Luk 11:20 | KingComments | STEP | In the section of the , the Lord answers the question of a sign ( ). First, He speaks about the terrible blasphemy that He casts out demons through satan ( ). He knows what they think. He set before them the logical example of a kingdom divided against itself. In such a case, that kingdom will not stand, but will be laid waste. The same goes for a house that is divided against itself. Such a house falls. Surely it is logical for every right-thinking person that the same applies to satan, isn’t it? Are they so naive to think that He is doing the work of satan when it is so obvious that He is working against satan? If He were busy casting out demons by satan, it would mean the end of satan’s kingdom. But satan does not break down his own kingdom. The Lord refers to their sons who also cast out demons. Do they do so by the ruler of the demons? Of their sons they acknowledge that they do so in the power of God. If they can judge that their sons do so by the power of God, then those sons will act as witnesses against them when they stand before God’s judgment seat, the great white throne. Their assessment of their sons shows that they can properly judge by whom demons are cast out. This establishes their guilt for their false accusation that the Lord Jesus casts out the demons through satan. Instead of being confronted with satan in His Person, the kingdom of God has come to them in His Person. Here is not someone who is working for the kingdom of satan, but for the kingdom of God. It has come to them in the exercising of a power that is undeniable, namely in the casting out of demons. The casting out of demons is a testimony to the power of that kingdom and also a ‘fingermark’ from God. The “finger of God” points to, points out and does something that surprises people, and in which they see God’s power revealed (cf. ; ; ; ; ). The Gospel according to Matthew shows that God’s finger is the Spirit of God ( ). That ‘finger’ brings life, but also judgment, to the world. The kingdom of God came at that time, as a testimony of its power, however not yet as a situation and atmosphere in which everything is public. This presentation of the kingdom here is different from what we find presented in the Gospel according to Matthew in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven always suggests a change of dispensation as a result of the Savior taking His place in heaven. He will soon reveal His power on earth, but He has to come from heaven to establish the kingdom of heaven. To establish that kingdom in power and glory in the future, the Son of Man will come with the clouds of heaven. Then He will receive the kingdom and will rule over all the earth.

‏ Luke 11:20

The Kingdom of God

In the section of the Lk 11:29-32, the Lord answers the question of a sign (Lk 11:16). First, He speaks about the terrible blasphemy that He casts out demons through satan (Lk 11:15). He knows what they think. He set before them the logical example of a kingdom divided against itself. In such a case, that kingdom will not stand, but will be laid waste. The same goes for a house that is divided against itself. Such a house falls.

Surely it is logical for every right-thinking person that the same applies to satan, isn’t it? Are they so naive to think that He is doing the work of satan when it is so obvious that He is working against satan? If He were busy casting out demons by satan, it would mean the end of satan’s kingdom. But satan does not break down his own kingdom.

The Lord refers to their sons who also cast out demons. Do they do so by the ruler of the demons? Of their sons they acknowledge that they do so in the power of God. If they can judge that their sons do so by the power of God, then those sons will act as witnesses against them when they stand before God’s judgment seat, the great white throne.

Their assessment of their sons shows that they can properly judge by whom demons are cast out. This establishes their guilt for their false accusation that the Lord Jesus casts out the demons through satan. Instead of being confronted with satan in His Person, the kingdom of God has come to them in His Person. Here is not someone who is working for the kingdom of satan, but for the kingdom of God. It has come to them in the exercising of a power that is undeniable, namely in the casting out of demons.

The casting out of demons is a testimony to the power of that kingdom and also a ‘fingermark’ from God. The “finger of God” points to, points out and does something that surprises people, and in which they see God’s power revealed (cf. Exo 8:19 ; Exo 31:18; Psa 8:3; Dan 5:5; Mk 7:33; Jn 8:6). The Gospel according to Matthew shows that God’s finger is the Spirit of God (Mt 12:28). That ‘finger’ brings life, but also judgment, to the world. The kingdom of God came at that time, as a testimony of its power, however not yet as a situation and atmosphere in which everything is public.

This presentation of the kingdom here is different from what we find presented in the Gospel according to Matthew in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven always suggests a change of dispensation as a result of the Savior taking His place in heaven. He will soon reveal His power on earth, but He has to come from heaven to establish the kingdom of heaven. To establish that kingdom in power and glory in the future, the Son of Man will come with the clouds of heaven. Then He will receive the kingdom and will rule over all the earth.