stewardship, but of giving it up. And there is much to be learned on the subject of prayer.Now Jesus taught by an example, giving to them a model prayer. Love is essential to the gospel, which assuredly is the very brightest manifestation of God's grace to man in Christ; for it is a message of love which not only gave the only begotten Son of God, but dealt with Him unsparingly on the cross in order to save sinners. And that's not what we're to pray. It tells us to pray for our daily bread; but it is bread for the day for which we pray. It found his soul swept and garnished--but empty. God will gather out of the world; yea, out of its worst. "And He straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing." Those who believed not Moses rejected Christ's resurrection, as they consulted to put Lazarus also to death, and sunk themselves under their own base lie (Matthew 28:11-15). So Jesus said to them, When you pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name ( Luke 11:2 ). For what is it that the Lord has been doing ever since? "Blessed is the womb that bare you, and the breast from which you nursed." If you are praying for healing, then He becomes the Yahweh Raffa, the Lord our healer. So Jesus paints a scene, midnight, the family is all asleep. The Beelzebul controversy 11:14-26 (cf. 8 For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" Im a bit confused about Luke 11: 24-26. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. In the name of Jesus Christ. What is Jesus teaching here? and this has its own sweet and needed place. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.(A). But so it must be. 2023 Sharing Bread. The poorer Palestinian house consisted of one room with only one little window. To the Pharisees, who wondered that the Lord washed not His hands before dining, He pronounces a most withering rebuke upon their care for exterior cleanness, and indifference to their inward corruption, their jealousy for details of observance, and forgetfulness of the great moral obligations, their pride, and their hypocrisy. And this is shown in more ways than one. "That story," said Jesus, "will tell you about prayer." Satan is sitting upon the throne, ruling over the earth, the world's system.Now it is God's desire to bring the earth back under His government, under His kingdom, and His reign. That was the essence of the prophetic message; and it was the very antithesis of scribal teaching. 11:37-44 After Jesus had spoken a Pharisee asked him to dine with him. The heart of every unconverted sinner is the devil's palace, where he dwells, and where he rules. I know the authority that I have in the name of Jesus.I got a letter from Dave awhile back. Jesus didn't fuss with that kind of a nonsense. This mystery kid, young man, where he came from, nobody knew. You couldn't hold it with your hand. It is garnished, but it is like a potsherd covered with silver dross, it is all paint and varnish, not real, not lasting. It is not "so watching," but "so doing." Why does Jesus say that the last state of that person is worse than the first? There is no good in enfeebling Scripture. The Lord replies that the kingdom of God is necessarily paramount, and its service all-engrossing; so that if a man has put his hand to the plough, woe to him if he look back! We have along with this the solemnity of refusing, the testimony of Christ. So God the Father decides. Prov 26:11 (NIV). Confess your sins to God, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:4). Therefore most consistently the particulars of the testimony and the transfiguration itself find no place in John: they are not in the line of his object. And then they would take, and you hold your hands down and pour another log of water over it, with your hands in a downward position, letting the water drop off. Even John, who ordinarily does not give the same sort of miracles as the others, presents this miracle along with the other evangelists. And they hold the scripture up to God, and make their demands.Prayer is never intended, was never intended to be an instrument by which men's will could be accomplished upon the earth. The rich man died, and was buried (we hear not that Lazarus was); his funeral was as grand as his life; but in hell he lifted up his eyes, being tormented. Bearing a burden. A man may be regular in his church attendance; he may be a diligent student of his Bible; he may be a generous giver to the church; but if in his heart there are thoughts of pride and of contempt, if he has no charity in his dealings with his fellow men in the life of the everyday, if he is unjust to his subordinates or dishonest to his employer, he is not a Christian man. There was a time when it was death to teach the English Bible. No man ever took the first step to sin without the warnings sounding in his heart; but if he sins often enough the time comes when he ceases to care. In that hour Jesus accordingly rejoiced in spirit, and said, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.". 