Matthew 12:43-45

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

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:45

Then goeth he and taketh with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation.These words were doubtless spoken in sorrow. They were a firm, dogmatic prophecy of Israel's rejection of Christ, reminding one of 2 Peter 2:20. What state is worse than being unsaved? It is the apostasy from which it is impossible to be renewed (Hebrews 6:4-6). 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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:43

43-45. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, c.—On this important parable, in connection with the corresponding one ( :-) see on :-. A charming little incident, given only in Luke 11:27 Luke 11:28, seems to have its proper place here. Luke 11:28- :: And it came to pass, as He spake these things, a certain woman of the company —out of the crowd. lifted up her voice and said unto Him, Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked —With true womanly feeling she... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:1-50

B. Specific instances of Israel’s rejection of Jesus ch. 12Matthew has shown that opposition to Jesus came from two main sources: the animosity of the religious leaders, and the indifference of the common Israelites. In this chapter he presented five instances in which opposition manifested itself and increased. In each situation the approach to Jesus was negative, but Jesus responded positively. [Note: Toussaint, Behold the . . ., p. 158.] "Central to the plot of Matthew’s story is the element... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:38-45

3. Conflict over Jesus’ sign 12:38-45The fourth incident and the third type of conflict concerned a sign that Jesus’ critics requested. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:43-45

The point of these verses that describe demon possession goes back to Jesus’ warning about the peril of being neutral toward Him (Matthew 12:30). A demon cast out of a person initially goes through arid places seeking rest. This statement affirms the Jewish belief that demons prefer dry places (Tobit 8:3; cf. Revelation 18:2). [Note: Cf. Tasker, p. 133. See Edersheim, 2:748-63, and 2:770-76, for the Jewish views of angels and demons.] Eventually they seek to inhabit human bodies through which... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:1-50

Plucking Corn on the Sabbath. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost1-8. Plucking the corn on the sabbath (Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1). This chapter begins the period of active conflict with the Pharisees. It is characteristic of the pedantry of the Pharisees that their opposition turned more upon minute points of legal observance than upon broad principles. The Fourth Gospel agrees with the synoptists in making the sabbath controversy of leading importance in the development of hostility to Christ (John... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 12:43

(43) When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man.—The parable comes in abruptly, possibly because here, as elsewhere, we have a part and not the whole of a discourse, striking passages noted and put together, now in this order, now in that, while the links that joined them are missing. The inner connection of thought is, however, clear enough. How was it, it might be asked, that Israel had sunk to such a depth of evil? and the answer was found in the similitude which thus opens. The phenomena... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 12:44

(44) Empty, swept, and garnished.—The words have a two-fold symbolism, as representing (1) the state of the possessed man, and (2) that of the nation of which he is made the type. The latter belongs to the interpretation of the parable as a whole. The former portrays the state of the man who has been delivered from the wildness of frenzy, but has been left to the routine of common life and conventional morality, with no higher spiritual influence to protect and guard him. read more

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:44

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:45

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

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:43

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:1-50

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:38-45

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:43-45

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:1-50

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 12:43

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 12:44

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