It seems like nearly every week I run into people who have some sort of faith. They say that believe in Jesus or at least call themselves Christians, but don’t attend a church. Their faith is very personal, private, and even comfortable. They choose to follow Jesus on their terms, as long as He doesn’t expect too much.
I don’t often run into people who antagonistic to the faith - though, periodically, I will hear about them a bit on media outlets. I know there are those who may have had a bad experience with a Christian and so they paint all Christians with the same brush.
There are also others who are inquisitive about faith from an academic or logical exercise, but are unwilling to truly commit to faith in Jesus. For them it’s more about the adventure of the argument that intrigues them, but not the result.
There are many other types of people that we will encounter in relation to Jesus - some are ambivalent - live and let live; some are boldly evangelistic toward their anti-Christian rhetoric.
Open your bibles to Luke 11:14-36.
There is a lot going on in this passage - from exorcism to accusations, rebuttals to teaching, and even peculiarities and parables. There are also several different types of people in this passage. It seems like the main point that Luke is helping us to see is the differentiation between true followers and those who are not. We can see this a bit by a few decisive statements that Jesus makes:
Luke 11:23 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
Luke 11:28 “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Then in a comparison between the current (mostly Jewish) generation to which He is speaking and some gentiles from the Old Testament:
Luke 11:31–32 “…something greater than Solomon is here. … something greater than Jonah is here.”
Then as he calls true followers to a life of integrity
Luke 11:35 “Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.”
In light of these statements, we could summarize the message of this section as…
Theme: True followers of Jesus are those who hear His words, respond with belief, and strive toward holiness.
So, as we reflect on this passage and it’s theme together, let’s walk through these verses looking at 5 different types of people who are described here.
the sick
the slanderers
the skeptics
the swarm
the saved
And how Jesus addresses them, calling them to faith.
I wonder if in the process of considering these five types of people, if we’ll find ourselves there?
Let’s begin where the passage does, with the sick.
Luke 11:14 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.
In considering this man, we don’t get to know much about what happens afterwards, but I think we can safely ask the question:
The sick want healing, but do they want Jesus?
Here, this sick person is not ill in the medical sense, but ill in the possessed sense. He had a demon that caused him to be mute. I’ve kind of wondered, how did He know it was a demon and not a physical malady? To that point, how often do we look at sicknesses around us and overlook the spiritual or demonic - maybe because it’s not crazy enough, and just assume it’s a medical condition.
Whatever the case, Jesus casts out the demon which allowed the man to speak. This prompted many around to marvel at the miracle.
Now, Jesus healed a lot of people and many of them turned their lives around. Some, as we’ve seen, even wanted to continue to follow Jesus. But I wonder, for those who had been healed did they really want all that Jesus had to offer or did they simply want benefits of a brief encounter? We may never know, but we can ask that question about us. Do we want Jesus or just _____?
The second group that we see here is what Anyabwile called “slanderers.” It seems like this passage helps us to see that…
Slanderers make accusations but don’t pay attention.
Luke 11:15 ESV
But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,”
Beelzebul - sometimes known as the Lord of the Flies. Beezebul is not referenced anywhere in the OT, but several extra-biblical sources suggest that this was a name for a Canaanite deity. Luke doesn’t tell us exactly who these slanderers are. Maybe they are religious leaders or simply cynical people. It’s as though they want to attack Jesus’ character possibly because they are threatened by His power or popularity, but not pay attention to what He is saying. Beyond that, their logic doesn’t make sense - as Jesus points that out (which we will see in a moment).
But in addition to the slanderers, it seems like among the audience, there are people that we might call skeptics…
Skeptics seek a sign, but not The Sign.
Luke 11:16 ESV
while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.
It’s as though they want a show. The ESVSB suggests that even with a sign from heaven (whatever that might be) - they would not believe. Jesus has been performing many signs and just caused a mute man to speak - and yet they refuse to believe and acknowledge Jesus for Who He is. This sign is not enough. My guess is the next won’t be either.
In response to all of these individuals (the sick, the slanderers, and the skeptics), Luke records this reply from Jesus:
Luke 11:17–22 ESV
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.
Jesus addresses the slanderers by arguing against their logic in a couple of ways:
Logic of kingdom dynamics - Divided kingdoms fall. A kingdom that has competing elements is unable to stand firm. Just as it would not make sense for the US Army to fight against the US Navy - they are on the same side.
