Luke 11:21-26 :

“When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.

“He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters. The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes, and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”

I think that it is reasonable to say that Jesus said this in response to those who accused Him of working by the power of Satan. I am thinking that Satan was the strong man and Jesus is the stronger one who is able to overcome Satan and take his goods away.

Then Jesus makes an important statement that divides those who actually believe in Jesus from those who don’t. He tells us that there is no being neutral. Everyone who is not for Jesus is against Him. If you think you are neutral, you are calling Jesus a liar which means you are not with Him. Being “neutral” is to lie to yourself when you are actually against Jesus, because Jesus clearly said that there is no neutrality with Him. I believe it is possible that this issue is bringing the United States down. How important it is for all believers to realize that there is no neutrality with Jesus. You are either for Him or against Him.

I believe that Jesus is telling us that those who cast out demons without Jesus are actually doing more harm than good. He explains that a demon may leave for a while, only to later come back and find a good religious body to live in. If I’m understanding this correctly, Jesus is saying that the worst ones among the demon possessed are the religious ones.

I believe that the religious leaders understood these stories. I have learned that many of these stories were used before by rabbis in Israel. As such, the stories may have been familiar to the religious leaders, but the way that Jesus used them was, evidently, quite different. These words were severe and pointed leaving no room for anything but to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus was saying that either you accept me or you are with Satan. There just isn’t any room for neutrality here is there?