Matthew 12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:26

If Satan cast out Satan - A good cause will produce a good effect, and an evil cause an evil effect. Were I on Satan's side, I would act for his interest and confirm his influence among you; but I oppose his maxims by my doctrine, and his influence by my power. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:27

By whom do your children cast them out? - Children, or sons of the prophets, means the disciples of the prophets; and children or sons of the Pharisees, disciples of the Pharisees. From Acts 19:13 , Acts 19:14 , it is evident there were exorcists among the Jews, and, from our Lord's saying here, it is also evident that the disciples of the Pharisees did east out demons, or, at least, those who educated them wished to have it believed that they had such a power. Our Lord's argument here... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:28

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God - Perhaps the Spirit of God is here mentioned by way of opposition to the magical incantations of the Jews; for it is well known that by fumigations and magical washings, they professed to cast out devils. See a case mentioned by Schoettgen on this verse. Then the kingdom of God - For the destruction of the kingdom of Satan plainly implies the setting up of the kingdom of God. Is come unto you - Is come unexpectedly upon you. Εφθασεν ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:29

Else how can one enter into a strong man's house - Men, through sin, are become the very house and dwelling place of Satan, having of their own accord surrendered themselves to this unjust possessor; for whoever gives up his soul to sin gives it up to the devil. It is Jesus, and Jesus alone, who can deliver from the power of this bondage. When Satan is cast out, Jesus purifies and dwells in the heart. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:30

He that is not with me is against me - In vain do men seek for methods to reconcile God and mammon. There is no medium between loving the Lord and being his enemy - between belonging to Christ or to Satan. If we be on the side of the devil, we must expect to go to the devil's hell; if we be on the side of Christ, we may expect to go to his heaven. When Christ, his truth, and his servants are assaulted, he who does not espouse their cause is not on Christ's side, but incurs the guilt of... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:35

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart - Της καρδιας , of the heart, is omitted by upwards of one hundred MSS., many of them of the greatest antiquity and authority; by all the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic; by the Slavonic, Saxon, Vulgate, and Itala, (except four), and by several of the primitive fathers. It seems to have been added here by some copyist, merely to explain. The good heart is the good treasury, and the treasure that is in it is the love of God, and of all mankind.... read more

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