Matthew 12:28-32

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:22-37

2. Conflict over Jesus’ power 12:22-37 (cf. Mark 3:19-30; Luke 11:14-26)The Pharisees moved beyond debate to personal abuse and character assassination in this pericope. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:25-37

Jesus’ reply in view of the response 12:25-37 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:28

The Spirit of God stands in stark contrast to Beelzebul. Matthew probably used "kingdom of God" here rather than "kingdom of heaven" to connect the kingdom with the Spirit."References to the Spirit occur only twelve times altogether in Matthew’s gospel, with one-third of them in chapter 12. As might be expected in a gospel concerned to interpret the significance of the life and ministry of Jesus, most of the references describe the work of the Spirit in relation to Him." [Note: Lowery, pp.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:29

Jesus encouraged the Pharisees to look at the same issue another way. Only a stronger person can bind a homeowner and ransack his house (cf. Isaiah 49:24-25). On a deeper level Jesus was speaking of Himself binding Satan and spoiling his house by casting out demons (cf. Mark 3:27; Luke 11:21-22). Thus Jesus was claiming power superior to Satan that could only be divine. Jesus will really bind Satan for 1,000 years when the kingdom begins (Revelation 20:2). Jewish pseudepigraphal literature... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:30

Jesus’ point in this statement was that there can be no neutrality in one’s relationship to Him. Those who do not side with Jesus side with Satan. This put the Pharisees in undesirable company. The Old Testament viewed man’s judgment as a harvest that God would conduct. Jesus claimed that He would be the harvesting Judge. Jesus’ statement here would have rebuked the Pharisees and warned the undecided in the crowd. Apparently they were not only refusing to come to Jesus themselves but were even... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 12:31-32

Jesus followed up His statement about the impossibility of being neutral (Matthew 12:30) with this further warning. The "therefore" (Gr. dia touto) indicates this relationship. Blasphemy involves extreme slander (cf. Matthew 9:3). God would forgive any sin, including extreme slander of Jesus, when a person trusted in Jesus. However, He would not forgive blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, in view of the context (Matthew 12:24-28), involved attributing Jesus’... 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 12:28

(28) By the Spirit of God.—In Luke 11:20 we have as an equivalent phrase, “the finger of God.” So in Old Testament language the fulness of the prophet’s inspiration was expressed in the words, “the hand of the Lord was strong upon me” (Ezekiel 3:14). The second hymn in the Ordination Service reproduces the symbolism in the words addressed to the Holy Spirit—“In faithful hearts thou writ’st thy law,The finger of God’s hand;”and it obviously connects itself with the older language which describes... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 12:29

(29) How can one enter into a strong man’s house.—The parable implied in the question appears in a fuller form in Luke 11:21-22. Here it will be enough to note that the “strong man” is Satan. The “house” is the region which is subject to him—i.e., either the world at large, or the spirits of individual men; the “goods” or “instruments” (comp. the “armour” of Luke 11:22) are the demons or subordinate powers of evil by which he maintains his dominion; the “binding of the strong man” is the check... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 12:30

(30) He that is not with me is against me.—The words seem at first at variance with the answer to the sons of Zebedee, when they reported that they had seen one casting out devils in the name of Christ, and had forbidden him “because he followed not” with them. Then they heard,” Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us” (Luke 9:50); and those words have naturally been the watchword of those who rejoice when Christ is preached every way, and by whatever organisation. In reality,... read more

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