12:25 {5} And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:(5) The kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of the devil cannot abide together. read more
We have seen that Matthew groups events with a dispensational end in view, and chapter 12 shows a building up on Israel's part to a state of utter rejection of their Messiah. The expression "at that time" does not mean that this event took place at the some time chronologically, but "is a general term embracing connected events" (William Kelly). For the event actually took place some time earlier (Mark 2:23). But this is chosen by God to be recorded here in order to show that Israel's... read more
EXPANSION AND OPPOSITION The King has come, the code of His Kingdom is set forth, His credentials presented, and He now expands the testimony concerning Himself, with the result of increasing opposition. This expansion is connected with the commission of the twelve disciples (chap. 10), and the opposition is revealed in various ways in the chapters following. THE DISCIPLES COMMISSIONED (Matthew 10:0 ) Here we find “apostles” for the first time (Matthew 10:2 ), which means “those sent... read more
Chapter 50 Prayer Almighty God, thou hast set us here a little while, and thou hast required great things at our hands. Is not thy demand upon us a proof of the divinity that is within us, and of the great capacity with which thou hast endowed and blessed our life? Surely thou wouldst not gather grapes of thorns: thou hast planted us a goodly vine, and thou dost look that we should bring forth good grapes. Teach us to find in ourselves what thou wouldst find in us; thus may we answer the... read more
"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. (25) And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: (26) And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? (27) And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?... read more
Every kingdom. Strong as a kingdom may appear, it is easily overturned by divisions; and lest it should be objected, that ruin was brought upon it by a multiplicity of clashing affairs, it is added that cities and families share the same fate, if subject to similar divisions. (St. John Chrysostom, hom. xlii). --- The Pharisees, on a former occasion, had laid a similar accusation against him. Then indeed he did not correct them, wishing them to discover his virtue from the miracles he performed,... read more
22-30 A soul under Satan's power, and led captive by him, is blind in the things of God, and dumb at the throne of grace; sees nothing, and says nothing to the purpose. Satan blinds the eyes by unbelief, and seals up the lips from prayer. The more people magnified Christ, the more desirous the Pharisees were to vilify him. It was evident that if Satan aided Jesus in casting out devils, the kingdom of hell was divided against itself; how then could it stand! And if they said that Jesus cast out... read more
Matthew 12 FROM THE HEIGHTS reached in the last chapter, we descend into the depths of human folly and blindness as displayed by the Pharisees. In this chapter we see Him very definitely rejected by the leaders of the Jews, and not merely by the cities of Galilee. In the first two instances the contention raged round the sabbath. The Lord defended the action of His disciples on at least four grounds (ver. 3-8). When David, God’s anointed king, was in rejection, his needs took precedence over a... read more
Christ takes them to task: v. 25. And Jesus knew their thoughts and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: v. 26. and if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how, then, shall his kingdom stand? v. 27. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. v. 28. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God,... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Matthew 12:1-50
9. The Rejection Consummated and the Broken Relationship. CHAPTER 12 1. The Hungry Disciples and the Accusing Pharisees. (Matthew 12:1-9 .) 2. The Man with the Withered Hand Healed.(Matthew 12:10-13 .) 3. The Hatred of the Pharisees.(Matthew 12:14 .) 4. The King in Rejection. (Matthew 12:15-21 .) 5. The Demon Possessed Man Healed. (Matthew 12:22-23 .) 6. The Blasphemy of the Pharisees and the King's Answer. (Matthew 12:24-37 .) 7. The Sign of Jonas and his Warning Prediction. (Matthew... read more