And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand

Mar 3:25  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 

Jesus went about casting out devils. The scribes accused Him of being possessed by Beelzebub, that is, Satan. They said "by the prince of the devils he casts out the devils" (Mark 3:22). Jesus responded by saying “How can Satan cast out Satan?  And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand" (Mark 3:23–25).

A divided house cannot stand. Satan will not cast out the devils. If Jesus was in league with Satan, or if Satan was somehow working through Jesus, it is unlikely that exorcisms would be a priority. Because Satan would not cast demons out of a person in order to promote Jesus as a powerful and merciful Saviour and Son of God. It makes no sense at all for Satan to do this.

The "house" means a "household" or a family living together beneath one roof. Just like a kingdom in civil war will eventually destroy itself, a household that is "divided against itself" will eventually fall. If there is no harmony and agreement between members of a household, it is impossible for that house to "stand" and be successful.

The church is the household of God (Ephesians 2:19). It is also called the “household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Christians are in the same house. Christians are not to quarrel but to be unified around a common understanding of truth: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).

But, how can we maintain the unity that is required? One thing is certain: it cannot be maintained by legislation. The church cannot have a rule which reads: Unity is compulsory; everyone is to uphold unity. It won’t work. It doesn’t work that way! But unity is maintained in the life of a Christian who walks in the footsteps of the Saviour. Paul wrote: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:12-14).

The word “bond” means “that which binds together, a band, bond; of ligaments by which the members of the human body are united together” (Thayer’s Greet Definition). Love is the cement which ties everything together in unity. It should be abundantly clear to us that if we love one another, discords would be impossible.

It takes a lot of work to keep peace and unity in a home. The devil’s main tactic is to cause divisions. Divisions occur when people stop loving one another. A couple files for divorce because they have stopped loving each other. A house is divided because of a lack of love.

But love brings people together and makes their differences compatible. It does not mean that everyone will enjoy and like the same thing. It does not mean that they are perfect and stop making mistakes. It does mean that they will love in spite of their differences. It’s like an orchestra or band that has many players. Each is playing a different instrument; some are playing the same. But when they play together to make a pleasant sound, it is called music. Music happens when there is harmony. Likewise, love is the song that believers must all play in order to work together in harmony.

If we don’t have love, we are not unified. We are not in one accord. We are falling apart. Some churches are filled with hurting people because they are not bonded together by love. Usually the sin issues that kill love are selfishness, envy, gossip and pride: “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? ” (James 4:1).

Let us be bonded by love. A family that is bonded by love will be united and stand forever. Let us have love for one another: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.