22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw . 23 All the crowds were amazed , and were saying , "This man cannot be the Son of David , can he?" 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said , "This man casts out demons only e e by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons ." 25 And 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 . 26 "If Satan casts out Satan , he is divided against himself ; how then will his kingdom stand ? 27 "If I by Beelzebul cast out demons , by whom do your sons cast them out? For this e reason e they will be your judges . 28 "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God , then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 "Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property , unless e he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house . 30 " He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 12:22-30
Commentary on Matthew 12:22-30
(Read Matthew 12:22-30)
A soul under Satan's power, and led captive by him, is blind in the things of God, and dumb at the throne of grace; sees nothing, and says nothing to the purpose. Satan blinds the eyes by unbelief, and seals up the lips from prayer. The more people magnified Christ, the more desirous the Pharisees were to vilify him. It was evident that if Satan aided Jesus in casting out devils, the kingdom of hell was divided against itself; how then could it stand! And if they said that Jesus cast out devils by the prince of the devils, they could not prove that their children cast them out by any other power. There are two great interests in the world; and when unclean spirits are cast out by the Holy Spirit, in the conversion of sinners to a life of faith and obedience, the kingdom of God is come unto us. All who do not aid or rejoice in such a change are against Christ.