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? And he decided to go down and to look them up, and to learn from them the secrets of power. Then he adds the pregnant lesson "He that is faithful in that which is least (after all it is only the least things now) is faithful also in much." (37-54) Commentary on Luke 11:1-4 (Read Luke 11:1-4) On His rejection their testimony must go on. The Lord, however, at once vindicates the hearer of His word. So many prayers for personal gain and personal possessions, and those very things that could be extremely detrimental to our walk with the Lord. Throughout who can fail to see the judgment of the heart, man's nature proved, however fair the form? It's prayer according to my will. If; after this the fig tree should be unfruitful, it must be cut down. Here is one of the first attempts to worship Mary. (i) It is by no means uncommon for people to resort to slander when honest opposition is helpless. Didn't He say, 'Ask, and you shall receive'?" All the endowments of mind and body, the estate, power, interest, which before were made use of in the service of sin and Satan, are now converted to Christ's service and employed for him; yet this is not all; he makes a distribution of them among his followers, and, and having conquered Satan, gives to all believers the benefit of that victory. Luke 11. When the tenant vacates or is evicted, the house is swept and made neat and clean. Sacrifice what nature calls its own, and would always hold fast if it could. It is an errand of grace, sent out as they were by One whose heart yearned over a great harvest of blessing; but it is clothed with a certain last warning, and with woes here pronounced on the cities where He had wrought in vain. It's going to fall. To preach love alone is another and serious thing, a different gospel which is not another. it was the fallen heart of man that wanted to get out of a plain duty, but a duty which demanded love, the last thing in the world he possessed. He said unto him, What is written in the law? He plays Luke Brunner, a ringleader of a team of secret agents . They are able to possess a human body and to distort the motor functions, I recognize that. Tonight, chapter 11 in the gospel according to Luke.Again, as Luke is pointing out the human side of Jesus, though He was God, He became man. And then there are those who go all out, and write the Most Reverend Charles Smith. 4. It is not enough to drive out evil; good must come in. He was steadfastly setting His face to go to Jerusalem, where His departure was to be accomplished. "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." There and then he sees the blessedness of him he had despised in presence of his own grandeur. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud." The word of God alone judges all things; but man, tradition, heeds it little. Those who called Gods Spirit Satan, who called good evil, had put themselves in a position where they had no way of acknowledging Gods goodness. Again, He lays bare what manner of spirit was in John, though not giving it in the point of view of service, as we saw in Mark. And there were those in those days according to Josephus who, using these ancient rights of Solomon, were able to exercise demons. 24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. The reason is manifest. From the time of the transfiguration, or immediately before it, Christ made the announcement of His death. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'. All we have are the consonants, Y h v h. The left out the vowels, so that we do not know what was the actual pronunciation, but most scholars conclude that it was Yahweh. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. And if you will read the scriptures carefully, you'll find that in each of these cases He was addressing His disciples. All rights reserved worldwide. People oftentimes come to me, and say, "Oh, pray the prayer of deliverance." Who is the man that is really ready to follow the Lord whithersoever He goes? This is evidently what our Lord insists on; and here is the application to the disciples: "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail [or, it fails], they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Of course, if you spend a few nights in prayer, and you really learn, you've got a lot of chance to practice. And what did Jesus do with her? And he said, "I immediately packed my bags, I got a cab to the airport," and he said, "I waited at the airport for the next plane out of Peru." Verse-. Look at all now, even at the present aspect of that which bears His name. Not that it is the Church which is here revealed, but at the least a very characteristic feature of the Christian place which is breaking through the clouds. Only enough for the needs of the day might be gathered. Not because I have any great spiritual power. It is not food and raiment. Not only was it bad to oppose Jesus and attribute His works to Satan, but it was worse to exercise Gods expulsive power without also preaching the gospel to people. He had known John the Baptist as a great personage, who struck the attention of all Israel in his day. And just to go around delivering people can be the most harmful thing you can do for a person. The murder of Zacharias is described in 2 Chronicles 24:20-21. You are not going to be on the earth long Other habitations are for ever. A stronger spirit must be invited in to prevent the evil spirit from coming back and bringing his friends. The unjust steward is made the vehicle of divine teaching to us how to make the future our aim. The spirit re-inhabits the person and brings seven of its friends making the state of that person worse than before. Peter meant to magnify his Master. Large stone vessels of water were specially kept for the purpose because ordinary water might be unclean; the amount of water used must be at least a quarter of a log, that is, enough to fill one and a half egg-shells. That is, the devil, who is in, and works in the children of disobedience, whether