Metaphysical Bible Meditations - 9/5/2017

Jesus admonishing the Pharisees. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Good morning, readers! After deviating from last Monday's post to write about the recent slew of criticism of Joel Osteen and the Prosperity Gospel and taking a break for the holiday weekend, I'm back to pick up where we left off on our last meditation, with Luke 11: 14 - 26.

"And he (Jesus) 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 said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven."

The people denouncing Jesus' work of psychological healing as being of "Beelzebub" (prince or lord of devils) represent those which hold the attitude of sectarianism, which upon witnessing an act that doesn't conform to what they believe to be true or for which their narrow viewpoint can't otherwise explain label it evil, or the "work of the devil", rather than inquire about it with an open mind. We need not look too far to see this attitude at work in our own world at all levels: politically, socially, scientifically, spiritually, demanding endless "signs" or justifications for why their hallowed opinions and theories have been rendered insufficient. 

"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."

Jesus (illumined reason personified) exposes the faultiness of this type of thinking by pointing out that, if he were indeed a servant of evil, why would he be driving out his own? Furthermore he says that, if the work he is performing is evil, then the very same efforts of the Pharisees, etc. are equally so, and they have no right to pass judgment, effectively exposing the pernicious and petty motives behind their accusations, spurred by their inability and refusal to entertain the soundness of Jesus' methods which are born of the "Kingdom of God" (union with the Healing Power and Presence through understanding).

"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.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.

And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.

Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first."

In the parables of the strong man and the unclean spirits, Jesus illustrates the inefficiency of the methods employed by the Pharisees, which believe that through mere mechanical ritual and obedience to their dogma that the mind and heart will be made virtuous. Unless the mental and emotional houses are cleansed through sincere introspection and reflection, followed by strong desire to change via prayer and meditation, the habits which were temporarily quelled or suppressed due to conforming to external pressures (threats of hell, Divine punishment, Karma, etc.) will only return stronger and more formidable once the same stimuli present themselves, triggering the untreated subconscious patterns and complexes. 

"He that is not with me (creative and transforming power of the indwelling I AM) is against me: and he that gathereth (the wisdom and truth of God) not with me scattereth (through believing in evil, opposition, duality, etc.)

I hope you enjoyed today's content! Until next time, keep on keeping onward, upward, and God-ward.