Matthew 12:15-30

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:18

18. Behold my servant Christ, though the Son, humbled himself, and took upon himself the form of a servant. He shall show judgment That is, he shall reveal the principles of truth and righteousness to the Gentiles. Here the enlargement of the dispensation of the Messiah beyond the limits of Judaism (which was so great a difficulty at first even with our Lord’s apostles and the Apostolic Church) is expressly predicted by the Old Testament prophets. read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:19

19. He shall not strive Here the peaceful character of the Saviour is set in beautiful contrast with the greatness of his deeds. Though he rule the nations with his law, he shall be peaceful and noiseless. His victories shall be the victories of peace. The rulers of Christendom have sometimes spread Christianity by the sword; but that was in express contradiction both to the personal character of Christ and to the precepts and principles of his Gospel. Strive To strive is to fight. Our... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:20

20. A bruised reed He shall be the tenderest of all conquerors to those who desire to submit to his authority. The spirit, bruised like a bruised reed, shall receive no crushing blow from him. He will be rather the tender cultivator, who will bind up and restore the broken plant, than the ravager, who will break its bruised stem. Smoking flax Rather smoking lamp-wick. The submitting soul, whose life flickers like the last spark of the expiring lamp-wick, will find that He will... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:21

21. Gentiles trust The spirit of inspiration here paraphrases the words of the prophet, giving his essential meaning rather than the exact terms. In the book of Isaiah the words are, “The isles shall wait for his law.” By the isles are meant the distant nations of the earth, especially those separated by water, and so the Gentiles in general. We have here a clear prediction that the religion of the Gospel shall become universal. Mr. Gibbon objects to the proofs from prophecy, because... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:22

22. One possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb The kingdom of wickedness naturally associates with the natural evils of men. Disease and possession are the product of sin, and they are thus found going naturally together. See note on Matthew 4:24. read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:23

23. Amazed These fresh displays of love surprised and melted their hearts. They cannot but feel the movings of faith upon one so mighty and so benevolent. Son of David They no doubt were aware that he was reputed to be of the royal line; and these miracles, coming thus from him, awakened a presentiment that he might indeed be the illustrious Son of David, predicted in the prophets as the coming Messiah. read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:24

24. Pharisees heard it The miracle was reported doubtless to them for explanation. They felt that if his pure doctrines should prevail, their influence was at an end. The miracle they do not deny, but ascribe it to an infernal power. Beelzebub the prince of the devils So great and numerous are the miracles that they cannot ascribe them to any one less than the prince. Beelzebub was worshipped at Ekron, (2 Kings 1:1-2,) as the god of flies; that is, as the god who protected the... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:25

25. Every kingdom divided against itself Our Lord proceeds to refute the slander that he is confederated with the prince of darkness. It is plain that he is working against the evil power, He is driving the infernal power from his strongest posts, and beating him back from his boldest incursions into the world. Now this would imply that the kingdom of evil was working against itself, and that Satan was in the act of self-destruction. No doubt the kingdom of evil is the kingdom of... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:26

26. Cast out Satan Our Lord here assumes, what doubtless the Jews would grant, that to cast out Satan is the strongest proof that can be visibly given of hostility to Satan. It is a case of the directest possible issue. It is a point where the kingdom of God and of Satan come into direct hostile contact. Certainly, as the general fights the battle for one side, the side of good, it is the highest possible proof that he is truly on that side. read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 12:27

27. Your children That is, your disciples. That there were among the Jews exorcists, who at least professed to cast out devils, we know from the Apocrypha, from Josephus, and from Acts 19:12-14. It appears by the writings of the earliest Christian fathers that this power of exorcism remained for some time in the primitive Church. The truth doubtless is, that as the power of Satan had been for a period extraordinarily manifest at our Saviour’s coming, (see note on Matthew 1:20,) by the... read more

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