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Matthew 12:24
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Summary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But when the Pharisees heard it--Mark (Mar 3:22) says, "the scribes which came down from Jerusalem"; so that this had been a hostile party of the ecclesiastics, who had come all the way from Jerusalem to collect materials for a charge against Him. (See on Mat 12:14). they said, This fellow--an expression of contempt. doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub--rather, "Beelzebul" (see on Mat 10:25). the prince of the devils--Two things are here implied--first, that the bitterest enemies of our Lord were unable to deny the reality of His miracles; and next, that they believed in an organized internal kingdom of evil, under one chief. This belief would be of small consequence, had not our Lord set His seal to it; but this He immediately does. Stung by the unsophisticated testimony of "all the people," they had no way of holding out against His claims but the desperate shift of ascribing His miracles to Satan.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Or else, how can anyone enter into a strong man's house,.... This is another argument of Christ's proving that his casting out of devils could not be by Satan, but by the Spirit of God; for if he did not act by any superior power to Satan's, and such by which he was able to master, overcome, and bind him, he could never spoil his goods, as he did; or dispossess devils out of the bodies or souls of men: just as if a man should enter into another man's house, who is strong and robust, with a design to spoil his goods, who would never make use of the man himself to do it, and can never be thought to effect it, unless he has a power superior to his, and uses it; except he first bind the strong man, and then he will spoil his house: by the "strong man", is meant the devil, see Isa 49:24 who is powerful and mighty, as appears from his nature, being an angel, though a fallen one, excelling in strength human creatures; from his names, such as the roaring lion, the great red dragon, leviathan, &c. from the extent of his dominion, here called "his house"; which reaches to the whole posse of devils, and world of men; whence he is called the prince of the power of the air, and the prince of this world, and the god of it; and from his works and actions, in and over the bodies and estates of men, by divine permission; which might be exemplified in the case of Job, and the demoniacs in the time of Christ; and in and over the souls of men, not only over wicked men, but men under a show of religion, as antichrist and his followers; yea, saints themselves, and even over Adam in a state of innocence; but Christ is stronger than he, and attacked him, and dispossessed him of the bodies of men; and restraining him from doing them any hurt, enters into the souls of men, dethrone him, and leads him captive, who led others; and keeps him from doing them any damage; as he will in the latter day "bind" him and shut him up in prison a thousand years; and also "spoils his goods", or "vessels", and "his house"; the palace of Satan, by taking bodies and souls out of his possession; by awakening the conscience, enlightening the mind, working upon the affections, subduing the will, and implanting principles of grace and holiness in the heart; and so making it a fit habitation for God, which spoils it for the devil: in all which, Satan can never be thought to have any hand; and therefore the suggestion that Christ casts out devils by his assistance, even out of the bodies of men, has no show of reason in it.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
12:24 Satan: Greek Beelzeboul; see study note on 10:25.
Matthew 12:24
A House Divided
23The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
(The Law of the Holy Spirit) Jesus Stayed Away Sin
By Zac Poonen8.3K52:06Law Of The Holy Spirit2SA 24:24PSA 51:3MAT 7:21MAT 12:24MAT 16:17ACT 2:4HEB 5:7In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of moving beyond the basic teachings of Christianity and pursuing a deeper level of spiritual maturity. He uses the analogy of learning to swim to illustrate this point, explaining that just as someone who has learned to swim can teach others, mature Christians should be able to teach and guide others in their faith. The speaker also highlights the difference between "milk" and "solid food" in the Christian message, with milk representing the basic message of forgiveness of sins and solid food representing the word of righteousness and holiness. He urges listeners to discern between good and evil, not just in a worldly sense, but also in terms of living a life that reflects the way Jesus lived on earth.
The Unpardonable Sin
By David Wilkerson5.3K51:06MAT 12:24MAT 12:31In this sermon, the preacher addresses the issue of unbelief and fear among the congregation. He prays for healing of these negative emotions and encourages the listeners to hold on to their faith. The preacher also mentions a videotape circulating in the church that shows unusual manifestations of the Holy Spirit, but he does not find them edifying. He emphasizes the importance of repentance and seeking forgiveness from Jesus for any sins committed, reassuring the congregation that there is always forgiveness available. The preacher also condemns the recognition of demonic power and urges the congregation to not give any recognition to the devil.
Leadership in the Home Church and Church
By Zac Poonen1.9K56:34LeadershipEXO 34:29ISA 53:4MAT 8:17MAT 12:24ROM 11:22HEB 12:18In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being led by Jesus and seeking His guidance in all decisions. He encourages listeners to go home, pray, and listen to Jesus as their ultimate authority. The speaker also emphasizes the need for compassionate fathers in the church who can guide and support others. He highlights the role of fathers in leading their families and being merciful towards their children. The sermon concludes with a reminder to be like Jesus, the good shepherd, who leads his sheep to green pastures rather than driving them with a whip.
Characteristics of Pharisees
By Zac Poonen1.5K58:40MAT 12:9MAT 12:24MAT 15:1MAT 15:12MAT 19:3MAT 21:15LUK 11:53This sermon delves into the characteristics of Pharisees, highlighting their legalistic nature, hypocrisy, hardness of heart, and inability to appreciate true worship. It emphasizes the dangers of being like a Pharisee, including neglecting family responsibilities, seeking to catch others in their words, and being easily offended. The importance of humility, self-reflection, and genuine worship is underscored as key aspects of avoiding Pharisee-like behavior.