Jesus is pointing out that it would not make anyone to cast out demons by the power of demons.
Secondly, Jesus seems to present the…
Logic of authority - If I cast out demons by Beelzebul - then how do your people cast them out? How do you know the difference? But then He gets them to the crux of the issue. If God’s power is behind what Jesus does, then the Kingdom of God is near and you’d better pay attention to it.
It’s at this point that we get to see Jesus presenting the first of His definitive statements:
Luke 11:23 ESV
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
There are times when we want to have faith in Jesus on our terms, but we have to recognize that if it’s faith my way, then we are not with Him, we’re actually against Him. If we’re only with Him on the surface, then we’re in for a rude awakening.
Luke 11:24–26 ESV
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
Now, this is probably one of the most peculiar pericopes in the Gospels. On one hand, it seems quite difficult to understand what Jesus means by one spirit, waterless places, and seven spirits.
It seems like some people may begin to make moves toward Christ or get their life in order, but without true faith responding with obedience/life change, then the vacuum leaves places for more chaos.
It’s sort of like the person who wins a big lottery or receives a huge settlement or a large inheritance without making necessary changes to know how to manage that new found windfall. Some people end up in a worse financial mess after the windfall than they were before.
So, imagine if we are the one who is sick - like the mute man. What happens if we experience Jesus’ work in a special way? Does it draw us close to Him? Does it prompt us to make changes internally? Or do we simply go away, grateful for the blessing and forget all about Him?
What if we make changes that seem to put our lives in order only to find that those changes are window dressings on broken windows? That is essentially a sort of legalism - looking and acting like a follower without having a true faith.
story from Eric Bass regarding someone who grew up in another denomination - but only made performative changes in this life and never truly received the gospel. His religion was only on the outside. Eric walked through the gospel with him - from scripture - and opened his eyes to see that following Jesus is so much more than just legalistic or moralistic conformity. It begins with faith and continues with a transformation from within.
As Romans 12:2 states
Romans 12:2 ESV
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
The work that Jesus is doing in us is an inside out transformation. He is changing us at the core, not simply going for behavior modification.
Have you been transformed from within or are you simply playing a game?
So, after having addressed these first three types of people - the sick, slanderers, and skeptics - a woman from the crowd steps up and makes a comment about Jesus’ mom…
Luke 11:27 ESV
As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”
It’s almost as though she has just been amazed by Jesus’ teaching and can’t help herself. But again, is her amazement genuine or is she just getting swept up in the movement of the crowd or the swarm. It seems like in any movement there are people who will stand up and stand out for the cause - at least for a time.
It seems like this part of the passage helps us to see that…
People of the swarm are along for the ride, but lack commitment.
Like people who jump on the latest fad or trend, these people may simply like the feeling. Do they have the staying power to continue when the going gets tough? When the storm clouds of life cause a deluge of pain, will they still see God as good and Sovereign?
And yet, Jesus, as He frequently does, cuts through the fluff, the doubt, the skepticism, and slander by stating:
Luke 11:28 ESV
But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Jesus is not simply lickling itching ears. He is teaching the Word of God so that we might hear, learn, understand and live.
You see, no matter where we are in this - sick in need of healing, slandering in need of a wake up call, skeptical in need of truth, or part of the swarm in need of depth - there is hope. In the final verses Jesus points out that…
The truly saved hear, believe, obey, and shine.
I think this is where there is truly hope for all of us. Our emotional instability, cynical criticism, waywardness all can be addressed when we come faith genuinely - when we are truly saved. True salvation begins with a genuine assessment of where we are. To this, Jesus addresses his current generation and the sign-seeking of the skeptics.
Luke 11:29–32 ESV
When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
Jesus is likely talking to a mostly Jewish audience and He calls them out as evil because they want signs rather than listening to the truth of who Jesus is and why He came.
Earlier in the service, we read a bit from the book of Jonah. There, this reluctant Jewish prophet was called to go to the wicked people of Ninevah and proclaim a message of destruction unless they repent. On hearing the word of the prophet, these gentiles repented and God relented from His judgment. (teenagers, we are going to look at the book of Jonah this week and next - doing a bit of a deep dive - considering some of the cultural things that we overlook and those implications - if you’d like to join me)
Similarly, Jesus referenced another gentile, the Queen of Sheba or Queen of the South, who had heard rumors of Solomon’s wisdom. When she came to learn more, she was amazed at Solomon but also recognized that his wisdom was from Yahweh.