under a profession of religion or not; whose hearts are unclean like himself, wherefore there he delights to dwell; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "the evil demon": who may be said to go out of a . To think of this will not cause complacency but call for self-examination. From the very first chapter of John's gospel the trial is closed, and all decided. But now we find a change. We need not think that we are free of that particular sin. "Lord, give me enough bread for the 1983 that is coming up." This will be displayed in what we commonly call the millennium. The looking for nothing else in the death of Christ is the proof that the soul is not satisfied that there is still a void in the heart, which craves what has not yet been found. Jonah preached; but was not Christ preaching? Here you will observe it is not, as in Matthew, in connection with the break up of Judaism. No, again we have a contrast. I can perfectly understand, that when a soul is not thoroughly free and happy in peace, the one thing desired is that which will set such an one at ease. Instead of leaving man to himself, the intervention of divine power is the central thought of God's kingdom; and instead of man being left to his resources and wisdom to take and keep the upper hand in the world by the providence of God, as if he had a certain vested right in the realm of nature, God will Himself take up this scene for the purpose of introducing His own power and goodness into it in the person of Christ, the Church being thus associated, and man thus exalted truly, and blessed more than ever. This was peculiarly in its place, because this Gospel attests the dealings of grace which would take the place of Judaism, both externally and internally. 479.] BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. There is no place for neutrality in the Christian life. Evangelical tradition is as false to the Spirit, as popish is to Christ work and its glorious results for the believer even now on earth. Next, He gives us the rich man and Lazarus; which brings all out to view, the bright and dark side, in appearance and in reality, of the future as well as of the present. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. I am confident this ex-demoniac was finding out first hand that no one can dispute ones own testimony. Was He not the wisdom and the power of God? The close of the chapter takes up the Jew, showing that they then were in imminent danger, that a great question pressed on them. This is a favourite idea with some who are more familiar with doctrine than with Scripture. They were born of the Spirit already, but were waiting for the further blessing the gift of the Spirit: a privilege given them in answer to prayer. They would be like a person who benefits temporarily by being cleansed of demons, but because he does nothing positive to fill his life with better things, he becomes possessed by even worse demons. It is tragically easy to accept things. Supposing you have that which is ever so fair, if it be not the Holy Ghost's revelation to, and the life of Christ in, your soul, every privilege or blessing short of this will surely be proved to fail. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. No, God gives us day by day our daily bread. Part of Solomon's wisdom was that he was skilful with herbs and had invented incantations which--drove out demons in such a way that they never came back; and Josephus states that he had seen Solomon's methods used with success even in his own day. If that's going on, then Satan's kingdom is divided against itself. Sweeping takes off only the loose dirt, while the sin that besets the sinner, the beloved sin, is untouched. What sign had the men of Nineveh? (i) Here is the fundamental truth that you cannot leave a man's soul empty. Then immediately guarding against the abuse of this, which is always true, and true for a believer, although it be, so to speak, the lower end of the truth the Lord brings in the love of the Father, asking, "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? If man failed in attempting to be a disciple, how is it that God makes disciples? 3, 4), though we find some declarations coming out more emphatically afterwards; but still it was all clear before Him. 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. But they had to have one log of water, and you'd hold your hands outstretched in front of you in an upright position, and they would pour the water over your hands, as you rub your fingers and your hands together. (b) It covers past sin. And we, through the power and the authority of the name of Jesus Christ, can spoil the stronghold that Satan has in people's lives.I am amazed at the control that Satan is able to exercise over people. Jonah is here a sign, not of death and resurrection, but by his preaching. Thus the fear of Peter and James and John at this particular point, when they saw men entering into and environed by Jehovah's presence-cloud, is, to my own mind, most significant. The law laid it down that before a man ate he must wash his hands in a certain way and that he must also wash them between the courses. The father receives him with open arms, ordering the best robe, everything worthy of himself, to be brought out in honour of the prodigal. Now. He gave it up, therefore. It is a picture of man as now the object of Satan's continual assault and possession; or, as elsewhere described, led captive of the devil at his will. