Add it Up: To Multiply, We Need to Subtract Division

February 8, 2010

Add it Up: To Multiply, We Need to Subtract Division

Matthew 12:15-32

Julie Wenning

Central Truth

Division brings confusion, pain, and destruction. Followers of Christ want to multiply God’s love, but division within gets in our way.

And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:25)

God's Chosen Servant

15 Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and ordered them not to make him known. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21     and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

In responding to the Pharisees, Jesus announces a universal principle that a house divided against itself cannot stand. I’m thankful that my family are all Longhorn fans, so we never had to display a “house divided” sign and support both UT and its less-well-known rival. This is just one of many ways that we divide ourselves today. Other divisions in a house can be between husband and wife (Proverbs 21:9), mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, or child and parent. But the greatest of these divisions comes within ourselves—between our own heart and mind (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Like others, I have division in my life. My heart wants one thing, and my mind another. My actions don’t match my words. (Romans 7:18-19) During most of my teenage years, the faith I professed on Sundays was not consistent with how I lived the rest of the week. Even today, I struggle with seeking performance-based acceptance from others rather than pleasing God alone. Daily, I need to remind myself to put my selfishness aside and serve others, trusting and obeying God. In my role as a leader of high school students, I am called to multiply the gospel—to call young women to greatness, a life following Christ. I’ve realized, though, that I can’t multiply anything unless I remove the division in my life.

In Matthew 12:25, Jesus knew the Pharisees' thoughts just as He knows ours. “Pharisee” in Hebrew means “separated ones.” They believed rewards and punishments were based on keeping the Law, but their hearts were separated from God. The Pharisees missed that Jesus' power came from God because they had been blinded by their self-righteousness. The longer we pursue Christ, the more easily we can take on the Pharisees’ attitudes and substitute doing for God rather than being available for God to work through us.

Whether our hearts, actions, homes, or relationships are divided, we are in trouble with division in our midst. In Matthew 12:25, Jesus says that anything divided against itself cannot stand. If our goal is to multiply Christ’s love in others, we must first remove the division in ourselves.

1. What is the division in your life that prevents you from multiplying Christ’s love?

2. When are you too quick to look at division in others rather than in yourself? (Matthew 7:3)

3. What divided relationships do you need to mend?

4. What is your guide for how to resolve division (conflict) biblically? (Matthew 18:15-17)

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Who did the prophet Isaiah say that Jesus was?

2. What is prophecy?

3. Can we trust that what God says will always come true?