The Life of Christ

Mt. 12:44 “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.”

Demons who have been cast out will eventually return seeking to reenter the person they left.

• If that person has not been since filled with the Holy Spirit, or has not yet incorporated new strong biblical disciplines, he or she becomes a likely target for demonic reentry.

Mt. 12:45 “Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

Jesus likens this present generation to having a demon cast out as a result of His presence being there.

• Now, if this generation doesn’t follow through with being filled with the Spirit and incorporating other spiritual truths, the demon will be back and will make things worse than before.

• This generation of Jews heard Jesus’ teaching, became initially receptive, but didn’t fully follow through with what He said.

• Instead, if any of those touched by Jesus returned to their old ways, giving the demons license to intensify their efforts, which ultimately brought judgment upon this generation.

• In 70 A.D. the Roman armies destroyed many of those Jews who did not continue to follow Jesus’ teaching.

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Mt. 12:46-47 While He was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 And someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.”

Because this was Mary and Jesus’ natural brothers, it was assumed they would be entitled to a special audience with Jesus.

Mt. 12:48-50 But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold, My mother and My brothers! 50 “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”

Jesus surprised them all by implying that the same family privilege is given to all those who do the will of His Father.

• The family of God is not genetic, but spiritual.

• Such a bold statement established once and for all that mother Mary be considered no higher than any other saint who does His will.

• This was absolutely necessary in light of the future heresies that would follow.

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