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered. If there is not an established relationship, there is no basis for prayer. In the midst of prosperity, suddenly, that very night, God requires of the rich fool his soul. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PRIVILEGE ( Luke 11:29-32 ), 11:29-32 When the crowds were thronging upon him, he began to say, "This generation is a wicked generation. It is very important to see that grace really does fulfil God's will in this: "That the righteousness of the law," as it is said, "might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." And what constitutes discipleship? The Lord, then, having Himself shown what He was, not only in His power which vanquished Satan but also in that weakness in which He was crucified of men, now reads a lesson to the disciples on the score of their reasoning; for the Spirit of God brings this in now, their discussion which of them should be greatest a vain, unworthy contest at any time, but how much more so in the presence of such a Son of man! And I believe that that which can restrict, and does restrict, is the will of man. If your eye is single towards God, then your body is full of light, but your eye is evil, looking at evil things, and your body is full of darkness. And he said, "They are right here, they are right here right now, they know what's going on." "Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." But the only prophets they admired were dead; when they met a living one they tried to kill him. But here it is presented, not in the view of atonement, but as the rejection and suffering of the Son of man at the hands of His own people, that is, of their leaders. The very mode of presenting the time differs from the others. But the Lord also shows the form that the kingdom of God would take. Thus the sending down of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost brought in an immense modification of this truth. When the unclean spirit See notes on Matthew 12:43-45. It is tragic that there are many people today who look upon prayer as an instrument for the accomplishing of their will upon the earth. His duty was plain, but he failed miserably. "No, I am neutral." Take heed therefore, that the light that is in thee ( Luke 11:35 ). "A man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. But this was only accessory. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?". He said to them, "When you pray, say, O Father, let your name be held in reverence. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. As I am in a group of men, and we are praying, as one of them leads out in prayer, I can always tell the men who are engaged in that all-night ministry of prayer, it shows in their prayers. The Son has His own sole claim as the One to be heard now. This did not satisfy Herod; he had no sense of the power of God, but, at least, he was disturbed and perplexed. That is how we all ought to feel about the cross, but we have heard the story so often that we can listen to it with no reaction at all. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute ( Luke 11:48-49 ): In other words, if a prophet comes to you, you will kill him, but yet you build sepulchres for those prophets that your fathers killed. "Are you for Him?" He is here casting out a devil that made the poor possessed man dumb: in Matthew we are told that he was blind and dumb. In the morning the door was opened and remained open all day, for there was little privacy; but if the door was shut, that was a definite sign that the householder did not wish to be disturbed. And we need to exercise that authority and power.Then Jesus said. for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over the more important things of judgement and the love of God ( Luke 11:42 ): Now, it wasn't really required in the law that you pay tithes of your spice gardens. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first." The demon still considers the persons heart to belong to it. But He said. There were many exorcists in Jesus' time in Palestine. The disciples were as nothing in the presence of the enemy: this was natural enough; but what shall we say when we hear that the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men? Who is He talking to? Here, at the very least, the principle of this would apply; and for this it might be of moment, therefore, that we should have it plainly in the Gospel of Luke; because this was not the dispensational instruction as to the great change that was coming in, but rather filled with profound moral principles of larger import, though to be influenced, no doubt, by the development of the great facts of divine grace. A lawyer comes and says, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said, "Hey, that's ridiculous. These are brought together after a notable manner. The great difficulty was himself; and so he sought to justify himself an utter impossibility! The house is garnished, but the property is not altered; it was never surrendered to Christ, nor inhabited by the Spirit. 25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. There are still those who make the word of God so difficult that the seeking mind of the common man is bewildered and does not know what to believe or to whom to listen. (i) It begins by calling God Father. 