Luke 11:14-28

1. Every day, we make choices—some small, others significant. These choices are shaped by one key factor: our perspective. Do we approach life with faith or fear? Hope or despair? In Luke 11, we see Jesus performing a miracle that challenges people’s perspectives. Some recognize God’s power, while others accuse Him of working through evil forces. This story reminds us how critical our perspective is in understanding God’s work in our lives. In today’s passage, Luke 11:14–28, we see Jesus confronting people with this very issue. Some recognize God’s power in His work, while others misinterpret it through their own limited, negative perspectives. In Luke 11, Jesus has just performed a powerful miracle by casting out a demon, yet the crowd’s reactions are divided. Some marvel at His authority, while others accuse Him of working by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This moment reveals the critical importance of how we interpret what God is doing in our lives and the world. Let us read Luke 11:14-28.

Luke 11:14–16 NRSV

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.

Luke 11:17–20 NRSV

But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

Luke 11:21–23 NRSV

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Luke 11:24–26 NRSV

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

Luke 11:27–28 NRSV

While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

2. During His ministry, Jesus healed many sicknesses and diseases. He also cast out demons from people. In fact, these are part of His vision statement in Luke 4:18–19, which He declared when He began His ministry. Through this vision statement, drawn from Isaiah 61, Jesus outlined what He would do, particularly proclaiming the year of Jubilee - a time of restoration and freedom, showing the heart of His mission - , and revealed His perspective. The Kingdom of God is not built on any political agendas or power but is grounded in the mind of God. God’s Kingdom isn’t built on human plans but on God’s perfect purposes.

3. Today's passage begins with a scene in verse 14, where Jesus cast out demons from a person. In this context, we can define the condition of a person who was demon-possessed. In this case, the demon-possessed person could not speak because he was controlled by a demon. When we read Luke chapter 8, we see the condition of a person who was demon-possessed. He was uncontrollable, and people could not restrain him.

Luke 8:26–29 NIV

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

4. From these two passages, even though there are many examples in the Bible, we can define that demon-possessed individuals are uncontrollable in their desires and minds. They are under another power that manipulates them. Additionally, they lose their self-control, sense of direction, and even perspective. If we define it this way, we can recall when Paul discussed the relationship between life and death, or sin and righteousness. When Paul mentioned it, he focused on its power and authority. Therefore, he frequently used the preposition "in." However, in Greek, it can be translated as "by," "with," "through," "in," or sometimes "into," depending on the context.

Ephesians 2:1–3 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Romans 6:12–14 NIrV

So don’t let sin rule your body, which is going to die. Don’t obey its evil desires. Don’t give any part of yourself to serve sin. Don’t let any part of yourself be used to do evil. Instead, give yourselves to God. You have been brought from death to life. So give every part of yourself to God to do what is right. Sin will no longer control you like a master. That’s because the law does not rule you. God’s grace has set you free.

5. In today’s passage, we see at least two perspectives: that of Jesus and that of some people. When the individual was demon-possessed, he could not speak. This means he could not offer any interpretation because his ability to speak did not belong to him but to the demon. On the other hand, there were some people who could provide perspectives or interpretations of Jesus’ work. At the beginning of today’s sermon, I mentioned two perspectives: positive and negative. Some people who witnessed the work of Jesus chose the negative perspective.

6. In verse 15 of Luke 11, we see, "But some of them questioned the work of Jesus." Then, they made a strange interpretation and understanding of His work. At this point, we can easily assume that they were not ordinary people but a group of religious leaders. The reason I assume this is that the religious leaders had been questioning and making accusations since Jesus started His public ministry.

7. As we already know, the religious leaders in Judaism were not interested in caring for life. Instead, they were focused on maintaining their positions by keeping the law of God or following their own religious instructions. In this regard, we should not overlook the fact that there were no sick or demon-possessed individuals in Jerusalem because the law of God did not allow them to remain there. Until they were cured or recovered, they had to be isolated from the community of God according to the law. Therefore, if the religious leaders focused on this aspect, they could easily believe that they were keeping the law of God.

8. Therefore, if the religious leaders interpreted the work of Jesus as God's work, it would mean that they had been neglecting the work of God. So, if they did not recognize the work of Jesus as God's work, they would have to find another medium, such as Beelzebul. Recently, I found out that there are many churches in South Korea that do not want to keep an associate pastor if his or her preaching becomes better than the senior pastor's. It is strange, but it is happening. One of my friends preached one Sunday while the senior pastor was visiting a mission field. Afterward, the elders and church members said his sermon was very good, and the views of his sermon on YouTube were far more than those of the senior pastor. Shortly after that, he received a letter from the senior pastor stating that his term would be terminated at the end of the year. The reason given was that he had served the church for three years, and it was time to finish for the sake of the church's health.

9. I was shocked when I first heard this news. Then, I recalled today's story. Just as the religious leaders and people questioned and refused to accept Jesus, the senior pastors in Korea respond in a similar way. I observed that when senior pastors did not like their associate pastors and forced them out, the church began to lose its strength because they relied not on God and His ways but on human ways. Sadly, this kind of competition and reliance on human ways can happen in churches around the world. When we rely on human strength, we lose sight of God’s ways.

10. There are two ways before us. Which way will we choose—God's way or the human way? What kind of decision will we make—God's way or the human way? If we are not in Jesus, we will naturally choose the human way because it seems easier than God's way. My friends often tell me that if I move back to Korea, we can do more of God's work than we are doing now. From a human perspective, that might be true. But it is not true from God's perspective because I have not received any calling from God to move back to Korea. God's work is not accomplished through human concepts. God's work must be done in God's way. Similarly, if we want to interpret the work of God, we must first abandon our own ways and then accept God's way. Only then can we interpret and understand the work of God.

11. When the people in Luke 11 saw Jesus’ miracle, some accused Him of working through Beelzebul because they couldn’t let go of their preconceived ideas. How often do we do the same? Do we misinterpret God’s work because it doesn’t align with our expectations? This week, let’s actively align our perspective with God’s by surrendering our plans to Him and trusting His ways. Perspective matters. It shapes how we see God, ourselves, and the world. Jesus challenges us to choose His way—a path of faith, obedience, and trust in God’s power. This week, let’s make practical changes: pause before decisions to pray, reflect on God’s Word, and ask, ‘Am I walking in God’s way or my own?’ As we do this, we’ll experience the fullness of His Kingdom in our lives.

12. Prayer

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for Your Word, which guides us and lights our path. We confess that, at times, we rely on our own understanding and choose the easier way, but today we want to commit to walking in Your way. Open our eyes to see Your hand at work in our lives and give us hearts that trust You fully. Help us to abandon human perspectives that hinder Your plans and embrace Your truth with faith. Fill us with Your Spirit so we can discern Your will and have the courage to follow it. Bless us with wisdom and a pure heart that seeks to glorify You in all that we do. We ask for Your strength as we step into the week ahead. May we stand firm in Your Word and be lights in this world, pointing others to Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.