The Limit to Free Speech

1 Kings 12:1-20; Mark 3:20-30 / Psalm 22:1-31

I. Jesus’ Ministry Disrupted Life

A. People demanded so much from Jesus that He did not have time to deal with the basic necessities of His own life. “And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.” (Mark3:20) “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)

B. Friends proposed an intervention under the assumption that Jesus had lost control of His life; some of his own family did not believe in Him. “And when his friendsheard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.” (Mark 3:21) “For neither did his brethren believe in him.” (JOHN 7:5)

C. People who refused to listen to Jesus came up with evil alternate explanationsfor what people were seeing in the Lord’slife and work. “And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.” (MARK 3:22) Beelzebub [Lord of the Dung or Master of the Flies] was the abomination of the Philistines.

D. Fear factored significantly into the decision to call Jesus a liar and servant of Satan; any other decision would have compelled detractors to recognize Him as the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel. “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.” (MATTHEW 21:25-26)

II. Jesus Countered Detractors with a Parable

A. To label opposition to Satan as satanic requires an impossible stretch of the imagination; Jesus was being slandered. “And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?” (Mark 3:23)

B. Division yields destruction in spiritual matters just as it does in civil matters. “And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24)

C. The principle of destruction through division applies in every field of endeavor. “And if a house bedivided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (MARK 3:25)

D. If Satan divided his kingdom, it would come to an end. “And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.” (Mark 3:26)

III. Do Not Lie about Grace

A Satan is the strong man, his house the body of the demoniac, and his goods the evil spirit within the man; Jesus had entered Satan’s house and seized his goods, proving that, instead of being in partnership with Satan, Jesus had overpowered Satan. “No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” (MARK 3:27)

B. The power of grace is enormous. “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:” (MARK 3:28)

C. Free speech stops at the point of condemning the truth-bringer as a liar. “But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” (Mark 3:29) “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)

D. When people reverse truth and error, they cut themselves off from life-saving truth and serve Satan [Father of Lies}. “Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.” (MARK 3:30) “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

E. Trust in God and be careful when speaking; mistakes can kill. “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21) “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” (Proverbs 14:15)

F. Even God gets tired of some things people say; occasionally it is best to stop talking. “Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” (MALACHI 2:17) “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” (James 3:12)