Matthew 12:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The bathos of detracting blasphemy. In introduction, note the unity of this passage of sixteen verses. While the linking of one portion of the accounts contained in the Gospels to another is very often exceedingly evident, and that, link by link, a oneness of a different and complete kind marks this marvellous episode. Observe also upon the fact that the criticism of all the ages from the earliest Christian writings of the centuries has fastened upon these verses with no mistaken instinct.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

Casting out devils, and blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. The opposition of the Pharisees on this occasion much less excusable than when charging the Lord with sabbath-breaking. Contrasts with honest amazement of the people, exclaiming," Is not this," etc.? Pharisees felt evidence of miracle as much as common people, but refused to follow their own convictions. Make what they know to be a flimsy and insufficient explanation. Our Lord makes a threefold reply. 1 . It is absurd to suppose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:24

(On the relation of this verse to Matthew 9:34 , see notes there.) But when the Pharisees. Not further defined here, but in Mark 3:22 spoken of as "the scribes that had come down from Jerusalem." Heard it, they said, This fellow; man (Revised Version); οὗτος (cf. Matthew 9:3 , note). Observe that οὗτος (in Matthew only) here answers to the οὗτος of Mark 3:23 . "This man" is at once the object of hope in the minds of the multitudes, and of the deepest opposition on... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:24

A malicious explanation. "This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." The Pharisees must have been very hard driven indeed in order to invent such an explanation. Perhaps what was in their minds was this: "He orders the evil spirits about as if he were a master, or prince, of them. He must be himself possessed with a devil, and it evidently is Beelzebub the prince of the devils." Our Lord had no difficulty in showing up the folly and malice of such... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:22-30

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil - See the notes at Matthew 4:24. The same account, substantially, is found in Mark 3:22-27, and Luke 11:14-26.Matthew 12:23Is not this the Son of David? - That is, Is not this the promised “descendant” of David, the Messiah? They were acquainted with the prophecy in Isaiah 35:5, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped,” and they inferred that he must be the promised Messiah who was able to do... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 12:22-24

Matthew 12:22-24. Then was brought unto him Namely, By the person’s friends, one possessed with a devil, blind and dumb Many, no doubt, supposed these defects to be merely natural: but the Spirit of God saw otherwise, and gives the true account, both of the disorder and the cure. How many other disorders, seemingly natural, may even now be owing to the same cause! And he healed him He immediately expelled the evil spirit, and in an instant removed the effects of his diabolical... 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 12:24

Pharisees. See App-120 . This fellow = this [man]. Not emphatic. devils = demons. but = except. by = in [the power of]. Greek. en . Beelzebub. See note on Matthew 10:25 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 12:24

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.Regarding the meaning of "Beelzebub," see under Matthew 10:25. Charges of the Pharisees were not honest. They would have denied the miracles if possible; but, unable to do that, they spoke maliciously about the source of his power. "Beelzebub" was a combination of two ancient words, "Baal," the name of the old god of the Canaanites, and [~zebul], meaning "dunghill." In the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 12:24

Matthew 12:24. This fellow doth not cast out, &c.— The Pharisees affirmed, that Jesus performed his miracles, particularly on possessed persons, by the assistance of Beelzebub, for two reasons; first, Jesus had all along been at great pains to oppose those superstitions which most of the teachers and people of that age looked upon as the essentials of religion, and extolled as the principal branches of piety. Hence they considered him, who decried them, as a very flagitious person; and... read more

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