Luke 11:14-26 "A House Divided"
Before Abraham Lincoln was president, he said this as part of his campaign: "A house divided against itself cannot stand." I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing, or all the other.”
This speech was given in 1858 on the steps of the capital building in Springfield, Illinois—which is where Kim and I were born. In a hospital, not on the steps of the capital building, silly.
Regardless of what you might think of Lincoln’s politics—I’ve lived in Texas for 35 years, so I’ve heard plenty about the “War of Northern Aggression.” This speech was given three years before the Civil War started. His point is solid: The country would inevitably become either all slave or all free. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Ideas have consequences. The things we believe have real-world repercussions in our lives and the lives of everyone around us—even for the whole world. Today we’re going to hear Jesus give a similar speech. There’s no standing on the sidelines pretending to be neutral when it comes to what we believe about Jesus.
Luke 11, verse 14. (I don’t know if you’ve noticed but when Scripture is read, there’s usually a lot of temptation to space out and think about something else, try to fight it. This is the Word of the Lord, listen up…)
Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. Luke 11:14-16
In the Gospel of Matthew, we learn the man was also blind and the people started asking out loud if Jesus might be the Messiah—the Son of David. The One who is going to re-establish the throne and re-unite the kingdom of Israel.
We have the briefest description of the miracle it’s not really the point of Luke telling us the story. He’s showing us how the opposition to Jesus is getting more vicious—we know where the story is going, Luke’s showing us how it got there.
The people that were following Jesus marveled—a man who was possessed by a demon that made him blind and unable to speak was healed by Jesus right in front of them. The God of wonders did a miracle and everyone saw it. Most of the people thought it was marvelous.
But there were other reactions. One group said it was a trick. “He casts out demons by Beelzebul.” “Beelzebul” is a name they called the devil. It came from the Caananite fertility god Baal—one of the main false gods the people of Israel kept worshiping in the Old Testament instead of the true God. It was the reason the Northern Kingdom of Israel divided from the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It was the main reason the Northern kingdom was destroyed and the Southern Kingdom went into exile. No surprise that the most notorious demonic god in Israel’s history would end up being the name they called the “prince of demons.” It was also an easy pun to mispronounce “Beelzebul” which means “lord of the house” as “Beelzebub” which means “lord of the flies” or “lord of the out-house, the Lord of the poop.”
All of these ideas come into play with how Jesus responds.
I’m sure the Pharisees would have loved to take the modern skeptic’s approach to the miracle. Just deny that it happened. “Nothing to see here folks.” But they didn’t have the benefit of 2,000 years of space between the miracle and hearing about it. Modern skeptics just assume all the parts of the Bible that talk about miracles are not true. That they can be explained away by psychology or science or superstition. The opponents of Jesus didn’t have that luxury—everyone saw it happen.
Which brings us to the other group—the ones who were demanding a sign. “If you’re really the Messiah, and not with the devil, show us a sign!” We’ll talk more about these guys later. First, He’s going to take out the first group. Verse 17:
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
Luke 11:17
I love when Jesus quotes Abraham Lincoln.
When people feel the need to correct my jokes, I’m tempted to try and cast the “dumb” spirit out of them, too. Ha (Here, let me explain the joke: dumb is another way of saying mute and Abraham Lincoln actually quoted Jesus. I’m making a note here to explain more jokes. Ha.)
I love when Jesus shows His superpowers. Like knowing what people are thinking. It was stuff like this that really hooked me when I was a 14-year-old comic book fan. Jesus is the ultimate superhero.
They were pretty sure they had an air-tight explanation for why Jesus could cast out demons. He’s like a magician who plants people in the crowd to fake magic tricks. It’s so obvious, He’s able to cast out demons because He’s in cahoots with them. Jesus and the devil are on the same team. He’s a spy. He’s trying to get people to worship the devil instead of God. The demons listen to Him because they’re in on it.
By the way, in Matthew and Mark, this is called the unforgivable sin—the unpardonable sin. To say the work of Jesus is the work of the devil—that He’s in league with Satan. I’ll come back to this in a little while.
Jesus shuts all this nonsense down.
