Matthew 12:44

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:38-45

The sign-seekers. After Jesus had denounced the blasphemy of the scribes and Pharisees, and threatened them with the severity of the judgment, certain of their number demanded of him a sign to sustain his asserted authority. In his reply we notice— I. THAT THE SINNERS ARE REBUKED IN MERCY . 1 . They sought a sign , viz. , from heaven. 2 . But this sign was not for that generation. 3 . He gave them the sign from the earth. (a) As to the fact. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:43-45

Parallel passage: Luke 11:24-26 , almost verbally, but omitting the application at the end of our Luke 11:45 . A solemn warning against a merely negative improvement. External preparation, mechanical religion, is insufficient; a definite acceptance of my teaching is required. Our Lord's primary thought Would appear to be the relation in which those to whom he was speaking stood to himself. But he frames his words so as to include the whole of that generation of Jews ( Luke 11:39 , Luke... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:43-45

The empty house. The heart of man is a house in which dwell good or evil. When evil has taken up its abode there, the moralist will endeavour to drive it out. But if he is not able to substitute a positive good, his work will issue in worse than a failure; the evil will come back with increased power and resume possession of its old haunts. Let us endeavour to see the reason of this, and then how the mischief can be prevented. I. THE EVICTION . The house was inhabited by a most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:44

Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out. In the true text the emphasis lies on the words, "into my house;" i.e. the place that I have found so comfortable before, where I was so thoroughly at home; which, in fact, is still mine. Observe the curious parallel to Matthew 10:25 . The Jews had called Christ Beelzebub absolutely without reason, but in their own ease it was only too possible that they had an unclean spirit as "master of the house." And when he is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:43-45

When the unclean spirit ... - The “general sentiment” which our Saviour here teaches is much more easily understood than the illustration which he uses. The Jews had asked a sign from heaven that should decisively prove that he was the Messiah, and satisfy their unbelief. He replies that, though he should give them such a sign a proof conclusive and satisfactory, and though for a time they should profess to believe and apparently reform, yet such was the obstinacy of their unbelief and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 12:43-45

Matthew 12:43-45. When the unclean spirit, &c. In these verses, with a view to show how dreadful the state of the Jewish people would be, if they continued to reject him and his gospel, our Lord introduces a parable, borrowed from the late subject of his dispute with the Pharisees. He compares their condition to that of a man, who, after having had an evil spirit expelled out of him, is again, through God’s permission, as a punishment of his continuing in sin, taken possession of by... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 12:22-45

52. Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:22-45; Mark 3:22-30; Luke 11:14-36)On one occasion when Jesus cast out demons, the Pharisees accused him of doing it by the power of Satan, the prince of demons (Matthew 12:22-24; Luke 11:14-16). Jesus replied that if the prince of demons used his own power to cast out demons, he would be creating civil war in his own kingdom. He would be destroying himself. The only way a strong man can be defeated is if a stronger man overpowers him. In casting out... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 12:44

from whence = whence. garnished = decorated. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:44

Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.See comment on preceding verse. The failure of Israel to carry forward the good impulses initiated by the preaching of John and the early popularity of Christ and his teachings became the occasion for a far more terrible thing than mere neglect and casual indifference. In the diabolical intentions of the wicked leaders, coupled with the relative "emptiness" of the people... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 12:43-45

Matthew 12:43-45. When the unclean spirit, &c.— Our Lord here finishes his defence, alluding to the occasion of the dispute, Mat 12:22 with a parable of a possessed person who, having had a devilor demon expelled out of him, received him back again, with many others, or was taken possession of by them, and thereby was brought into a worse condition than ever. By ανυδρων , dry places, are meant deserts. See Psalms 106:14; Psalms 70:0. Dr. Whitby and some others interpret this of the devils... read more

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