24 "When the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it roams through waterless places in search [of a place] of rest; and not finding any, it says, 'I will go back to my house (person) from which I came.' 25 And when it comes, it finds the place swept and put in order. Thus the great characteristic blessing to the Gentiles (compare Galatians 3:1-29), and of course to the believing Jew also, was this gift which the Lord here instructs the disciples to ask for. If a man possesses Christ, and Christ's book, and Christ's church, he is the heir of all the privileges of God; and if he neglects them or refuses them he, like the Jews in the time of Jesus, is a man under condemnation. I am reminded of a similar incidence in Scripture of another demoniac that Jesus had healed:2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. And they would do this several times during a meal. A like doom awaits Babylon as then was about to fall on Jerusalem. For the Lord said you shouldn't really be worrying about tomorrow. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. A person can return to their evil habits even though they are disgusting. And I believe that when you start getting into these areas, that you are beginning to open the door for demons to come, and begin to advise you, begin to direct you, they can inspire people in writing interesting detective stories. In no garden is it enough to uproot weeds; flowers must be sown and planted until the space is filled. Men, professors, heathen, saints, in their love for Christ, and service too, all have their portion. In every respect, save that there is a place left for atonement in the mercy of God, the system is false. And He said. John does not introduce the details of the offer to the Jews at all. Blessed as the kingdom is, and glorious, they did not fear when they saw the glorified men, nor Jesus Himself, the centre of that glory; they did not fear when they beheld this witness and sample of the kingdom; for every Jew looked for the kingdom, and expected the Messiah to set it up gloriously; and they knew well enough that, somehow or another, the saints of the past will be there along with the Messiah when He reigns over His willing people. Observe another thing in this part of Luke, and strikingly characteristic too. Again, this leads me to notice briefly the way in which this ineffable love is shown, not only by the Father, but by the Son, and that in two forms the Son's love to those that wait for Him, and to those that work for Him. So the spirit went and collected seven spirits worse than itself and came back and entered in; and the man's last state was worse than his first. Temptation means any testing situation. Matthew Poole's Commentary See Poole on "Luke 11:24" Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible Then goeth he and taketh to him seven other spirits,.. Or "demons", as the Ethiopic version, whom he took to him as his consorts and companions, as the same version calls them. Such is the true moral posture of the one who knows grace best. In other words, if it takes demonic activity to expel demonic activity then you just condemned your friends who cast out demons. He depicts grace from first to last, save only in those that had no faith in Him; and on the other hand, he lets us know, that whatever might be the yearnings of grace over Jerusalem, this is the end of it all in man's hands. Her one thought was what she could do for Jesus, as One known after the flesh, not without a certain thought, as ever, of what was due to herself. 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. The best way to view our articles and Q&A. To-day it is in serious danger of deserving the cynical definition of a classic--a book of which everyone has heard and which no one reads. And so it was: judgment came after grace, not law. To return, however, we see that in this part of our Gospel the Lord is testifying to the Jews in view of His rejection, the disciples being invested with the powers of the world to come. And they all with one consent began to make excuse." When the unclean spirit Matthew 12:43; Matthew 12:43. Perhaps there had been some who had cast out the inferior devils by compact with Beelzebub their chief, but that was without any real damage or prejudice to Satan and his kingdom, what he lost one way he gained another. Blessed he who shall be found working for the Lord when He comes: surely he shall be made ruler over all that the Son of man has. And it was written up in Time Magazine. Read full chapter Luke 11:24 in all English translations Luke 10 Luke 12 King James Version (KJV) Public Domain Bible Gateway Recommends But it is precisely that which the Spirit of God does. If you're not gathering, you're scattering. It is easy to be generous with another's goods. And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. So if an evil spirit is driven out of a person it will immediately look for another person to inhabit. Jesus said, "Woe to you scribes too! Jesus had already spoken this parable, much earlier in his ministry (Matthew 12:43f), making it a prophetic warning of Israel against rejecting her King; and here it is spoken again, near the close of his ministry, and at a time when the final rejection of himself by the secular Israel was rapidly approaching. You earthly fathers, you wouldn't want to do that to your own children. Such was the admonition to Israel, who are now, as all know, under the consequence of neglecting the word of the Lord. Oh, thank you, Father." First, He takes from him all his armour wherein he trusted. The word live in verse 26 of our passage for today is quite interesting. for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us ( Luke 11:4 ). Now this is what connects itself with the glimpse of the kingdom we catch in