Every kingdom divided against itself goes bad. Comes to ruin. Is laid waste. It will not stand.
Jesus reminds them of the history of Israel. Their history. Mixing a little worship of God with a little worship of the devil—remember how that worked out? Northern kingdom fighting against the southern kingdom. Have you forgotten? That’s why Rome’s foot is on your throat. And Rome’s just the most recent costume Beelzebul is wearing. All the kingdoms of the world have been under his control since he got Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden. Canaan, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome—and every kingdom, nation, and tribe of the world since then. If they’re not the kingdom of heaven, they are the kingdoms of the world.
I’m guessing some of you thought about how divided the United States is these days when I was talking about Abraham Lincoln earlier. How it seems like we’re heading toward another civil war. As Christians, our hope must not be any kingdom of this world. Be careful that your allegiance and your identity are in Christ alone. A house divided will not stand.
Jesus was bringing the kingdom of Heaven. Taking the world back one demonized person at a time. One prisoner of the world at a time. People who had been stolen by the devil. We usually think of “demon-possessed” people as “demon-controlled” people. But to be possessed by the devil just means he considers them to be his possessions, his property, his slaves. Which, to one degree or another, a demon-possessed person will be under his control. But this is the good news of the Gospel—Jesus is in the business of taking them back—setting people free!
Jesus’ argument is basically this: “Why would Satan go along with me tearing his kingdom apart?” As you well know, a kingdom divided against itself will not stand—and a house divided falls.”
Verse 18…
For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. Luke 11:18
Jesus bringing the kingdom of God to the world is an act of war. And it’s a civil war. A war of heaven aggression. Ha. The devil has possession of the world, Jesus is rising up from within, raising an army, in the world but not of the world, an army to overthrow the devil’s power and his control over the people of the whole world. World War Jesus.
So, Jesus is marching to Jerusalem, going from town to town setting people free from the satanic hold the devil has on them. Recruiting people from the army of darkness to the army of light. From slavery to the world to freedom in Christ. Everywhere He goes Jesus weakens the power and authority of the devil.
Why would the devil be in on that?
The Pharisees knew demons were a real problem. They just didn’t know what to do about it.
Verse 19…
And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Luke 11:19-20
There are some pretty weird stories about Jewish exorcists trying to cast out demons using strings up people’s noses and other desperate attempts. They weren’t very good at it—clearly, since everywhere Jesus went people were full of demons. I think what Jesus is saying is, “It’s not like you don’t agree casting out demons is a good thing—you’d do it if you could. Ask your Jewish exorcists if they think I’m doing the devil’s work—let them be the judge.”
I love that next line—it’s Jesus the superhero again: “But if I cast out demons with the finger of God—it just takes a flick of my finger—then here’s the deal: you should just admit the kingdom of God is here. The reign and power and authority of God is standing right here—with all ten of his fingers.
More Jesus comic book fun, verse 21…Jesus said,
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.
Luke 11:21-22
The devil is the strong man. Fully armed. Guarding his palace. King of the world. Lord of the house. The devil has been the ruler of the world for a long time—he’s taken it all and no one has been able to stop him. Anyone who ever tried just became one of his minions.
Then along comes Jesus, the one who is stronger than he is. Jesus is not passive, He attacks and overcomes him. Takes away his weapons and gives away his plunder.
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. Everything belongs to Jesus. He came to take it all back from the devil. Everything is to be used for God’s glory by God’s people and for the purpose that it was created—rather than all the dark, evil, wicked, vile purposes the world, the flesh, and the devil have twisted and distorted it into—taking all of God’s good gifts and using them selfishly to hurt people.
That’s all sin is. There is nothing on earth that is inherently sinful in and of itself. Sin only happens when we take something good and do bad things with it. When we misuse it. Anything can be a sin but everything God created can also be used properly to bring Him glory.
So Jesus kicks the devil’s butt and takes back everything he stole—then gives it all away to His people. And who are Jesus’ people?
Verse 23…
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Luke11:23
If someone decides they are not with Jesus in this civil war against the devil, then they’re on the other side. No one is neutral. Everyone has to ask themselves, “Where do I stand? With the old strongman, the devil? With the world? Or with the stronger man, Jesus?
