matthew-12:24-34

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:31

All manner of sin and blasphemy - Βλασφημια , injurious or impious speaking, mocking and deriding speech, Anglo-Saxon. See Matthew 9:3 . But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost - Even personal reproaches, revilings, persecutions against Christ, were remissible; but blasphemy, or impious speaking against the Holy Spirit was to have no forgiveness: i.e. when the person obstinately attributed those works to the devil, which he had the fullest evidence could be wrought only by the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:32

Neither in this world, neither in the world to come - Though I follow the common translation, yet I am fully satisfied the meaning of the words is, neither in this dispensation, (viz. the Jewish), nor in that which is to come, viz. the Christian. הבא עולם olam ha - ba , the world to come, is a constant phrase for the times of the Messiah in the Jewish writers. See below. The sin here spoken of by our Lord ranks high in the catalogue of presumptuous sins, for which there was no... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:33

Either make the tree good - That is, the effect will be always similar to the cause; a bad tree will produce bad fruit, and a good tree, good fruit. The works will resemble the heart: nothing good can proceed from an evil spirit; no good fruit can proceed from a corrupt heart. Before the heart of man can produce any good, it must be renewed and influenced by the Spirit of God. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:34

O generation of vipers - These are apparently severe words; but they were extremely proper in reference to that execrable people to whom they were addressed: the whole verse is an inference from what was spoken before. Out of the abundance ( περισσευματος , the overflowings) of the heart - Wicked words and sinful actions may be considered as the overflowings of a heart that is more than full of the spirit of wickedness; and holy words and righteous deeds may be considered as the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:24

Verse 24 24.But when the Pharisees heard it. The scribes cannot withhold the acknowledgment of a fact so open and manifest, and yet they maliciously carp (105) at what Christ did by Divine power. Not only do they obscure the praise of the miracle, but endeavor to turn it into a reproach, as if it were performed by magical enchantment; and that work, which could not be ascribed to a man, is alleged by them to have the devil for its author. Of the word Beelzebub I have spoken under the Tenth... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:25

Verse 25 Matthew 12:25.But as Jesus knew their thoughts. Though Christ knew sufficiently well, and had often learned by experience, that the scribes, in the exercise of their malice (116) were in the habit of putting an unfavorable construction on every thing that he did, yet Matthew and Luke, I have no doubt, mean that Christ was a discerner of their hearts. (117) And indeed it is probable, that they spoke so openly against Christ, that their calumnies reached his ears; but Christ knew by his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:27

Verse 27 27.By whom do your children cast them out? He charges them with passing an unjust and malicious decision, because in the same case they did not decide in a similar manner, but as they were affected towards the persons. Now this inequality shows, that their prevailing motive was not a regard to what is just and right, but blind love or hatred; and that it was even an evidence of wicked self-love ( φιλαυτίας) and envy, to condemn in Christ what they praised in their own children By your... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:28

Verse 28 28.But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God. Luke says,if I cast out devils by The Finger of God; employing the word Finger metaphorically instead of the Spirit. As God works, and exerts his power, by his Spirit, it is with propriety that the word Finger is applied to him. And this mode of expression was common among the Jews, as Moses relates that Pharaoh’s magicians said, This is the finger of God Now Christ infers from what he has already stated, that the scribes prove... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:29

Verse 29 29.How can any one enter into the house of a strong man? Though the Evangelists differ a little as to words, there is a perfect agreement among them as to the substance of this discourse. Christ is pursuing the subject, on which he had lately touched, about the kingdom of God, and declares it to be necessary that Satan be violently driven out, in order that God may establish his k ingdom among men. What he now states is nothing else than a confirmation of the preceding statement. But... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:30

Verse 30 30.He that is not with me. There are two ways of explaining this passage. Some suppose that it is an argument drawn from contraries, and that Christ’s meaning is: “ I cannot reign till the devil is overthrown; for the object of all his attempts is, to scatter whatever I gather.” And certainly we see abundant evidence of the earnestness with which that enemy labors to destroy the kingdom of Christ. But I rather agree in opinion with those who explain it to denote, that the scribes are... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:31

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:32

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:33

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:34

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:24

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:25

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:27

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:28

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:29

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:30

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