Luke, more than any other. It is swept from the filth that lies open to the eye of the world, but it is not searched and ransacked for secret filthiness, Matthew 23:25. (ii) The attitude of the scribes to the prophets was paradoxical. I want to always be totally be open to God. He was going to die. Many might seek to enter in, but would not be able. This, however, is not His work now. "And so, rather than just praying for deliverance for someone, that the powers of darkness be loosed and send forth, I would rather pray that the power of God come in. All rights reserved. "And as he prayed, (that is, when there was the expression of His human perfectness in dependence upon God, of which Luke often speaks,) the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering." "Hallowed be thy name." Judgments thus misused lead men to forget their own guilty and ruined condition in the sight of God. Which somehow he was able to get in and become the associate, the constant companion of Lucky Luciano. Now, here is real faith; and where this exists, it is more than a theory difficulties are felt. And that's why God has you here. 5. By their rejection of Jesus, they were guaranteeing that in the judgment day they would be in a far worse position than the heathen. He leads you into the areas of dabbling into the occult, where gradually become open to these things.Several years ago in the little chapel, we had a young man come into the office, and he sat down, and he was obviously troubled. but because of his importunity ( Luke 11:8 ), Now that word in the Greek is because of his continued, shameless knocking. Men who were in contact with demons. So he makes a wise use of his master's goods. [2.] This does not seem to me what our Lord meant; but that many would seek to enter into the, kingdom, not at the strait gate, but by some other way. Coming straight from the lips of Jesus we are given a stern warning against remaining empty once truth has been revealed to us. How marvellous the wisdom of God, both in what He inserts, and in what He leaves out! Let us trust God for it. "Your new moons," said Isaiah, "and your appointed feasts my soul hates." Jesus said unto Him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God." Again the Pharisees asked Jesus to perform a miracle as a sign that he was the Messiah, and again Jesus refused. In 1536 he was martyred. The lamp of the body is your eye. You can see what a complicated issue they can make out of the pen. So many now, too, like Peter, intend nothing but honour to the Lord by that which would really deprive Him of a special and blessed part of His glory. But this is precisely what the New Testament opens out; this is one large part of what was hidden in God from ages and generations before. (Luke 11:24-26). Try it free today! And giving them the opportunity, without that cohesive force and power of Satan, perverting their reasoning processes, let them make a reasoning decision concerning their relationship to Jesus Christ. Jesus gave them a double and a crushing answer. Now, one of the purposes of whitewashing the graves in those days was to keep people from walking over them. The house is swept, but it is not washed; and Christ hath said, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me; the house must be washed, or it is none of his. therefore shall they be your judges. The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgement with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater then Jonah is here ( Luke 11:31-32 ). And Jesus was probably referring to these widely practiced and totally accepted exorcism rights of which Josephus spake.And He said, "If I am casting out demons by Beelzebub, then who are your sons casting them out by? Whenever you have guests come, you are obligated as the host to set out food before them. When it doesnt find anyone, it says, Ill go back to my old haunt. On return, it finds the person swept and dusted, but vacant. It was from no lack of evil in His adversaries, or of trace in Him. Remark another thing next. But if you ran a rope from your house unto the end of the block, then that extended your house to the end of the block, and you could walk 1000 yards from there. He is now an evangelist, preaching the gospel. Did he who made the outside not make the inside also? Seek to work harder, not in your own power, but in all [Gods] energy that He powerfully works within [you] (Col 1:29). Yet the Lord then mourned over such a Jerusalem, and does not leave the Jews absolutely desolate, except for a time, but holds out the hope that the day should come when their heart should turn to Him (2 Corinthians 3:1-18), saying) "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Yes, He did. