Divided Spiritual House Series

JUST JESUS: CHAPTER BY CHAPTER THRU LUKE

Divided Spiritual House

LUKE 11:14-23

#justJesus

INTRODUCTION… Metaphor (p)

A metaphor is “a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.” Metaphors are images and symbolic language to describe something abstract or hard to explain or even something embarrassing. We call metaphors figures of speech and most of the time we want a particular image to come into mind when we use them. Example:

* We call a marriage ceremony “tying the knot” because two lives come together as one.

* We call lazy person a “couch potato” because if any vegetable would be lazy it would be a potato. On a related note, we all know that the vegetable (fruit) that is late all the time a tomato… they always want to “ketchup” later.

* We might say being busy at work means we are “drowning” because it is overwhelming.

* If we are super hungry we say, “I could eat a horse.”

* When we are sensitive or show feelings easily people say we “wear our heart on our sleeve.”

This is even true when it comes to spiritual things or Biblical thoughts. The Bible often uses metaphors and symbolic language to describe spiritual realities. We often do the same because sometimes spiritual Truth is hard to describe and we want a mental picture to accompany our words. Example:

* Psalm 23 famously states that “The Lord is my shepherd” showing His care for us.

* We might call the Christian life a “walk” meaning it is one step at a time and a journey.

* Jesus calls Himself the “Bread of Life” trying to explain that we need Him.

* When going through a hard time spiritually, we might say we are going through “a valley.”

* Wisdom from God in the Bible is described as the “fountain of life.”

* The Apostle Paul calls the Church the “Body of Christ” meaning it is interconnected.

You get the idea.

Today we are going to be in Luke 11 where Jesus employs a metaphor to explain spiritual truth and reality that we absolutely need to take to heart. The impactful part about this metaphor is that Jesus uses it as does the rest of the Bible. We find it all throughout the New Testament in the Gospels and in Paul’s writings and in the Book of Hebrews.

Let’s do some reading in the New Testament. I am going to go in order through the New Testament starting with the Gospels and then ending in the Book of Hebrews.

THE METAPHOR

First, we have a passage in which Jesus describes His teaching and God’s Kingdom like a person building a house. The metaphor focuses on the foundation of the house. Jesus teaches us that if the foundation of our lives… the house He is teaching about… is based on Him then our lives have a sure foundation.

READ MATTHEW 7:24-27 (ESV)

“Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

The next passage we are going to read comes from Luke 11 which is our passage for today. We are going to read it and sort of move on, but we will come back to it. In Luke 11, Jesus talks about a house being divided and how a house divided cannot stand. It is similar to Matthew 7 in that the foundation is completely important, but in this passage the foundation is not so firm because it is divided. Jesus expands the metaphor and even talks about a person breaking into a house or palace and how that destroys the sanctity and security of the palace.

And by the way, don’t be thrown off by the use of “Beelzebul” or “Beelzebub,” it is just a formal nickname for the Devil or Satan.

READ LUKE 11:14-23 (ESV)

Now He was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test Him, kept seeking from Him a sign from heaven. 17 But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.