The verse we consider is from the Gospel of Matthew 12:25. First, we read it in 3 versions.

Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. (version NLT)

Jesus supernaturally perceived their thoughts and motives, so he told them this parable: “Any kingdom that fights against itself is reduced to ruins. And any family or community splintered by strife will fall apart. (version TPT)

And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand. (version AMPC)

A man was demon possessed. Jesus healed him. Thus, the evil spirit who had resided in the man was cast out from the man by Jesus. The man had become a free man. The Pharisees did not rejoice in this miracle. Rather than becoming happy that the demon possessed man was made free, they accused Jesus of being the prince of Demons.

Jesus knew the hollowness of the Pharisees. He asked the Pharisees if what they said was right. How were their fellow Pharisees driving out the demons?

Jesus said that their statement was without any basis, as a person belonging to a demonic kingdom would not remove a demon spirit’s inhabitation in a person and make the person free! Whereas replacing a demonic spirit with one or multiple demonic spirits is the way it happens within the demonic kingdom.

In this case, the Pharisees lacked the power, authority and will to give freedom to the demon – possessed man as they were hypocritical, not united. They spoke and preached a spiritual life without giving healing and freedom to people.

Any family, kingdom, community, city that is divided within itself will fall. All of us know that if there is a lack of unity between father and mother, the family falls. Children can exploit this. There would be fights within the family. The family members could post great looking pictures on Instagram and Facebook. All smiles, great hugs, trips to great destinations, but the hypocrisy will sooner or later be exposed. The pain and the anxiety brewing in the family will show up. (Note: Remember not to judge any family who is posting pictures on social media.)

A city or a community or an office or an organisation or a kingdom where the various leaders are splintered also brings the entity into ruins. As a practical life lesson, start praying for the spirit of unity to prevail in the organisation you are part of. Recognising that the spirit can be either godly or demonic, pray specifically for the godly spirit of unity.

When we profess to be spiritual and practice matters which do not please God, we practice hypocrisy. The Pharisees were like that. They demanded obedience to the laws but were heartless to the people they served. For eg. the sabbath rules, the stoning of adulterous women. Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. ( NLT Mark 2:27)

When we read the bible, go to church and yet do not obey the commandments in the spirit which it was meant to be. When we do not obey the quickening of the spirit, we are splintered within ourselves. Let us be united within ourselves, a good place to make a change.
I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices.
I want you to know me, more than I want burnt offerings. (reference NLT Hosea 6:6)

Note: This blog post is inspired by the prayer time which I had with my wife. Every morning we meet for a prayer time together, after our individual prayers. During our prayer time, we share the verses which have quickened us. Sometimes what quickens one quickens the other as well. Here is one such instance!

Declaration prayers for your family