God’s Word of Wisdom
Introduction
Luke 11:14-28: Today’s reading is a continuation of a chapter in Luke’s Gospel that focuses on Jesus’s teachings. Jesus responds to those who accuse him of driving out demons in the name of Beelzebul and who ask him to perform a miracle. The reading concludes with a teaching on obedience to God.
Scripture Reading
Jesus and Beelzebul
(Matthew 12.22-30; Mark 3.20-27)
14Jesus was driving out a demon that could not talk; and when the demon went out, the man began to talk. The crowds were amazed, 15 but some of the people said, “It is Beelzebul, the chief of the demons, who gives him the power to drive them out.”
16 Others wanted to trap Jesus, so they asked him to perform a miracle to show that God approved of him. 17But Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, “Any country that divides itself into groups which fight each other will not last very long; a family divided against itself falls apart. 18So if Satan’s kingdom has groups fighting each other, how can it last? You say that I drive out demons because Beelzebul gives me the power to do so. 19If this is how I drive them out, how do your followers drive them out? Your own followers prove that you are wrong! 20No, it is rather by means of God’s power that I drive out demons, and this proves that the Kingdom of God has already come to you.
21“When a strong man, with all his weapons ready, guards his own house, all his belongings are safe. 22But when a stronger man attacks him and defeats him, he carries away all the weapons the owner was depending on and divides up what he stole.
23 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.
The Return of the Evil Spirit
(Matthew 12.43-45)
24“When an evil spirit goes out of a person, it travels over dry country looking for a place to rest. If it can’t find one, it says to itself, ‘I will go back to my house.’ 25So it goes back and finds the house clean and all fixed up. 26Then it goes out and brings seven other spirits even worse than itself, and they come and live there. So when it is all over, that person is in worse shape than at the beginning.”
True Happiness
27When Jesus had said this, a woman spoke up from the crowd and said to him, “How happy is the woman who bore you and nursed you!”
28But Jesus answered, “Rather, how happy are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
Today’s Key Verse: Luke 11:28
Jesus answered, “Rather, how happy are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
Reflect
What is Jesus’s response to his opponents (verses 17-23)? Why do they ask him to perform a miracle? In what ways will you obey God’s Word today?
Pray
Lord God, I delight in your Word. Help me to remain faithful to you and to hear and obey your Word today. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Luke 11:29-54: Jesus continues to teach the crowd.