And here’s a quick and easy test: Do I gather with the followers of Jesus, where He’s going to divide all the treasures with us? Or do I run away and scatter into the dark corners of the world with all the slaves of the devil?
We talk about gathering here on Sunday to worship God. The Greek word for “Church” is ecclesia which means an “assembly,” a “gathering.” The Greek word for “gather” in this verse is “synago” which is where they got the word “synagogue.” The place they gathered as the people of God to read Scripture and pray. It’s also where a lot of the church gathered to worship for the first 100 years or so after the resurrection.
Jesus says, “Whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Whoever does not “synago” in Christ’s name, with other followers of Jesus—they will scatter with the slaves of the devil into the dark places of the world.
I’ve had so many friends who lost their faith over the years. It always starts the same way—they stop gathering with other believers. They forsake the gathering of the saints. They stop going to church. It’s never good.
And it’s almost always for the same reason, too. Someone in church hurts them. Hurts their feelings. Makes them mad. Then they make a very dangerous turn of logic—they blame the failures of God’s people on God Himself.
They start to think the place where God does His special work, the place where the promises of Jesus, the forgiveness of sins, the sharing of the Gospel—everything we do in church—Sunday morning worship—they start to think it’s not good. They start to believe the work of Jesus when His people gather is the work of the devil.
We’re on dangerous ground when we stand outside the church and say what Jesus does in here is evil. We are really close to committing the unforgivable sin.
The church is the body of Christ. You can’t be part of Christ without being a member of His body. You know what you call a body part that’s cut off? Dismembered. You don’t want to be that.
Whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Sigh. We planted this church over 7 years ago. Why is it so hard to get a couple hundred faithful people to show up each week so we can go to the next step of building a place of our own where we can start doing this ministry the way God has called us to do it? I’m ready to get out of this gym and start really rocking the world for the Gospel. Anyone with me?
Verse 24 is the gut check of this whole section…
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26
Sounds like a horror movie. All this started with Jesus casting a demon out of a guy. Do you ever wonder what happens to the demons when they’re cast out?
Jesus says when He flicks a demon out of a person the demon goes searching waterless places looking for a new home. A waterless place. Like a desert. But demons don’t want to live in sand, they want to live in flesh so what is He really talking about? He’s talking about a deserted place. An empty place. Looking for a person who doesn’t already have a demon and isn’t filled with the Holy Spirit, either. Basically, the demon is looking for an empty person. An unbaptized person who doesn’t already have a tenant. A waterless place.
Which is why Jesus says, “and finding none” because there’s no such thing, then it will come back to the person it was kicked out of. And when it finds its old home clean and tidy—it’s party time. He’ll go get seven other demons more evil than himself (probably a compliment in the demon world) and they’ll all move in. Trash that place like an Air BnB on spring break.
We were all born on planet earth—we were all citizens of the world. Under the rule and reign of the kingdom of the world. Property of the strong man. Citizens of hell with all the rights and privileges thereof.
Modern man says, “If God is good, if He is loving, why would He send anyone to hell?” Do you see why that’s the wrong question?
God doesn’t have to send people to hell. We were already going. Jesus came to rescue us from our destiny. Not to condemn us. We were already condemned.
You were born under the power of hell but you certainly don’t have to stay that way. Everyone who believes and receives Jesus is rescued. All that has to happen is faith in Him.
A House Divided Will Not Stand So this whole section is Jesus telling us how it is. No one is empty. We either have the Spirit of God dwelling in us, or we have God’s enemies living inside us like a virus trying to control us and kill us. It’s one or the other. No one is neutral. You are either with Christ and He is within you or you are against Him without His protection. Without His blessing. Without His promise. Without hope.
You are either a baptized child of God—washed with water through the word of God’s promise.
Or you are a waterless place. An open invitation to all the dark, hellish nightmares of the world to come on in and tear it up.
You are either in the kingdom of heaven or you’re not.
You have Christ in you or you don’t.
You are in the house of God or you are not.
And if you are in Christ, then set your mind on the things of God instead of the things of the world. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
A house divided will not stand.
AMEN