1 Kings 10:1–9 ESV
Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon, she told him all that was on her mind. And Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king that he could not explain to her. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.
And she said to the king, “The report was true that I heard in my own land of your words and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it. And behold, the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report that I heard. Happy are your men! Happy are your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and set you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord loved Israel forever, he has made you king, that you may execute justice and righteousness.”
She made her own profession of faith. She knew that Solomon’s wisdom could have no other source than God.
The point the Jesus is making is that these “gentiles” repented at the testimony of two great people and yet the people of His generation refused to repent when someone greater than Jonah and Solomon is bringing the Word of God. It truly speaks to the hardness of their hearts.
What about your heart? If you’re investigating all of this, do you recognize that Jesus is the true Sign from God. He came to proclaim the Word and the Ways of God and to become the means of our salvation. Have you heard? If so, will you repent and believe and be saved?
In proclaiming the Word of God, Jesus is not communicating things just so that we will simply know more. This is not an intellectual exercise for Him or for us. He truly wants our lives to change and to shine brightly for Him. And yet He recognizes that all of life is a battle, a struggle as we pursue holiness.
Luke 11:33–36 ESV
“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
When I was younger, I made the horrible mistake of preaching a gospel that sounded more like Fire Insurance from Hell than truly transformative salvation. I would urge people to repent and believe - securing their place in heaven - but not having that salvation affect the way they lived. I was so wrong.
Jesus helps us to see here that when our lives are fully light, fully sanctified, fully honoring Him, then we can shine brightly for His glory.
But what does that really mean? Is this back to moral conformity? Is this a fake perfection? No, I don’t think so. I think it is a submission to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. It is a continual struggle against entangling sin. I think it has to do with living lives of integrity - wholeness - what we show on the outside is what we are saved to be on the inside. In fact, next week, we’ll touch on that a bit as we get to sit down with Jesus at the dinner table of a Pharisee.
But for you and me, where are there “dark places” in our lives that we would not want anyone to see? Where do we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us to root out those entangling sins that compromise our witness? Our salvation is not on the line - that is secured in Jesus, the one who purchase our salvation is advocating for us.
1 John 2:1–3 ESV
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
Beloved, let’s not allow secret sins and dark places in our lives to compromise our witness.
Closing Thoughts
As we close, I’d like to revisit the statements that Jesus makes in this. These are essentially calls to action.
Luke 11:23 ESV
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
As a couple of commentators have noted, there is no Switzerland (neutrality) with Jesus. Are you and I working with Jesus or against Him?
Luke 11:28 ESV
But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
As we read and hear the word of God, are we obeying it? Or are we trying to rationalize our actions or minimize His expectations?
Luke 11:31–32 “…something greater than Solomon is here. … something greater than Jonah is here.”
Have you truly repented and come to faith in Jesus? If not, do you realize that you stand condemned and face eternal destruction?
Finally,
Luke 11:35 ESV
Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.
How is your light? Are you and I living with integrity? Are you shining brightly for the Kingdom?
Let’s pray.
Thanks be to God, our salvation depends fully on Jesus Christ. Once we’ve responded to His call, we are His forever. Our hope is not in our obedience, but in Christ alone!
Benediction:
Matthew 5:16 ESV
…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Questions for reflection and discussion
Read: Luke 11:14-36
What stands out to you in this passage?
What questions come to your mind?
In Luke 11:14-23, Jesus confronts the crowd regarding their accusations of him casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul. What do you think motivated their skepticism?
How does Jesus’ teaching in this passage illustrate the relationship between his miracles and his identity as the Messiah?
When Jesus talks about a house divided against itself in Luke 11:17-18, what does this reveal to us about the nature of spiritual warfare?
There is no middle ground. Whose side are you on?
What happens to a person if an evil spirit is cast out of him or her and replaced with nothing? (11:25–26)
What does this passage teach us about the importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in verses 24-26?
Who is blessed, according to one of the people in the crowd? (11:27)
Who is blessed, according to Jesus? (11:28)
What practical steps can we take to ensure that our inner selves reflect the light of Christ according to the principles in Luke 11:33-36?
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 1–12 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
