From Matthew 12:43-45 / The Myth of Moral Reformation

At first blush, one wonders what Jesus’ words here have to do with what just came before. But upon examination, the connection is apparent. The Pharisees had attacked Jesus’ work of freeing a demonized man as the work of the Devil, though they knew right well such could not be the case. They struck at the heart of His ministry – manifesting the power of the Holy Spirit. Now Jesus turns the tables. All the Pharisees can offer, is external rites, rituals and laws. They can regulate outward behaviors, but have no power to change the heart. And so Jesus’ exposes the utter failure of naked religion. Even Judaism. It has no power to transform.

Note then that mere moral reformation is a hopeless fraud. And even if there is religious reformation, if the Holy Spirit does not come to dwell, nothing at all is done – and in fact, one may even be the worse. Having been rid of one plague inwardly, apart from the Spirit’s indwelling, deeper, darker plagues of self-deceit now reinforced by mere religion keep the lost bound even more than before.

Now there is no greater testimony to this than Jesus’ cleansing the Temple area two times. The first time is recorded in John 2, at the very beginning of His ministry. The second is found in Matt. 21, just prior to His passion. Though the Son of Man Himself forge a whip and drive out the money changers, though the entire corrupt religious system be exposed and effectively dismantled – if there is no change in the hearts of those men – things will revert and be even worse than before.

Note then, that even sound Christian doctrine will not give us a sound and righteous society. If it was only a space of less than 3 years between Jesus’ two cleansings before the Jews reverted, then what chance does any external reformation stand of remaining? The answer is none. No, the answer is – worse.

History tells us that the 1st and 2nd “Great Awakenings” had a profound impact in northeastern United States. But what do the statistics tell us now? That the northeast and specifically New England, is the most Gospel resistant region of the U.S.

While there were countless genuine conversions during those eras, and as a result sweeping societal reforms – if not sustained by truly regenerate people – we go from a merely unconverted populace, to one that is actually Gospel resistant.

We can see the same now in England after the unparalleled ministries and results of that legion of Victorian lions of the Gospel like C.H. Spurgeon, Joseph Parker, J.C. Ryle, Alexander Whyte, R.W. Dale, Alexander Maclaren, and a host of others. Or consider the Continent and the heart of the Protestant Reformation. What of Germany, France, Switzerland, etc? Are these still bastions of Biblical truth? No, they are much worse. Though the unclean spirit of the age be gone out for a time, in due time, it will return with a vengeance – if the Holy Spirit does not take its place in men’s hearts.

And so it is, that Jesus prophesies here, that after He is gone, and having brought the light of the Kingdom to bear in the darkness of His day – “so it will be with this evil generation.” And barely 40 years later, the Temple and what little light was left was swept away in judgment.

Note then that the import of Jesus’ words in John 3 comes home to us with renewed power: “You MUST be born again.” “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

No amount of religion or moral reformation can save any society. Only the power of the Gospel can have any lasting impact. And what a privilege we have then in our day – to still have time to announce the good news of the Gospel. And for the Spirit to work – not in cleaning up men’s actions – but transforming their souls.