When Jesus heals, as illustrated when Jesus heals a demon-possessed man, He doesn’t just fix the problem—He forces a response.
In Matthew 12:22–37, He delivers a miracle and a message in the exact moment. A man possessed, blind, and mute is instantly healed—and the religious elite lose control of the narrative. Instead of rejoicing, they accuse Jesus of operating by the power of Satan.
What follows is one of the most sobering teachings in Scripture. And it carries a vital lesson for us today.
Matthew 12:22–37 (NASB 2020)
22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Jesus, and He healed him so that the mute man spoke and saw. 23 And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demon.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus 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 is casting out Satan, he has become divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if by Beelzebul I cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28 But if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters. 31 Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. 33 “Either assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, express any good things? For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart. 35 The good person brings out of his good treasure good things; and the evil person brings out of his evil treasure evil things. 36 But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they will give an account of it on the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
What Happened?
- Jesus healed a man afflicted in body and spirit.
- The people were amazed—and began to wonder aloud if Jesus could be the Messiah.
- However, the Pharisees, threatened by His growing influence, tried to discredit Him by accusing Him of working with demons.
Instead of backing down, Jesus delivered a three-part rebuttal:
- A divided kingdom cannot stand.
- If He casts out demons by the Spirit of God, then God’s kingdom is here.
- Blaspheming the Spirit—the clear, undeniable power of God—is eternally dangerous.
The Mood: Public, Confrontational, Weighty
This wasn’t a private correction—it was a public reckoning.
The tone is urgent, the language sharp, and the consequences eternal.
Who Is Jesus Addressing?
- The demon-possessed man (healed and freed)
- The crowds (amazed and inquisitive)
- The Pharisees (defensive and deceptive)
- And we, the readers of 2025, are confronted with the same decision: Will we recognize the work of God or resist it?
The Principle: You Can’t Stay Neutral
Jesus makes this clear:
“The one who is not with Me is against Me.”
You’re either aligning with Christ and His kingdom—or you’re scattering.
The Core Teaching: Words Reveal the Heart
Jesus doesn’t stop at the Pharisees’ false accusation. He addresses the source:
“For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart.”
What we say—especially about spiritual matters—reveals our true allegiance.
In 2025, this is vital:
- Our words matter—on platforms, in comments, in private conversations.
- Our response to God’s work around us matters even more.
What Is the Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
This isn’t a momentary doubt or misspoken phrase.
It’s the deliberate, ongoing rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit, even when it’s plainly evident.
It’s attributing God’s miracles to Satan.
It’s closing your heart to the Spirit’s conviction—permanently.
What This Means for 2025
We live in an age of spiritual confusion.
People rebrand evil as good and good as evil.
We’re tempted to water down truth, to avoid confrontation, to remain silent.
But Jesus reminds us:
- The Kingdom of God is now
- Neutrality is not an option
- What you speak reflects who you are
Action Steps for Today
- Acknowledge the work of God. Don’t be quick to dismiss what you don’t understand—ask the Spirit to guide your discernment.
- Watch your words. Whether in conversation or online, ask: Does this reflect a heart aligned with Jesus?
- Declare your allegiance. Be unashamed to align with Christ—even when it’s unpopular.
- Guard your heart. What fills your heart will spill from your mouth—feed it truth.
- Encourage others to revere the Spirit. Teach your children, friends, and church family the seriousness of honoring God’s Spirit.
Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, Help me never to speak against the work of Your Spirit. May I recognize Your hand, reverence Your power, and respond with awe. Cleanse my heart, that my words may be life-giving and truth-filled. Make me bold in aligning with Your Kingdom—today and always. Amen.
📖 When Jesus healed, the people saw freedom.
When the Pharisees saw the same, they saw a threat.
Let your heart respond to the Spirit with faith—not fear.
