Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 12:25 - 12:30
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_12:25-30
25And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God. then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
Mat_12:25-32 Jesus used a logical, analytical argument to show the ridiculousness of the Pharisees'claim (cf. Mar_3:23-27; Luk_11:17-22). There were four examples used: (1) Mat_12:25; (2) Mat_12:27; (3) Mat_12:28; and (4) Mat_12:29. There is a series of first class conditional sentences, which are usually assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes, but here they are false (Mat_12:26-27). However, the first class conditional sentence in Mat_12:28 is true to reality! Context, context, context!
Mat_12:25 "And knowing their thoughts" It is uncertain whether Jesus was using His supernatural ability to read men's thoughts or whether he saw them talking and overheard their comments (cf. Mat_9:4). See note at Mat_12:1.
▣ "Jesus" The oldest Greek manuscripts omit the name (i.e., P21, à , B, D, and some Old Latin, Syrian, and Coptic manuscripts).
Mat_12:27
NASB, NKJV "by whom do your sons cast them out"
NRSV "by whom do your own exorcists cast them out"
TEV "who gives your followers the power to drive them out"
NJB "through whom do your own experts drive them out"
The Jews (i.e., "your sons") practiced exorcism by magical formulas and oaths (cf. Mar_9:38; Act_19:13). The unusual account in Mat_12:43-45 seems to relate to this Jewish exorcism which cast out the demons, but did not replace it with faith in God, leaving a spiritual vacuum.
Mat_12:28 "If. . .then the kingdom of God has come upon you" This is a first class conditional sentence, assumed to be true by the author for his literary purposes. This is another veiled Messianic reference. It is also highly unusual for Matthew to use the phrase "the kingdom of God," which is usually found in Mark and Luke. Matthew usually used the phrase " kingdom of heaven." There are only four exceptions: (1) this passage; (2) Mat_19:24; (3) Mat_21:31; and (4) Mat_21:43. Jesus asserted that His exorcisms demonstrated that His Messianic power proved the arrival of the new age of the Spirit! See a good brief discussion of "realized eschatology" in F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, p. 198. See hyperlink at Mat_4:17.
Mat_12:29 This verse is often used to support the modern practice of casting Satan out of worship services. But in context this is not a " promise" text to be used for corporate exorcisms. Believers are not given the authority to bind Satan (i.e., "the strong man"). Even Michael the Archangel of Israel does not speak judgment against Satan (cf. Jud_1:9). The Apostles and the Seventy were given the power of exorcism over the demonic (cf. Mat_10:1; Luk_10:17-20). However this is never listed among the gifts of the Spirit given to the Church. This parable is paralleled in Mar_3:22-27 and Luk_11:21-23.
Mat_12:30 "He who is not with Me is against Me" A clear, radical choice must be made (cf. Mar_9:40; Luk_9:49-50; Luk_11:23). Jesus brings the New Age, mankind must respond to Him. Not to respond is to choose!