The Kingdom Has Come
Matthew 12:23–32
There are few questions more important than the one whispered by the crowds in Matthew 12:23: “This couldn’t be the Son of David, could it?” The people were amazed at the miracles of Jesus. They knew the Messiah would heal the blind, raise the lame, and release the oppressed. And yet, they stumbled over the simple carpenter’s son from Nazareth. He wasn’t regal, wealthy, or polished. He was ordinary in appearance, poor by worldly standards, and from a town no one respected.
And that is exactly the point Matthew drives home. Jesus was not the conquering general or political powerhouse they expected. He was the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, humble and lowly, yet carrying the very authority of heaven. The kingdom of God was advancing, not through pomp and military power, but through mercy, healing, forgiveness, and the relentless love of God.
But not everyone saw it that way.
Some accused him of working by the power of Beelzebul (v. 24). They admitted his miracles were supernatural, but instead of confessing the hand of God, they called it the hand of Satan. What a tragic reversal! The Prince of Heaven was breaking Satan’s grip, and the Pharisees—men who claimed to know God best—confused heaven’s work with hell’s.
Why? Because Jesus came for sinners. And that was offensive. The Pharisees had built a religion that cut sinners out. They fenced God’s presence behind rituals, rules, and traditions. But Jesus came announcing that prostitutes, tax collectors, lepers, and the demon-possessed could all come near, be forgiven, and belong. The Pharisees’ narrow vision of God could not make room for this kind of grace.
And so Jesus drew a line. He exposed the absurdity of their accusation—why would Satan work against himself? His kingdom cannot stand if divided (v. 26). No, something greater was happening: the kingdom of God was overtaking the world (v. 28).
Jesus paints a picture in verse 29. Imagine a strong man guarding his house. No one plunders his goods unless someone stronger comes in, ties him up, and takes what he protects. That is what Jesus is doing. Satan is strong, but Jesus is stronger. Every healing, every exorcism, every act of mercy was proof that the strong man was being bound and his captives freed.
The question is: will you join the victor?
Verse 30 leaves no middle ground: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Neutrality with Jesus is impossible. To be indifferent is to oppose him. His mission is too urgent, his kingdom too glorious, his claims too absolute.
For believers, this is a sobering reminder. It’s easy to say we follow Jesus but live as though we stand off to the side, halfway committed. Yet Jesus is gathering nations under God’s reign. His Spirit is breaking chains, and his call is clear: with me or against me.
For the unbeliever, this is an invitation—and a warning. Full and meaningful life is found only in Jesus (v. 31). He came to make us whole, to give peace, joy, and the friendship of God. His forgiveness is extravagant. No sin is too dark, no past too broken. Even rejection of him today can be reversed by turning and trusting him tomorrow. That is salvation: to come to the Savior you once dismissed.
But Jesus gives a chilling warning in verse 32. There is one sin that cannot be forgiven: blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. What is that? It is not a moment of doubt, a word spoken in fear, or even a season of resistance. It is a settled, willful, clear-eyed rejection of the Spirit’s testimony about Jesus. It is seeing the undeniable work of God and calling it evil.
This was the sin of the Pharisees. They were not confused. They knew what they saw. The blind received sight, the oppressed were set free, the lame walked, the poor rejoiced. And yet they hardened their hearts and called it Satan’s work. That kind of rejection, if carried to the end of life, leaves no possibility of forgiveness. For the Spirit who convicts, forgives, and restores has been shut out.
Friend, if you worry that you’ve committed this unforgivable sin, take heart—you haven’t. The very concern in your heart is proof that the Spirit is at work in you. The unforgivable sin is not a single act but a lifelong refusal to bow to Jesus.
The kingdom of God is here. The strong man is being bound. Jesus is victorious. For the believer, that is assurance: we live under the reign of the Prince of Heaven, and nothing can snatch us from his hand. For the unbeliever, it is a call: come to Jesus while there is time. Don’t stay neutral. Don’t stand apart. Don’t resist the Spirit who is drawing you even now.
Christ is stronger. He has overcome. And he invites you to live in his kingdom of peace and joy.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are the stronger one who binds the enemy and sets captives free. Forgive us for the times we’ve stood on the sidelines instead of standing with you. Deepen our faith, give us courage to follow you wholeheartedly, and keep us from indifference. For those still resisting, soften hearts and open eyes to see your kingdom at work. May every person reading this find forgiveness, life, and peace in you alone. Amen.
Pastor Mark
