But if I with the, finger of God ,.... The power of God, referring to Exodus 8:19 and so the Cabalistic Jews F18 R. Mosch in Sepher Hashem, apud Cabal. Denudata. T. I. par. l. p. 146. explain it, "the finger is one of the five in the hand, and is that finger which works by the power of Elohim;' it is the same with the Spirit of God; See Gill on Matthew 12:28 which is often called the hand of the Lord, Ezekiel 1:3 . read more
When a strong man armed ,.... By the strong man, is meant the devil; See Gill on Matthew 12:29 and who may be said to be "armed", both with his own temptations, which are as fiery darts, and which are thrown by him thick and fast, suddenly and swiftly, privily, and with great art and cunning, and with great strength, and are very injurious; and also with the sins and lusts of men, which are armour of unrighteousness, and which Satan turns upon them, and makes use of against them, to their... read more
But when a stronger than he ,.... By whom is meant Christ, who is the mighty God, the Almighty; and appears to be so, in the creation of all things, in upholding them by the word of his power, in the government of the world, and the works of providence, in the redemption of his people from sin, Satan, and the law, and in the conversion of them, by the efficacy of his grace, and in the preservation of them by his power; and who is manifestly stronger than Satan; not only by these instances,... read more
He that is not with me, is against me ,.... Our Lord does not mean one, that was not personally with him; for there might be some, and doubtless were many, who were not in person with him, and yet were not against him, but friends to him, and to his interest; nor one that was not a professed disciple of his, or not a follower of him, and his apostles; for there were some who called themselves John's disciples, and did not attend on Christ, and yet were not against him, but cast out devils in... read more
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man ,.... That is, the devil, who is in, and works in the children of disobedience, whether under a profession of religion or not; whose hearts are unclean like himself, wherefore there he delights to dwell; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "the evil demon": who may be said to go out of a man in appearance, when he outwardly reforms and takes up a profession of religion. He walketh through dry places ; or "a desert", as the Ethiopic... read more
And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. In Matthew it is also said to be "empty"; and so it is read here in the Arabic version; and in the Ethiopic version, "empty of men": but rather the sense is, that he found it empty of all goodness, notwithstanding all the sweeping and garnish of an outward reformation. The Persic version renders it, "heated and prepared"; heated with wrath and fury against Christ, and his Gospel, and so was prepared and fitted to be a proper habitation... read more
Then goeth he and taketh to him seven other spirits ,.... Or "demons", as the Ethiopic version, whom he took to him as his consorts and companions, as the same version calls them. More wicked than himself ; for it seems there are degrees of wickedness among the devils, as well as among men: and they enter and dwell there ; the unclean spirit, and the other seven: so seven devils were in Mary Magdalene, and a legion in another man; and indeed the evil heart of man is an habitation of... read more
And it came to pass as he spoke these things ,.... That is, as Christ spoke, or "had finished these sayings", as the Persic version expresses it, before related, in vindication of himself and his miracles, from the blasphemy of the Scribes and Pharisees to their entire confusion, and had delivered the above parable concerning the unclean spirit, which had a particular regard to them: a certain woman of the company : observing the miracle he had wrought, in casting out a devil, and being... read more
But he said ,.... Christ said "to the woman", Persic version reads, as correcting her, though not denying it, nor reproving her for it, but improving upon it: yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it ; intimating, that though his mother was happy in bearing and suckling such a son, yet it was a far greater happiness to hear the word of God; meaning either himself, the eternal "Logos", so as to embrace him, believe on him, and have him formed in the heart; or the... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 11:19
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils ,.... Which is what the Pharisees charged him with; in the Greek copies, and so in the Arabic and Ethiopic versions it is read, "by Beelzebul", and so in the preceding verses; See Gill on Matthew 10:25 . By whom do your sons cast them out ? by whose help? or in whose name? for the Jews pretended to cast out devils, and to heal those that were possessed with them; which they did sometimes, by making use of the names of the patriarchs, Abraham,... read more