First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts

The Lord’s Day December 7, 2003 Anno Domini

Matthew 12:22-32

Conflict of Kingdoms

  I.  What do the facts teach?
 

      A.  A blind and mute demon-possessed man is healed.
     

      B.  The crowd wonders if Jesus could be the Messiah. [Matt 7:28; 9:8,
36; 2Sam 7:12-14.]
     

      C.  The Pharisees conclude the devil is at work.
     

      D.  Jesus says the kingdom of God has come upon them. [Matt 9:35;
Isaiah 9:6,7; Psalm 103:19; Psalm 2:6.]
     

  II.  The conflict of the two kingdoms.
 

      A.  This is an old, old story. [Genesis 3:15]
     

      B.  This is central to human experience. [Gen 6:5; Job 15:15-16;
Psalm 53:2; Titus 3:3]
     

      C.  The King has now come to assert his rule. [John 18:37]
     

   III. Jesus says that there is no neutrality.
 

      A.  It is irrational to impute Christ’s works of healing to the
devil.
     

      B.  It is inconsistent of the Pharisees to impute Christ’s works to
the devil.
     

      C.  The Pharisees obscure the truth of what is taking place.
     

      D.  It is unpardonable for them to attribute Christ’s works to the
devil. [Isaiah 5:20]
     

      E.  Jesus says there is no neutrality in this conflict.
     

         1.  The kingdom of God has come upon you. [Titus 3:3-6; Mark 1:15]
        

         2.  He who is not with me is against me.
        

         3.  Forgiveness is offered to all who repent and believe.
        

         4.  The victory of Christ is complete and eternal.
        

Pastor Christian Adjemian, Dipl.Div., Ph.D.

pastor@reformedprescambridge.com phone: 617.864.3185