Question about Matthew 12:24-27

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I don’t understand Matthew 12:24-27.

In Matthew 12:24-27, some people say that Jesus drives out devils through the chief of devils, and then it seems that Jesus refutes this claim by the reason that driving out devils is an act against devils, and the chief of devils would not help anyone in doing an act against devils.

But it seems that this reason is not valid. Because it seems that it is possible that the chief of devils wants to deceive people to trust in a false prophet, and then does a trick, in which the false prophet asks devils to go away and the devils cooperate with the false prophet by going away. Isn’t this possible?

Any idea on this?
 
He is not specifically attempting to provide proof that he does not drive out demons through the power of demons. Instead he is pointing out the gaping flaws in the logic which the Pharisees accuse him with:
A. If I am driving out demons using demonic power, the house of evil is divided amongst itself and will surely fall. Why are you worrying if this is actually the case?
B. You, too, drive out demons in the same manner. If I am using the power of demons, what do you use?

He then goes on to provide the alternative. If you, yourself, are using the Spirit of God to cast out demons in the Temple, then so am I. If you are against me, then you are against God.

This entire situation is the Pharisees reaction to the crowd thinking that Jesus could be the Messiah. The Pharisees were scared of losing their power amongst the people and threw out the first argument they could think of to dissuade the people from becoming Christ’s followers. After this, Christ goes on to silence their objections by speaking of good works bearing good fruit. The Pharisees have no reply, instead they try to switch tactics, demanding a miracle or “sign” from him as proof that the source of his power is good.
 
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So, does Jesus just refute the claim of the Pharisees by showing that the claim may be false? That is indeed reasonable.
 
Exorcising demons is possible if one can call a more powerful demon to be present to a weaker demon possessing the victim. This is how it was done by Pagans. All Rabbi’s were supposed to be able to exorcise demons. There were Pagan mystery religions surrounding Judea who would sell the rituals and names of demons used for the purpose of exorcising less powerful demons. A more powerful demons presence is enough to scare the less powerful away. The Pharisees were using this method of exorcising. It was a projection of themselves to deny the Holy Spirit and claim that Jesus had the most powerful demon of them all in His control. Satan on the other hand is the head of all demons and for him to cast out demons would be casting them outside the fallen angel community. Thus it would divide his house.
 
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A great online resource is the classic and reliable Rev. George Leo Haydock Bible Commentary. Regarding Matthew 12…
Ver. 25. Every
kingdom. Strong as a kingdom may appear, it is easily overturned
by divisions; and lest it should be objected, that ruin was brought
upon it by a multiplicity of clashing affairs, it is added that
cities and families share the same fate, if subject to similar
divisions. S. Chrys. hom. xlii. — The Pharisees, on a former
occasion, had laid a similar accusation against him. Then indeed he
did not correct them, wishing them to discover his virtue from the
miracles he performed, and the dignity of his character from the
doctrines he delivered; but as they still continue the old
accusation, he now wishes to convince them of their error. Envy does
not so much seek how to speak, as what to speak. Yet
Christ does not despise them, but answers them in the most meek and
humble manner, teaching us to be charitable to our enemies, though
they behave to us in the most inimical manner. By this also, our
divine Saviour evidently demonstrates the falsity of the accusation;
for it is never in the power of a possessed person to know another’s
thoughts, nor give so mild an answer. And as his enemies did not
dare, from fear of the people, openly to broach this base calumny,
seeing their thoughts, he answered them; still he does not expose to
public infamy the malice of their hearts, but gives them a private
solution of their difficulty. S. Chrys. ex D. Thom.

