Lesson 3166

 (Lesson 3166)(09-01-20) Matthew 12:22-30

    “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

   Today’s lesson, in essence, relates that those who preach anything other than that Jesus is the Son of God, and that all power over the souls of mankind are given to Him by the Father, are the enemies of Jesus. “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

   This lesson, in essence, establishes that the teachings that Jesus provides of Himself, and those provided of Him by His apostles in the New Testament, are NOT to be altered, added to, or watered down. Whereas, in the case of water baptism, literally ‘watered’ down, by restrictions and unnecessary rituals.~