Intro. Some texts are tough. Want to study a tough one today
A. Read Matthew 12:43-45
B. Questions arise
1. What is represented by the unclean spirit that departs from a man?
2. What is the significance of the spirit returning with seven worse spirits?
3. What does this mean to us today?
C. We’ll answer these questions later
I. The Context – Chap. 23 Disputes between Jesus and the Pharisees, the traditionalist sect that hated Jesus
A. Chapter starts 12:1,2 they critized disciples for plucking grain on Sabbath – "That’s work that's prohibited on the sabbath."
-1. Jesus vs. 7,8 -
a. they were inconsistent in their reasoning (vs. 3-6),
b. They didn’t understand basic principles of mercy (vs. 7)
c. He was greater than temple (vs. 5) , and He was Lord of Sabbath (read vs. 8)
B. Man with withered hand
1. On Sabbath, and they wanted to accuse Him (vs. 10)
2. Jesus (vs. 13-14)
a. vs. 13a. Jesus didn’t lift a finger, they couldn’t accuse Him of working
b. still healed the man, with His words
c. vs 14They were furious
C. Multitudes followed him, He healed them all (vs. 15)
D. He healed a man with a demon that made man blind and mute (vs. 22,23) all amazed, could be David’s son?
1. Farisees challenge – vs. 24 "He does miracles by power of Beelzebub."
a. Couldn’t deny them. Just attributed them to Satan
2. Jesus' point – That’s absurd, I’m hurting Satan. Why would he be fighting against himself? Vs. 25
-3. They had blasphemed the Holy Spirit (vs. 32)
a. When seen miracles, attributed them to Satan, what hope could there be for them?
E. The challenge in verse 33 - This was absurd
1. They had already seen miracles, heard of hundreds and thousands who had seen them.
2. Wanted a trick – everybody loves a good magician – rabbit out of hat, Herod wanted to see trick
a. Not interested in doing anything about it, weren’t interested in truth, changing lives
b. Let’s just challenge him to do a trick
3. Jesus said, I’ll give you a sign – Jonah – resurrection
a. If there are any that are of good ground, that will be enough for them.
b. I’m not going to demean myself by giving you a magician show.
4. Then he condemned them for the hardness of their heart – those of Ninive, Queen of Sheba would judge
F. Review the context
1. With that in mind, I think interpretation of text becomes apparent
II. Explaining the text
A. The unclean spirit that leaves a man
1. Unclean spirit represents their evil
2. Goes out of a man – their evil might have left them temporarily if Jesus had done some trick.
a. He might have flown around like Peter Pan, disappeared and appeared again.
3. They might have said, "wow," we’ve got to acknowledge that, Guess we’ll have to give Him credit.
a. Some evil might have gone out of them – temporarily. That last word, "temporarily" is the key.
4. But, how was their heart?
a. Were they honest and sincere? Truth seekers? Good ground?
5. Any changes they would have made would have been temporary, not permanent
B. Then after their temporary, insincere repentance, their evil would have returned, with seven worse spirits
1. Would have been worse off then than the beginning --- 2 Peter 2:20-22
C. Summary
1. What does the idea of evil spirit leaving mean? Evil temporarily going out of insincere people who feign repentance for the wrong reason.
2. What does it’s return with 7 worse spirits represent? Their worsened condition after insincere repentance.
III. Applications: the danger of insincere, incomplete repentance Does this happen today?–
A. How does it occur? – people are baptized, become Christians, without completely changing lives, giving themselves over to Jesus Christ. Horrible results
1. Perhaps they are convinced of some truth, but they're not converted to person, Jesus Christ
a. Someone reads them Mark 16:16 – "Yeah, I guess it says I need to be baptized."
i. However, they're never moved by who Jesus is, never repent, change heart, change lives.
b. other truths, "denominationalism is wrong, yeah,"
c. Congregations can fill up with those converted to some facts, but not to Christ – result disastrous
2. Family tradition
a. "My parents members of church, my grandparents, great grandparents..."
b. Baptized, not because love Jesus, dedicate lives to Him,
c. rather, it’s just expected of me.
3. Pressure – "You need to be baptized!" "When you going to be baptized?"
a. "OK, I’ll be baptized (and hope I'll be left alone!)"
4. Attracted to something besides the seed (Luke 8:11 "the seed is the word of God"
a. recreational programs
b. like preacher, girlfriend, etc.
i. sometimes come for girlfriend, becomes interested in seed.
ii. sometimes baptized just for girl friend.
c. We need to offer just the seed!
i. If preach something else: recreation, social gospel, church is filled but with people who aren’t drawn to the right thing
ii. though may change some things, repentance if it isn’t based on right thing, love for Christ and His word, will result in 7 worse demons.
5. Summary- The mind says yes, the heart is still in the world
a. You shouldn’t only come to God with your mind, also your heart
b. If you are convinced of some things in your mind, but aren’t willing to give your heart to God, make radical changes, better to wait.
c. If your heart’s not in it, your laying groundwork for seven worse demon to come back.
B. Specific areas where we see seven worse demons
-1. Selfishness in marriage
a. Serious marriage problems among Christians very destructive
i. destroy reputations, souls
ii. who suffers most? Children
b. lately inundated by serious problems among committed Christians – three reasons
i. money – "my money" "your money" - two income families
ii. rearing children
iii. in laws
c. serious more deep rooted problem
i. haven’t learned basics of following Christ
ii. love- consider spouse more important than self (Phil. 2)
iii. mercy (Luke 6:38b)
iiii. All have defects, weak areas –people want God to be merciful with them, but they don’t want to be merciful with spouses.
d. What’s happened when see "seven worse demons" in marriages of Christians?
i Been insincere repentance somethwere,
ii. Need to go take Christianity 101 again, get basics down.
--2. Fighting brethren
a. When brethren become cross, go to war, there you have "seven worse demons."
b. In church people claim to have repented, claim to have been washed in the blood of the lamb!
c. And yet so often, too often, we side pride and self seeking
i. "I wanna preach," "I wanna be in charge."
ii. If everything isn’t done as I want in the business meeting, there is pouting
d. Quick to label others as false teachers, expect the worse, read things into what others say
e. Who suffers most? Children, recently converted, lost seeking truth
e. What’s happened? Insincere repentance, people have missed very basics of serving Christ
-3. Christians with little enthusiasm
a. Their conscience says, "God exists, don’t want to go to hell, etc." better attend services
b. But seek for excuses not to attend
c. If attend, sing with little enthusiasm, greet others with little enthusiasm
i. Israelites in the time of Malachi (1:13) "Oh what a weariness!"
ii. church at Laodicea – better cold, lukewarm is 7 worst demons
d. Christians with little enthusiasm kill churches. These are seven worse demons!
Conclusion- How can we avoid 7 worse demons?
A. Analyze our motives
1. Why are we here? Parents? Obligation?
B. Repent from the heart
1. Look constantly at Christ
a. His miracles, such as those in chapter 12
b. His words, "no man ever spoke like this man"
2. Allow our hearts to soak in His teaching, His way of being
3. Pray sincerely for him to help us to have pure hearts
C. There were some in Jesus’ day who weren’t like the Pharisees
1. The apostles, though imperfect, left everything to follow him.
2. Though stumbled, got up
3. Eventually turned world upside down, tortured and killed for Him.
D. Matthew 11:28-30
1. If you do it halfway – seven worse demons will come
2. If you do it from your heart, rivers of living water will fill your soul
E. Mark 16:16
Back to home