Middletown transcript., 1914-02-07

strongly emphasized. Their existence,
their malignity, their evil powers,
their relation to the devil, and yet
their subsection to our Lord, is all
clearly set before us. The devil had
30 taken possession Of this man that
he could not speak, yet a word from
Jesus, and the dumb spake. That he
should have such power caused the
people to wonder" ". 14. His mir
Rcles were for one principal reason
John 5:S6). Matthew tells US (12:2S)
that In this case they asked the ques-
ton: 'Is this thesSon of David" e. g.,
the promised Messiah? The record
does not, however, indicate that they
believed on him-were converted.
They knew what had been prophesied
about the Coming One Qsa- 29:1S,
1878, Al, yet they hesitated to come
put on his side. Into the midst Of
their controversy ". 15, Matt. 1924;
Mark 3:22) the Scribes and Pharisees
projected themselves. They had
come down from Jerusalem seeking,
'that they might accuse him" John
1885, S6). 1t is ever thus that the
devil seeks to divert.
Convincing Logic.
II. The Defense wv. 1920. "But
be, knowing their thoughts" Evident
ly they dared not openly to make their
accusations. They would not accept
the natural and true explanation.
Jesus endured this contradiction and
these charges for us lisa. 1873, A.,
and must not his disciples expect
like treatment? (Matt. 1925. With
convincing logic Jesus reveals their
motive ". 16) and demonstrates the
untenable position and conclusion
which resulted from their own charge.
Satan is not fighting himself. A king
never sends an army against his own
soldiers, but against those of his en-
emy. Therefore, out of their own ac-
knowledgement that the devils were
cast out, he proves that the kingdom
Of God has come upon them. Such an
accusation ". 15) was to Jesus an ev-
ldence Of the depravity of their hearts.
There is keen sarcasm in the answer
he demanded from them ". 19). Evi-
IDENTIFY they, too, had had power over
demons, and it is easy to see the d.
lemma into which he led them. This
is not the only time that Jesus con-
Victed men out of their own testi-
mony Matt. 21:25).
III. The Application wv. 21-26).
With a true teachers skill Jesus
drives home the truth brought out in
the preceding paragraph. Satan is a
Strong man." but he, Jesus, is strong
er. He has power to overcome and to
take from the strong man his armor
(defense), and his spoil, and to bind
him fast ". %; Mark 3:27; Rev.
20:2). Those bound by chains of sin
are the spoil Of Satan, and Jesus is
the only one powerful enough to
break the power of cancelled sin
And set the prisoner free.
Cleanse the "PaIace."
With Christ there must be entire |
possession; there can be no neutrality
". 49, We cannot belong to Christ |
and 'be a slave to Satan, to mammon,
to self, or even to others whom we |
may love. The persistence of evil is
here indicated. Unclean spirits are
ever seeking a habitation. Therefore
1t is not enough for a man to be
cleansed, his dwelling must be occu.
pied, and If the Holy Spirit does not
take possession, the evil one will. The
parable that follows wv. 24-26) |
teaches this truth negatively. In one
case Satan is dislodged by Christ, he
finds the palace" ". 22) (man) to
be pre-occupied. In this case the pal
ace is empty Matt. 12:4D. The alb
sence Of a positive attachment, too, or
possession by, Jesus Christ, involves
hostility to him. This picture is that
Of the reformed man, not Of the re-
generated man. This latter has his
place pre-occupied, and the returning
spirit can find no place Of abode. I'm
less, however, such be the case, the
latter end Of that man is far worse
than his first state; witness the gold
cured Incorporate men who return to
heir cups e Pet 2:22); they return
SONAA9O bACJ AGtNO III blAOu6 uOLCn0CA
70 drive of the returning enemy.
This application and principle here
may, and does, account
or most of the back-sliding after many
" the so-called conversions, viz, that /
he germ Of character has not been
generated John 3:D.
". The Illustration (vv. 33-36). In
IFS teaching, Jesus constantly used IA
niliar objects as Illustrations. The I
ncongruity Of placing a candle under 1
bushel measure rather than in its ]
ightful place that it may conspicu- I
usly perform its proper function is at I
nee apparent. Jesus is the Light Z
John 1877; S:12), so also is the I
'hristian. They are to be SO set be-
ore men that, seeing Christ reflected (
4 them, they will glorifl the Father G
Tho sent him. This is that which is Y
sed by God in redeeming, transform G
lg and ennobling earth's sinful chill q
ren, by showing to them the path of
like transformation and redemption. h
Ience the warning Jesus sounds ir d
erse 35. Verse 86 is particularly viz. {
|, for 1t suggests the beauty to 8
g seen through the medium of a d
haritable eye. What the eye is to 2
le body so is the win to the soul. D
the will be set upon pleasing God,
len the whole character win be sur G
3ndered to him, and there is there. r
IRE no danger such as is suggested
verse 26. This also suggested that
any may be deceived By the strong b
slusions" Of the devil. That We be
IIlv surrendarnd fo f3of "a fherafore =