Luk 11:15 | KingComments | STEP | In the now following section we see a big contrast with the previous section. There we have the means for the believer to live for the glory of God. That section ends with the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the section that follows, we see the power of satan. We also see the Lord’s power to cast out demons and we see again the importance of God’s Word ( ). Here and elsewhere in this Gospel we see the connection between satan and men, but we also see the privilege of the believer in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. For the new man, for him who is born of God, the Spirit of God is the power for fellowship. Satan, on the other hand, likes to fill the old nature of man with the power of an evil spirit. The Lord shows the connection between the evil spirit and disease, weakness, or other ailments of body or mind, as we see here with the mute. It is clear that the lack of speech is not a result of physical weakness, but is caused by the evil spirit that is in the man. As soon as the evil spirit has left him, the mute can speak. By casting out the demon, the Lord gives an illustrating example of the age to come. The powers that He manifests, as well as the powers that others will do later in His Name, are “the powers of the age to come“ ( ), that is the millennial realm of peace. The millennial realm of peace means the total defeat of satan, to the glory of God. The healings performed by the Lord and the casting out of evil spirits are a partial proof of what will take place in that day, publicly and world-wide. The Lord heals one who is mute. Muteness is, among all the ailments a person can have, a particularly pitiful one. The ability to speak is only given to the human being. Muteness robs him of what it means to be human. A person who is mute is locked up in his own mind and body. The muteness of this man is a picture of man’s inability to communicate with God. People do not speak to God because they do not believe in Him, caught as they are by sin. Satan’s business is to keep man imprisoned in his muteness. The last thing he wants for man is to express himself to God. The Lord can break this silence. When He has healed him, the mute can speak. He can ask, seek and knock. He can be a God praising person. This revelation of the Lord’s power, which He exercises in the power of the Holy Spirit, is blasphemously attributed by some to satan himself, who is Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons. Attributing to satan what is undeniable proof that God is at work can only be done intentionally. This is not a matter of ignorance, but of malice. The deep depravity of man and his hatred of Christ are revealed here. It is the contradiction of sinners against Him which He constantly endured ( ). Others do not go that far, but still want a sign from heaven from Him, by the way, for an equally depraved reason, namely, to tempt Him. Satan does not lead all in the same way, but he adapts his working method to the flesh of each person. Some people are fierce in their unbelief, while others are more religious. Desiring a sign from heaven, while the great Sign from heaven stands before them, shows blind unwillingness to believe.

‏ Luke 11:15

A Demon Cast Out of a Mute

In the now following section we see a big contrast with the previous section. There we have the means for the believer to live for the glory of God. That section ends with the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the section that follows, we see the power of satan. We also see the Lord’s power to cast out demons and we see again the importance of God’s Word (Lk 11:28).

Here and elsewhere in this Gospel we see the connection between satan and men, but we also see the privilege of the believer in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. For the new man, for him who is born of God, the Spirit of God is the power for fellowship. Satan, on the other hand, likes to fill the old nature of man with the power of an evil spirit.

The Lord shows the connection between the evil spirit and disease, weakness, or other ailments of body or mind, as we see here with the mute. It is clear that the lack of speech is not a result of physical weakness, but is caused by the evil spirit that is in the man. As soon as the evil spirit has left him, the mute can speak.

By casting out the demon, the Lord gives an illustrating example of the age to come. The powers that He manifests, as well as the powers that others will do later in His Name, are “the powers of the age to come“ (Heb 6:5), that is the millennial realm of peace. The millennial realm of peace means the total defeat of satan, to the glory of God. The healings performed by the Lord and the casting out of evil spirits are a partial proof of what will take place in that day, publicly and world-wide.

The Lord heals one who is mute. Muteness is, among all the ailments a person can have, a particularly pitiful one. The ability to speak is only given to the human being. Muteness robs him of what it means to be human. A person who is mute is locked up in his own mind and body.

The muteness of this man is a picture of man’s inability to communicate with God. People do not speak to God because they do not believe in Him, caught as they are by sin. Satan’s business is to keep man imprisoned in his muteness. The last thing he wants for man is to express himself to God. The Lord can break this silence. When He has healed him, the mute can speak. He can ask, seek and knock. He can be a God praising person.

This revelation of the Lord’s power, which He exercises in the power of the Holy Spirit, is blasphemously attributed by some to satan himself, who is Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons. Attributing to satan what is undeniable proof that God is at work can only be done intentionally. This is not a matter of ignorance, but of malice. The deep depravity of man and his hatred of Christ are revealed here. It is the contradiction of sinners against Him which He constantly endured (Heb 12:3).

Others do not go that far, but still want a sign from heaven from Him, by the way, for an equally depraved reason, namely, to tempt Him. Satan does not lead all in the same way, but he adapts his working method to the flesh of each person. Some people are fierce in their unbelief, while others are more religious. Desiring a sign from heaven, while the great Sign from heaven stands before them, shows blind unwillingness to believe.