Ver. 27. Your
children, &c. Some by their children understand, exorcists,
that were among the Jews, that sometimes cast out devils; but it is
more commonly taken for Christ’s disciples and apostles, who were of
the Jewish nation, to whom he had given power to cast out devils: as
if he had said, If you allow them to cast out devils by divine power,
why do not you also believe this of me, their master? Wi. — S.
Chrysostom says the apostles and disciples of Christ are here meant,
for they had already cast out devils in virtue of the power conferred
upon them by their divine Master, without ever having it said of
them, that in the prince of devils they cast out devils. Thus he
shews that envy was the origin and cause of their persecuting spirit,
and that not his actions but his person gave them such great umbrage.
hom. xlii. — If Christ alludes here to their own exorcists,
who drove out devils by the invocation of the adorable name of God,
he confounds the unjust malice and prevention of the Pharisees; if to
the apostles, he constitutes them his umpires. S. Thos. Aquin.
Click to expand...
 
What Jesus is saying is that Satan would not work against himself (evil vs. evil); while it is true that evil can guise itself as good (as your example), it remains that evil would only be deceiving people into a false belief/sense of security.

Yet, evil’s essence is evil; hence, evil will be the final outcome of any portrayal of “goodness.”

There are two distinct examples of this in our world:
  • Contraception
  • Divorce
Both of these evils were sold as “good” and “promoting the betterment” of man. Yet, as they say, reality bites. Contraception and divorce has not brought us more happiness–those who hold on to the Sacrament of Matrimony and value fidelity, chastity, and self-control are able to both fulfill God’s Commands and move beyond self to selflessness–the place where happiness lies, with God.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Sounds like pretzel logic to me. Who wants you to doubt Christ?

From the Rev. George Leo Haydock Bible Commentary - worthy of bookmarking!
Ver. 25. Every kingdom. Strong as a kingdom may appear, it is easily overturned by divisions; and lest it should be objected, that ruin was brought upon it by a multiplicity of clashing affairs, it is added that cities and families share the same fate, if subject to similar divisions. S. Chrys. hom. xlii. — The Pharisees, on a former occasion, had laid a similar accusation against him. Then indeed he did not correct them, wishing them to discover his virtue from the miracles he performed, and the dignity of his character from the doctrines he delivered; but as they still continue the old accusation, he now wishes to convince them of their error. Envy does not so much seek how to speak, as what to speak. Yet Christ does not despise them, but answers them in the most meek and humble manner, teaching us to be charitable to our enemies, though they behave to us in the most inimical manner. By this also, our divine Saviour evidently demonstrates the falsity of the accusation; for it is never in the power of a possessed person to know another’s thoughts, nor give so mild an answer. And as his enemies did not dare, from fear of the people, openly to broach this base calumny, seeing their thoughts, he answered them; still he does not expose to public infamy the malice of their hearts, but gives them a private solution of their difficulty. S. Chrys. ex D. Thom.

Ver. 27. Your children, &c. Some by their children understand, exorcists, that were among the Jews, that sometimes cast out devils; but it is more commonly taken for Christ’s disciples and apostles, who were of the Jewish nation, to whom he had given power to cast out devils: as if he had said, If you allow them to cast out devils by divine power, why do not you also believe this of me, their master? Wi. — S. Chrysostom says the apostles and disciples of Christ are here meant, for they had already cast out devils in virtue of the power conferred upon them by their divine Master, without ever having it said of them, that in the prince of devils they cast out devils. Thus he shews that envy was the origin and cause of their persecuting spirit, and that not his actions but his person gave them such great umbrage. hom. xlii. — If Christ alludes here to their own exorcists, who drove out devils by the invocation of the adorable name of God, he confounds the unjust malice and prevention of the Pharisees; if to the apostles, he constitutes them his umpires. S. Thos. Aquin.
Click to expand...
 
Well, there’s more… the juiciest part is found in the verses that follow:
30 He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth. 31 Therefore I say to you: Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but the blasphemy of the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in the world to come. (St. Matthew 12)
Click to expand...
Jesus ups the ante! His source is the Holy Spirit. He transfers to the Holy Spirit the Old Covenant’s warning about not blaspheming the Name of God to not blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Jesus insist that even sinning against Him can be forgiven; yet, sinning against the Holy Spirit (rejection of God’s Holy Spirit) will not be forgiven here or there!

Maran atha!

Angel
 
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