Contemplative Bible Reading

Matthew 12:25-26 (New Living Translation)

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive.

Jesus had just removed a demon from a man and restored his sight and speech. Some Pharisees heard about this miracle and accused Jesus of receiving “power from Satan, the prince of demons.”

Jesus replied to this accusation with the above verses. This is sort of good news from Jesus. Let me paraphrase Jesus with, “Okay, let’s assume I receive power from Satan. I am casting out Satan with power from Satan. Satan is fighting Satan. Satan cannot survive such infighting.”

Good news! Satan is killing Satan and will soon die of his own doing! That is good news.

On the other hand, continues Jesus, if the Spirit of God is working in this case, the Kingdom of God has arrived here. That is even better news.

Either way, good news! Yet somehow some of the folks there tried to turn it all into bad news. And, those folks seem to have forgotten what a tremendous blessing has come to the man who had a demon, couldn’t speak, and was blind. What about that guy? Praise God for that guy’s relief.