Jesus has just been teaching the scribes who have been accusing him of being in league with Ba’al Zebub, or even of being demon-possessed using parables. These parables all had the same basic theme: that since strength depends on unity, an attack on any part of Satan’s domain is a sign not of collusion with Satan, but an attack on the enemy’s power. Satan’s kingdom, divided against itself could not stand. Jesus’ attacks against the kingdom of the enemy by casting out demons are successful because they are an attack by a superior power, Jesus. Satan wants people trapped in captivity under sin & death but Jesus wants to set men free from sin. John 10:10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. Jesus is our atoning sacrifice, through which we can enter into life.
Jesus, our Passover Lamb–God instructed every household of the Israelite people at Passover to select a year-old male lamb without defect (Exodus 12). The head of the household was to slaughter the lamb at twilight, taking care that none of its bones were broken, and apply some of its blood to the tops and sides of the doorframe of the house. The lamb was to be roasted and eaten Exodus 12:7-8. God said that when He saw the lamb’s blood on the doorframe of a house, He would “pass over” that home and not permit “the destroyer” (Exodus 12:23-24). The New Testament establishes a relationship between the original ordinance and the consummate Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let’s celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. The prophet John the Baptist recognized Jesus John 1:29 29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Peter links the lamb without defect (Exodus 12:5) with Christ, whom he calls a “lamb without blemish or defect” 1 Peter 1:18-19 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. Jesus is qualified to be called One “without blemish” because His life was completely free from sin Heb 4:15 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. We believers have symbolically applied the sacrificial blood of Christ to their hearts and thus have escaped eternal death Heb 9:12 1 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Just as the Passover lamb’s applied blood caused the “destroyer” to pass over each household, Christ’s applied blood causes God’s judgment to pass over sinners and gives life to believers. Rom 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. As the first Passover marked the Hebrews’ release from Egyptian slavery, so the death of Christ marks our release from the slavery of sin. Rom 8:2 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Through His sinless life and sacrificial death, Jesus became the only One capable of giving people a way to escape death and a sure hope of eternal life (1 Peter 1:20-21 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Because Jesus lived a life completely free from sin, fully obeying God’s will and remaining morally and spiritually perfect, His sinlessness qualified Him to be the perfect sacrifice for humanity 1 Peter 2:22 21 For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps, 22 He who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and took away our sins because He had none of His own 1 John 3:5 5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who remains in Him sins continually; no one who sins continually has seen Him or knows Him.
Sacrificed so We Could Be Free From Sin–When Jesus died on the cross, He bore the sins of the world, taking upon Himself the punishment humanity deserved (2 Corinthians 5:21 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. ; 1 John 2:2 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. Jesus’ sacrifice is enough to save the whole world, but not everyone will believe and BE saved—it’s whosoever will. This act of grace set believers free from the law of sin and death, meaning sin no longer has ultimate control over those who are “in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1-2 2 and Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death Believers are called to live as “slaves of righteousness,” empowered by the Holy Spirit to resist sin and pursue holiness (Romans 6:18 18 and after being freed from sin, you became slaves to righteousness. Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Transformation–Being freed from sin is not merely avoiding wrongdoing; it is a transformation of the heart and life. Those who accept Jesus receive a new nature 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. We are a New Creation in Christ—the old man that we were is dead, and we are now dead to sin, but alive in Christ. And since God reconciled us to Himself through Jesus, we now have peace with God 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. And this frees us NOT to sin, inclining our hearts toward God instead of our selfish desires. John 8:36: If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. This freedom allows Christians to serve God and others in love, reflecting the holiness and righteousness of Christ in daily life, and resulting in eternal life. Romans 6:22 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
Choice Between Two Kingdoms–Your choice is between two kingdoms. One of sin and death and misery and being robbed, killed and destroyed; and the other of righteousness and peace and joy and justice and life everlasting. The world cannot see this great difference, because it has been blinded by sin. What the world calls freedom is really bondage.
God Gives Evidence–The scribes in our verses are simply so blinded by sin that they cannot tell good from evil, right from wrong, righteousness from wickedness. When Jesus says 27 But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. He is proclaiming that He has power over Satan. If the scribes were of God, they would immediately see this, like John the Baptist, Peter, and so many others instantly did. If they were really doing the work of God, it would have been instantly recognizable that Jesus was from God. But, instead their pronouncement on blasphemy indicates that they could not see that Jesus’ works are accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit. And it was this same Spirit that should have been showing these scribes who Jesus was—but He didn’t, because they didn’t want to do God’s will, or follow God’s plan—they had their own plans. The fact that they have rejected the Son of God, out of hand, and have made up their minds that God the Son is possessed by a demon, and will not even acknowledge the evidence of the signs that He is performing so that they will believe that He is the Son of God. This falls right into line with what the Apostle John said about the purpose of Jesus’ miraculous signs. John 20:30-31 30 So then, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have life in His name. The fact that they have completely rejected Jesus to the point that even His miracles that were there to show them that He was from God were attributed to Satan and his minions meant that they were so blind that they would ignore the evidence of their own eyes, and never believe in Jesus. And since Jesus is the One and Only sacrifice for sin, the One Passover Lamb offered for the sins of the world, when they rejected Him, completely, there was nothing that could be done. Heb 10:26-29 26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…29 How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? And so this complete rejection of Him, and therefore God’s plan for salvation is why Jesus says in verses 28-30
The Unpardonable Sin–28 “Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons and daughters of men, and whatever blasphemies they commit; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” The blasphemy committed by them was that they could not recognize the difference between the Holy Spirit of God working through Jesus these amazing miracles, and the foul, corrupting work of Satan and his spiritual minions the demons and fallen angels. They couldn’t recognize the difference between God and Satan, and so there was really no hope for them. The sin against the Holy Spirit is blaspheming Him by really believing that He is evil instead of Good. These scribes were of the world, who would not know Jesus. They were of those who were not of His sheep, and would not hear His voice. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness” (Isa 5:20). Now, for those of you who may be worried about having committed this unforgivable sin, remember that the same saying that warns against ascribing evil to Jesus also assures of God’s willingness to forgive “all the sins and blasphemies of men.” Anyone who is worried about having committed the sin against the Holy Spirit has not yet committed it, for anxiety of having done so is evidence of the potential for repentance. But repent! There is no record in Scripture of anyone asking forgiveness in repentance before God and being denied that forgiveness. But, there is record of those who became so hard-hearted that they could not bring themselves to repent. I would suggest to you that the fact that you’re even worried about it suggests some conviction by the Holy Spirt, and therefore evidence that God is still drawing you, and that you haven’t committed it. However, this sin is not the only way to end up in hell! So, my advice is to get your heart right with God by confessing your sins, repenting of them, and following Jesus closely from this day forward!