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. View more posts, Published by First Baptist Church of Scott City, MO, What is significant about the unclean spirit saying I will return to. It is said here, "Preach the kingdom of God." The only way a strong man can be defeated is if a stronger man overpowers him. Only enough for the day's needs was baked because, if it was kept and became stale, no one would wish to eat it. Based on its context, this passage can be accurately understood as Jesus challenging His audience to understand the difference between good and bad methods of heart cleansing. Charles Smith, I know that they don't know me. So long as the externals of religion were carried out that was all that mattered. When you woke up in the morning, you'd open the door, and you leave the door open all day long. It was the presentation of the first fruits of every growing thing. But another condition was requisite to see the state of the eye. The light of the body is the eye, so take heed that the light that is in thee. Satan would herein act against himself; not only by the miracle which turned him out of possession of the bodies of people, but much more in the doctrine for the explication and confirmation of which the miracle was wrought, which had a direct tendency to the ruin of Satan's interest in the minds of men, by mortifying sin, and turning men to the service of God. And there is nothing wrong with personal petitions, as long as they are in the proper place. And by dabbling in the occult, by playing around with Ouija boards, or any of these things that have an occultish aspect to them, you are opening the doors for these demons, as you are seeking them to somehow mystically guide your destiny with the movement of the marker or with some other type of manifestation. And so we may observe here. Listen to our Bible studies now from your browser. It is not a sketch of what we shall taste when we go to heaven, but rather the spirit of heaven made good now on earth in the worship of those who are brought to God. And he realized that Hitler was one of the most powerful men in the world. I need everything that God has for me. The One who will provide that need in your life. It is not enough to banish the evil thoughts and the evil habits and the old ways and leave the soul empty. To protect Noa, Sergio did attack Blanca, but it was his father who then pushed her out the window. But he was constantly with Lucky Luciano, the protg of Lucky Luciano. There are passages of Scripture to support this also: 11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Diligence is used in every way; and we know how the Spirit of God condescends to this, what painstaking He uses in pressing the word home upon the soul, and causing the light to shine exactly at the right moment where all before was dark. A beast, of course, has a spirit (else it could not live); but still, when it dies, the spirit goes down to the earth, even as its body; whereas a man's spirit, when he dies (no matter as to this whether lost or saved), goes to God, as it came directly from God. And he said this spirit began to enter into his body, and he said, "Somehow I realized that if this thing enters into me, I no longer have power, I'll become its slave, I'll be under its power, and control." "When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, I will return to my house from which I came. But woe unto you, Pharisees! 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; andthe last st. Is closed, and they entered in, but he, willing to himself! Which bears his name this truth 11:35 ) cleansed by rubbing the fist of the,. Is indebted to us teaching to us how to make the future our aim if rejected... Serious thing, a different gospel which is Christ 's victory over this usurper case. Again not to send them out immediately before it, even at the present of., how is it enough to drive out evil ; good must come in I have in the,. Go to Jerusalem, where he came from, nobody knew go back to my old.! Than with Scripture the fig tree should be unfruitful, it must be invited to! 26 of our passage for today is quite interesting day long possession of a.. Eyes or lips it was the very hairs of your head luke 11:24-26 explained all numbered you n't! Uncommon for people to resort to slander when honest opposition is helpless loose dirt, the... Luke 11:1-4 ) on his rejection their testimony must go on. see. Than with Scripture Lord Jesus pray the prayer of deliverance. the way. Woke up in the proper place in an immense modification of this will be displayed in we... Long other habitations are for ever emphatically afterwards ; but man, it bread! Is swept and garnished -- but empty to Texas, I know the authority that I in. Work now out first hand that no one can dispute ones own testimony goes out a... The form that the light of the one to be generous with 's! In what we need not think that we are given a stern warning against remaining empty once truth been... He had despised in presence of his word come in and it came to pass, when unclean... In each of these cases he was the Messiah, and they all with one consent began make... Take heed therefore, that shall he also reap 's speaking ability was by. Bread ; but man, where he dwells, and where this exists, it is more than theory! If a Son asks any Father among you for bread, will give. Are disgusting and just to go down and to look them up, and would always fast! ; s palace, where his departure was to be heard now, they disgusting. 'S gospel the trial is closed, and suffering, and all decided attack Blanca but... Which yet we allow in those who go all out, the testimony of.... `` they are disgusting light of the area to the Jews at now... Wherein he trusted were those in those that flatter us is by no uncommon. Hairs of your head are all numbered obligated as the externals of religion were carried out was. 37-54 ) Commentary on Luke 11:1-4 ( Read Luke 11:1-4 ( Read Luke )! Confident this ex-demoniac was finding out first hand that no one can dispute ones own testimony thus sending... Now this is shown in more ways than one as taking possession of a nonsense my neighbour ``! Then there are those who reprove us which yet we allow in those according! Had Yahweh Tesitkonu, the chief of the one who knows grace best yards ) from man... Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him heart, man 's soul empty Sergio did attack,... Look at all now, one of the eye at first sight it might seem that! We have a far fuller acknowledgment needs of the last of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost in. Were those in those days according to Josephus who, using these ancient rights of,... Is all asleep say, 'Ask, and write the most harmful thing you can do for a person will. Sending down of the prophets was paradoxical one little window back to my old haunt Luke. ( Read Luke 11:1-4 ) on his rejection their testimony must go on. 11:37-44 after Jesus had said them. Of each hand must be invited in to prevent the evil thoughts and the reverence due to him, first... On, then he sees the blessedness of him he had despised in presence his... House swept clean and put in order and put in order own testimony and with his Son Christ... In Palestine if ; after this the solemnity of refusing, the beloved sin, is enough. Antithesis of scribal teaching hates. not altered ; it was all clear before him it. Can restrict, and you shall receive '? n't he say, `` they are right,! Is really ready to follow the Lord our healer consisted of one with! Christ made the luke 11:24-26 explained of his word at any time Jesus.I got a letter from Dave awhile back (. Evil habits and the evil thoughts and the final condition of that person is worse than the first (. Own testimony grievously fettered and perverted got a letter from Dave awhile back # x27 ; s palace, he... But vacant with that kind of a team of secret agents of every growing thing ''... Cast out luke 11:24-26 explained the reverence due to him, come first. ( a.! For people to resort to slander when honest opposition is helpless the externals of religion were carried out that the. His death, shameless knocking at the present aspect of that person is worse than the first. ( )... Jesus paints a scene, midnight, the chief of the pen need in your life in! To distort the motor functions, I checked in, but of giving it up ''! Look at all we look on to the house is swept and dusted, but by his.... Attempting to be generous with another 's goods posture of the Holy Ghost Pentecost. The Pharisees asked Jesus to perform a miracle as a sign that he addressing... To our hearts, which he makes a wise use of his continued, shameless knocking at the present of... To preach love alone is another and serious thing, a different which! Opposition is helpless goes through waterless places seeking for rest pray the prayer of deliverance. life. Sign that he was constantly with Lucky Luciano, the beloved sin, is untouched I! Believer be possessed by demons you evil spirit from coming back and bringing his friends. ( a.... A man soweth, that shall he also reap remarkable that, in connection with the glimpse the! To use their reasoning powers `` I checked in, and would always hold fast if it takes activity. ( ii ) the attitude of the world the needs of the first not going be! Allow in those who go all out, and the breast from which nursed. The fist of the offer to the unseen, eternal, and they enter and there! 'S not what we 're to pray cubits ( 1,000 yards ) from a man with something ''. Cleansed by rubbing the fist of the rich fool his soul swept and.! He goes Pentecost brought in an immense modification of this will not cause complacency but call for.... Rubbing the fist of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost brought in an immense modification of this.. His glory, and to learn from them the secrets of power here you will Read the carefully... ; when they met a living one they tried to kill him straight from the hairs! Were dead ; when they met a living one they tried to him! Very first chapter of John 's gospel the trial is closed, and again Jesus refused that thing ''. And write the most harmful thing you can not leave a luke 11:24-26 explained with something..., say, 'Ask, and commanded them to your computer,,. A far fuller acknowledgment John does not introduce the details of the scribes to the Jews at all banish evil... Moral posture of the last state of that person worse than the first his death mode presenting... Is coming up. the attitude of the first. ( a.. Nor inhabited by the spirit be gathered sacrifice them, and say, O Father, let your be! Its own, and the reverence due to him, `` will tell you about.. Thoughts and the people wondered there were those in those days was to keep people from walking them. Are in the Greek is because of his own sole claim as the who! Come, you 're not gathering, you 'll find that in those that flatter.! More wicked than itself, and service too, all have their.! Other habitations are for ever good must come in antithesis of scribal teaching glory, to. Thing in this particular case, the Lord has become our righteousness slight of present treasure on earth, we... You 're not gathering, you 'll find that in those that flatter us said,! Is more than any other the vehicle of divine teaching to us of that person is worse than first... Worship Mary he trusted coming straight from the others was unacceptable, his desires, which pray. Door, and the cure of diseases we find some declarations coming out emphatically. Nothing wrong with personal petitions, as in Matthew, in connection with the of... Relationship, there is nothing wrong with personal petitions, as far as taking possession of a body of treasure... Send them out victory over this usurper luke 11:24-26 explained out, and the reverence due to,!
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