The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Kathy Shortridge of Billings, Montana from the tape, GC 1301-P, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 18."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1981. All Rights Reserved.

Question

Matthew 12:27, and it says, they were accusing him, like you said, of having the power of Satan, and its says “If I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out, consequently they shall be your judges.” I was wondering about, how they shall be your judges?

Answer

Well, what he is basically saying, there were Jewish exorcists who went around supposedly casting out demons. What Jesus, I think is saying here, is, why do you accuse me of casting demons out by Beelzebub, which means the "lord of the flies," or the "lord of dung" or the "lord of the dwelling place," one of those three things--it has to do with Satan. The root may even be in Baal. Why do you accuse me of Satanic casting out? If I cast demons out by Satan, who do your exorcists cast them out by? And the implication is: I am a perfect person. You have found no flaw in me, you have seen no sin in me, and you have heard no word other than truth from me, and you know these men of your own kind are not like that. And if I, as a perfect person, and as an absolutely holy person, am doing this by Satan, who are your unholy people doing it by? In other words, if I’m not doing it by God, who are they doing it by? The implication then is that those people are going to be judged. I mean if they are going to so judge me, then those people are going to have to be judged as well.

Question (continued)

But I don’t understand how the sons are going to be the judges. He says by whom do your sons cast them out, they shall be your judges. I don’t understand that.

Answer (continued)

Well, in a sense, the sons then become the standard. There are the ones who are going to render judgment. In other words, in order to make judgment on the case all you have to do is look at them and they become your judges. I mean they show how stupid this is, they condemn you themselves. Because in their sinfulness they are doing this, in my holiness I’m doing this. You are accusing me of doing it by the power of Satan, what must they be doing by, they themselves are judging your stupidity.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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