DAY 14 - FEBRUARY 25, 2023
Mark 3: 20-30
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
REFLECTION
In Mark 3:20-30, Jesus is confronted by the scribes who accused him of being possessed by Beelzebub. This encounter highlights the importance of discernment in our daily lives.
Discernment is the ability to distinguish between what is good and what is evil, between what comes from God and what comes from the enemy. It requires us to have a deep understanding of God's character and his word so that we can recognize his truth and his will for our lives.
In this passage, Jesus demonstrates discernment by recognizing the true motives of the scribes and refuting their accusations with the truth. He explains that a house divided against itself cannot stand and that Satan cannot cast out Satan. He also warns them of the unforgivable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
As Christians, we are called to exercise discernment in all areas of our lives. We must be careful not to be deceived by false teachings or misled by our own desires and impulses. We must also be aware of the enemy's tactics and be equipped with the truth to resist his lies.
Let us pray for the gift of discernment and seek to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God's word so that we may be able to distinguish between good and evil and follow the path that leads to life.
Mark 3: 20-30
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
REFLECTION
In Mark 3:20-30, Jesus is confronted by the scribes who accused him of being possessed by Beelzebub. This encounter highlights the importance of discernment in our daily lives.
Discernment is the ability to distinguish between what is good and what is evil, between what comes from God and what comes from the enemy. It requires us to have a deep understanding of God's character and his word so that we can recognize his truth and his will for our lives.
In this passage, Jesus demonstrates discernment by recognizing the true motives of the scribes and refuting their accusations with the truth. He explains that a house divided against itself cannot stand and that Satan cannot cast out Satan. He also warns them of the unforgivable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
As Christians, we are called to exercise discernment in all areas of our lives. We must be careful not to be deceived by false teachings or misled by our own desires and impulses. We must also be aware of the enemy's tactics and be equipped with the truth to resist his lies.
Let us pray for the gift of discernment and seek to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God's word so that we may be able to distinguish between good and evil and follow the path that leads to life.