“JESUS
CHRIST - A MAN APPROVED OF GOD (Acts 2:22)”
Miracle #30-
Luke
11:14-17,18-21,22-25,26
Similar,
but a different miracle to #19 “DUMB
MAN WITH A DEVIL”
(Matthew
9:32-34)
Why
does Luke give a fuller description than Matthew?
Firstly,
the book of Matthew is written around 37 AD,
while Luke writes
later in 57
AD.
Matthew
9:32-34 As they
went out, behold, they brought to him (Christ) a
dumb man possessed with a devil. And when the devil was cast out, the
dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so
seen in Israel. But THE PHARISEES SAID, He (Christ)
casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. |
Luke
11:14-17,18-20,21-23 And he (Christ) was
casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the
devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
But some of them (NOT THE PHARISEES BUT THE
COMMON PEOPLE) said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub
the chief of the devils. And others (the
people), tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. But he,
knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against
itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house
falleth. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his
kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them
out? therefore shall they be your judges. But if I with the finger of
God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. When
a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when
a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh
from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. He
that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me
scattereth. |
TO BEGIN
WITH …
From their
history, Israel knew the following four
scriptures about being dumb … and God being the ONLY
one to
open mouths …
1. “And the LORD
said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the
dumb,
or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?”
(Exodus 4:11)
2. “… God
with a recompence; he will come and save you … and the
tongue of the
dumb sing:…” (Isaiah 35:4, 6)
3. “In that
day shall thy mouth be opened … and thou shalt speak,
and be no
more dumb: … and they shall know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezekiel 24:27)
4. “Now the
hand of the LORD was upon me … and had opened my mouth …
and I was no
more dumb.” (Ezekiel 33:22)
According
to their own scriptures “ … when the
devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes
marvelled,
saying, It was never so seen in Israel.” (Matthew 9:33).
This
miracle pinpoints the very nature of Christ,
the Word, as having words of power … over mouths
and speech.
Furthermore,
we have creation, where out of
silence, words come forth (Genesis 1:3).
Indeed,
with this miracle, where out of the silence
of dumbness, words come forth (Luke 11:14).
THE
CAUSE OF THIS MAN’S DUMBNESS
We
are not told, but this miracle seems similar to the man
born blind from birth … not the result
of his sin or that of his parents, but that the works of God be
made manifest
in him (John 9:3).
‘Dumb’
Israel are being shown, that through this
miracle, they can be made to speak the words of God again, if they will
believe
in Christ … but they don’t.
However
Israel will speak God’s words in the
tribulation with the 144,000 (Revelation 14:3) … when “In that day
shall thy
mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak,
and
be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they
shall
know that I am the LORD.”
(Ezekiel
24:27)
OTHER
EXAMPLES OF DUMBNESS
1. This
miracle reminds us of Zacharias, when told by an angel of the
future
birth of his son John, was struck dumb because of unbelief
(Luke
1:20, 64)
3. “He (Christ)
was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened
not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as
a
sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”
(Isaiah
53:7)
CONCLUSION
Here
is an example that concentrates on the very
nature of who Christ is … the Word … who speaks words …
and has
the power over others to speak words as well.
For
Israel … they had to, and still have to,
wrestle with the following questions …
Who
made mouths? … Who has power over the mouth? …
Who has power over words? … Who has power over silence? … Who can make
people
dumb? … Who can power to put words into people’s mouths? … Who can make
people
dumb speak?
he must
come to the conclusion that Christ is God …
the only one ever, to open
dumb
mouths.
Harley
Hitchcock
This
website’s front page is:
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“JESUS
CHRIST - A
MAN APPROVED OF GOD (Acts 2:22)”
Miracle #31-