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Mark 3:23-27
In Mark 3:21-22 Jesus was accused of being able to command the demons by way of being a demon Himself, but of a higher authority of demon. But Jesus refutes this accusation in Mark 3:23-27 by using logical reasoning. Jesus declares in Mark 3:23 (NKJV), “How can Satan cast out Satan?” If Satan is striving to destroy humanity, why then, would he remove himself from the destructive pattern? The Bible teaches us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” The logical question that Jesus asks is, “If Satan binds himself, he then has defeated himself and cannot stand.” This accusation by the scribes (Mark 3:22) is simply a lashing out in non-belief of the miraculous healing power of Jesus.
This is a promise that Jesus is not of Satan but has come to destroy him.
Jesus made a bold statement in Matthew 5:20 declaring, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” The scribes and Pharisees were considered the religious leaders of the day, but they did not follow the ways of the LORD but their own interpretation of them. They sought to put themselves on pedestals above everyone else as to say, “Look at me!” “Look as how great I am to the LORD!” “I am so much better than you lowly people!” The ways of keeping the Law given to Moses by God had transitioned into a mindset that was knowingly unable to keep it, so it became a contest of who could keep the most of it. This became a way of imputing condescension upon others as if to make one look better than another, as if this made one more righteous than the other. This became man’s way of creating self-righteousness in knowing that God’s righteousness could not be obtained simply by the ways of man.
The accusation brought about by the scribes in Mark 3:22 is a reflection of the righteousness of the scribes, which is self-righteousness and not the righteousness of God that is given only to those who believe in Him. The scribes and Pharisees had long-awaited the coming Messiah – Jesus, but when they saw Him they refused to believe in Him as the Son of God – the Savior of the world (John 3:16-17).
No matter what you have done in the past, if you will put your faith in Jesus today and believe in Him with all your heart that God has raised Him from the dead in victory over sin, death, and Satan, then you will gain righteous – the righteousness of Christ Jesus that is greater than that of the scribes and the Pharisees.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to understand today that the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees was not righteousness that is from you but a self-centered righteousness that is of the devil in unbelief of Your Son Jesus whom You sent to save the world from the evils of the devil. Please help us to see that those who put their faith in You by believing in our Savior Jesus will receive the righteousness of Jesus which is true righteousness as You intended for us to have as You redeem us back to a right state with You – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.