A United Kingdom

By Pastor Dan Hickling

“Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. All the people were astonished and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, ‘It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.’”—Matthew 12:22–24 (NIV)

The Book of Matthew is like us being along for a journey that Jesus is leading that leads us deeper and deeper into an understanding of God’s kingdom. What’s it like? What are its values? Who are its citizens? When and where does it manifest itself? These and many other questions are progressively answered for us through the teachings, miracles, and interactions of Jesus. This was Matthew’s objective in compiling his gospel record, including the above episode.

To set the scene, Jesus had gained such a reputation for healing people that a man is brought to him in a most desperate condition. This particular man wasn’t just possessed by a demon, but he was also unable to see or speak. In that time, it was a common belief that a person had to verbally renounce a demon for it to leave them. So you can see the dire situation he’s in because he can’t even speak. But this limitation doesn’t pose any problem for Jesus, who completely heals him.

Great story, right? Wrong! That is if you’re one of the Pharisees watching all of this unfold. These religious rulers had steadily grown more and more threatened by the spiritual power and authority Jesus exercised, so much so that it became their mission to criticize everything He did, even something as praiseworthy as this. So, how do they attempt to turn something so positive into a negative? By accusing Jesus of being possessed by a demon, Himself! They were essentially saying, “It takes one to know one!” At this point of attack, Jesus presents an important truth: “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?” (Matthew 12:25–26 NIV).

Christ confronts the accusation that He was working in the power of Satan with some common sense: “Why would Satan empower someone to bring down his kingdom? Don’t you recognize that a kingdom can’t stand when divided? A kingdom must be united!” This is such a basic principle that the accusers had no logical comeback against it. It really ended any debate as far as the source of Christ’s power and authority. But it didn’t just end the debate; it also opened an important understanding regarding God’s kingdom.

Jesus goes on to build on this reality of a kingdom requiring singular unity (Matthew 12:30), especially when it comes to the kingdom of God. What’s God’s kingdom like? For one thing, it’s characterized by unity. There’s no division within it that would weaken or undermine it. It’s a unified whole. In fact, it’s the most united kingdom that ever was or ever will be. Why? Because its eternal King will always ensure its eternal unity.

Followers of Christ are also “kingdom people.” This means we come to value and embody the characteristics of His kingdom, including unity. Divisiveness doesn’t define God’s kingdom, nor should it define our lives. We exist to work for and not against the work God is doing through others. We’re to celebrate and not criticize when He does so. May we increasingly grow in doing so as we increasingly understand this kingdom reality.

Pause: What important aspect of God’s kingdom does Jesus reveal in this exchange?

Practice: Evaluate yourself objectively today. Ask yourself if you’re more prone towards criticizing or celebrating as God works in the lives of others. In light of that, how does this passage challenge you in this?

Pray: Lord, we are naturally given to criticize and divide when we should pursue unity. Help us to see that unity is the necessary atmosphere of Your kingdom, and the same should be true for our own lives. Make us more like You; make us more united as kingdom people! Amen.