Revelations from the Word

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When an unclean spirit goes out...

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute [kophos]; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw... When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty [scholazo], swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation" (Matthew 12:22,43-45).

The Greek word kophos means 'to have muffled hearing', 'to be deaf', 'to have paralysed speech', 'to be dumb'. Jesus had just cast out a demon, the astonished crowd were shouting out "Is this not the Son of David?", that is the Messiah, and the Pharisees were bringing the accusation "Is it not by the prince of demons that He is casting out demons?" The acts of righteousness of the Kingdom exercised by the Holy Spirit through Jesus provoked opposite reactions. Jesus used this confrontation to teach His disciples about the Kingdom of God:

  • the Kingdom of God is that of the Holy Spirit, we can only exercise acts there (such as casting out demons) by the power of the Holy Spirit,

  • to deliver someone from an evil spirit, it is first of all necessary to bind the prince of demons (the strong man),

  • the Kingdom of God cannot be divided because God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are ONE,

  • there is no neutral zone; we are in the Kingdom of God (with Jesus) or against the Kingdom of God (with Satan).

To refuse to accept an act or a miracle of the Holy Spirit and attribute it to Satan is an unforgivable blasphemy which makes a man blind, deaf and dumb to the things of the Kingdom of God. That is why Jesus says to the Pharisees:

"You are this generation which is deaf, dumb and blind because you refuse the miracles of the Holy Spirit, you belong to the kingdom of Satan for "you are of your father the devil" (John 8:44), you therefore cannot deliver yourselves (Matthew 12:45). You ask for other signs of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:38) and you refuse the One who can set you free (Matthew 12:22)".