These folks were not the local clergy in Galilee. These were the top brass religious leaders coming down from the capital city in Jerusalem. Why did they come? Because the Pharisees and Herodians were plotting to kill Jesus (3:6).

What does a plot to destroy someone involve? It begins with recruiting other influential people. The Pharisees probably sent word to Jerusalem about Jesus, and as a result of this complaint, an official delegation was sent to make an evaluation.

The teachers arrived with their clipboards to check Jesus out, and they came to this conclusion: “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons” (3:22). But that doesn’t make sense: “If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end” (3:26).

Jesus gave a very different explanation of His ministry: “No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house” (3:27). Satan is the strong man who holds many people captive in his house. Far from being in league with Satan, Jesus has come to raid his kingdom, and to set the captives free.

But when these teachers studied Jesus, they concluded that He was in league with Satan. This is the same conclusion many people have come to in our country today. Apart from God’s grace, there is deep antagonism toward Jesus in every heart. When holiness takes flesh and comes near, we do not like it, because it shows us who we really are.

What is your conclusion about Jesus?