Does every story Jesus told in the gospels contain a hidden message for Kingdom-seeking Christians today? That’s an important question to ask, lest we over-interpret scripture. Sometimes, this can be difficult to discern.
Today’s story is a good example. In context, it is a strong rebuke of our Lord’s critics who had greatly insulted Him. But what does it mean? And does it also contain a message for us today?
Before we tell you what we think, we’d like to hear your thoughts. You can use the comments section below, or you can just reply to this email and we’ll post your comments for you.
As you approach today’s reading, don’t forget: Never read a Bible verse. Be sure to go to SPACE and consider the entirety of today’s passage.
Seven Other Spirits More Evil
One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.*
He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive. And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For when a strong man is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings.
Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.”
(Luke 11:14-26, NLT)
*In the Matthew 12 version of this passage, Jesus replies, “the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.”
Now, consider the following questions:
Who/what does the strong man, fully armed represent?
Who/what does the stronger man who attacks and overpowers him represent?
Who/what does the formerly possessed person represent?
What does the evil spirit represent? Who do the seven evil spirits represent?
What does “all swept and in order” represent?
Is it possible for anyone today to be the person in the story?
What is the ultimate message of this story? Is there a message for Kingdom-seekers?
Next week, we’ll share what Pastor Whipple, the founder of our ministry, thought about this passage — and share our thoughts as well.
On a related note, Jesus and His disciples cast out many demons. In today’s reading, our Lord says Jewish exorcists did so as well. That got us wondering: What happened to these spirits? Do they still exist? Are they still cast out? Or perhaps people today exhibit behaviors that medical science calls one thing but might actually point toward demon-possession? We’d be interested to hear your thoughts!
I am a long time believer and have found a new call to help our existing generation and generations to come to find Jesus as their personal savior. I ask the lord to remove the vail from my eyes to see what I need to see to help him defeat satan and all of his plans to destroy these generations in spiritual warfare. And this all starts in our own households!
Hey, guys. Lots of good stuff here. Love getting your emails in my inbox. Just wanted to comment on the second to last sentence. I understand where the theory is coming from. But as someone who is diagnosed with OCD (the same form of it that some speculate that Martin Luther also suffered from) and OCPD, this has been a dilemma I have struggled with for years, since mental health and faith communities are often in tension with each other. It can be very dangerous for us to assert that a mental illness someone is enduring is fake. While the suggestion may be well-intentioned, and while it is technically not entirely outside the realm of possibility that there could be a sin issue or a demonic influence in some instances, we still need to withhold that speculation, since it can be very painful for someone with a mutation in the brain to be told they don't have a condition and just need to repent or just have more faith. Speaking from experience. No amount of praying or "repenting" fixed my condition. My clinical diagnosis is due to a genetic disorder in both sides of my family and is an effect of the fall. Hope this makes sense. Not accusing you guys of saying all those things I included in this comment. Just wanted to caution to be careful about it. Blessings on your ministry!