Forgiveness and Mercy
By Erlo Stegen1.2K57:04ForgivenessMAT 6:33MAT 12:24MAT 18:21MAT 18:23In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and how it is a characteristic of the kingdom of God. He uses the parable of a king settling accounts with his servants to illustrate this point. The king shows great compassion and forgives a servant who owes him a large debt. However, this servant then refuses to forgive a fellow servant who owes him a much smaller debt. The preacher highlights the hypocrisy of holding onto grudges and emphasizes the need to forgive others as God has forgiven us.
John 1:41-42
By St. John Chrysostom0PSA 133:1MAT 12:24MAT 16:17MRK 3:17LUK 9:58JHN 1:42JHN 4:18JHN 15:11CO 3:23HEB 10:25John Chrysostom emphasizes the importance of companionship and unity among believers, highlighting the benefits of dwelling together in love and mutual support as opposed to isolation. He delves into the significance of Andrew's immediate sharing of the good news about Jesus with his brother Simon, showcasing the eagerness and zeal in spreading the message of Christ. Chrysostom also discusses the gradual revelation of Jesus' divinity through prophecies and the power of naming individuals in the Bible, such as Simon being called Cephas. Furthermore, he reflects on the honor and responsibility of being called Christians, urging believers to live up to the dignity of the title by imitating Christ in their actions and attitudes towards wealth and possessions.
Study Notes - Satan
By Walter Beuttler0ISA 14:12EZK 28:15MAT 12:24ROM 8:372CO 10:4EPH 6:101PE 5:8Walter Beuttler preaches on the origin, fall, personality, and tactics of Satan, emphasizing his role as the adversary of God's people. He delves into the nature of evil spirits, the believer's spiritual warfare, and the necessity of being equipped with the whole armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. Beuttler highlights the importance of truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God as essential weapons in the Christian's battle against the enemy.
John 7:14-29. Christ Defends Himself for Healing on the Sabbath Day.
By Favell Lee Mortimer0MAT 12:24Favell Lee Mortimer preaches about Jesus' meekness and wisdom in the face of insults and accusations, highlighting how every circumstance in life presents an opportunity to cultivate grace. Jesus displayed great meekness and wisdom in dealing with perverse sinners, exposing their inconsistencies and deceitful pretenses. Those who claim to have good motives for doing wrong will be speechless before their Judge. Jesus challenges people's ignorance about His origins, emphasizing the importance of truly knowing God, which He came to reveal to humanity.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
But when the Pharisees heard it--Mark (Mar 3:22) says, "the scribes which came down from Jerusalem"; so that this had been a hostile party of the ecclesiastics, who had come all the way from Jerusalem to collect materials for a charge against Him. (See on Mat 12:14). they said, This fellow--an expression of contempt. doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub--rather, "Beelzebul" (see on Mat 10:25). the prince of the devils--Two things are here implied--first, that the bitterest enemies of our Lord were unable to deny the reality of His miracles; and next, that they believed in an organized internal kingdom of evil, under one chief. This belief would be of small consequence, had not our Lord set His seal to it; but this He immediately does. Stung by the unsophisticated testimony of "all the people," they had no way of holding out against His claims but the desperate shift of ascribing His miracles to Satan.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Or else, how can anyone enter into a strong man's house,.... This is another argument of Christ's proving that his casting out of devils could not be by Satan, but by the Spirit of God; for if he did not act by any superior power to Satan's, and such by which he was able to master, overcome, and bind him, he could never spoil his goods, as he did; or dispossess devils out of the bodies or souls of men: just as if a man should enter into another man's house, who is strong and robust, with a design to spoil his goods, who would never make use of the man himself to do it, and can never be thought to effect it, unless he has a power superior to his, and uses it; except he first bind the strong man, and then he will spoil his house: by the "strong man", is meant the devil, see Isa 49:24 who is powerful and mighty, as appears from his nature, being an angel, though a fallen one, excelling in strength human creatures; from his names, such as the roaring lion, the great red dragon, leviathan, &c. from the extent of his dominion, here called "his house"; which reaches to the whole posse of devils, and world of men; whence he is called the prince of the power of the air, and the prince of this world, and the god of it; and from his works and actions, in and over the bodies and estates of men, by divine permission; which might be exemplified in the case of Job, and the demoniacs in the time of Christ; and in and over the souls of men, not only over wicked men, but men under a show of religion, as antichrist and his followers; yea, saints themselves, and even over Adam in a state of innocence; but Christ is stronger than he, and attacked him, and dispossessed him of the bodies of men; and restraining him from doing them any hurt, enters into the souls of men, dethrone him, and leads him captive, who led others; and keeps him from doing them any damage; as he will in the latter day "bind" him and shut him up in prison a thousand years; and also "spoils his goods", or "vessels", and "his house"; the palace of Satan, by taking bodies and souls out of his possession; by awakening the conscience, enlightening the mind, working upon the affections, subduing the will, and implanting principles of grace and holiness in the heart; and so making it a fit habitation for God, which spoils it for the devil: in all which, Satan can never be thought to have any hand; and therefore the suggestion that Christ casts out devils by his assistance, even out of the bodies of men, has no show of reason in it.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
12:24 Satan: Greek Beelzeboul; see study note on 10:25.