Matthew 12:31-32

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-32

The healing of a man blind and dumb, and the consequent blasphemy of the Pharisees. The miracle leads them to the extreme of spiritual opposition. (On the assimilation to our Matthew 12:22-24 , found in Matthew 9:32-34 , see notes there.) The parallel passages are Luke 11:14-23 and, for the blasphemy and our Lord's consequent defence only, Mark 3:22-30 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-32

The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Many persons have been tempted to believe that they had committed this dreadful sin, and thereby put themselves beyond the reach of mercy. Correct judgment upon this very important subject may best be attained by considering the more fearfully emphatic words of our Lord in their connection. I. THE NATURE OF THE BLASPHEMY MAY BE GATHERED FROM THE STORY . 1 . Our Lord had wrought a notable miracle. 2 . The people were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:22-37

The blasphemy of the Pharisees. I. ITS CAUSE . 1 . The demoniac. The poor man was blind and dumb, and that not from natural causes, but by the cruel agency of an evil spirit. Like the dumb man ( Matthew 9:32 ), he was brought to Christ. He was helpless; he could not see his way; he could not express his wants. The Lord healed him at once; he both spake and saw. We must do our part to bring the helpless to the Lord. There are many, alas! whose eyes the God of this world has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 12:25-37

Our Lord shows the monstrous character of their accusation, and urges the need of a complete change at heart. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:31

Wherefore ( διὰ τοῦτο ). Referring primarily to Matthew 12:30 , and to be joined closely to "I say unto you." Because such is the terrible effect of what you think mere indifferentism, I say this solemnly, Beware of committing the great sin. Luke's connexion of our verse 43 with verse 30 gives a good but a weaker sense—Become fully decided, lest the devil return to you stronger than ever. Matthew's connexion is—Become fully decided, for the legitimate outcome of want of decision is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:31-32

Parallel passages: Mark 3:28-30 and Luke 12:10 (where the context is not the same, he having passed straight from our Luke 12:30 to our Luke 12:43 , vide infra ) . It is to be observed that all three accounts differ a good deal in form, though but slightly in substance. The Apostolical Constitutions contain what is probably a mixture of these verses with 2 Peter 2:1 and other passages of the New Testament. Resch, in accordance with his theory, thinks that the Constitutions have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 12:32

Our Lord applies the general principle of Matthew 12:31 to "blasphemy" against himself. This might be, comparatively speaking, innocuous if it was merely defamation or detraction of him as man; but if, on the other hand, it referred to his work in such a way as to mean a real detraction of God's actions considered as Divine, it indicated a state of feeling which did not admit of forgiveness ( vide supra ) . If it be asked whether the individual Pharisees referred to in Matthew 12:24-28 ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 12:31-32

In this place, and in Mark 3:28-30, Jesus states the awful nature of the sin of which they had been guilty. That sin was the sin against the Holy Spirit. It consisted in charging him with being in league with the devil, or accusing him of working his miracles, not by the “spirit” or “power” of God, but by the aid of the prince of the devils. It was therefore a direct insult, abuse, or evil speaking against the Holy Spirit - the spirit by which Jesus worked his miracles. That this was what he... read more

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