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 . 31 " Therefore e I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people , but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven . 32 " Whoever e speaks a word against the Son of Man , it shall be forgiven him; but whoever e speaks against the Holy Spirit , it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come . 33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good , or make the tree bad and its fruit bad ; for the tree is known by its fruit . 34 " You brood of vipers , how can you, being evil , speak what is good ? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart . 35 " The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good ; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil . 36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak , they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment . 37 "For by your words you will be justified , and by your words you will be condemned ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 12:22-37
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.
Commentary on Matthew 12:31-32
(Read Matthew 12:31-32)
Here is a gracious assurance of the pardon of all sin upon gospel terms. Christ herein has set an example to the sons of men, to be ready to forgive words spoken against them. But humble and conscientious believers, at times are tempted to think they have committed the unpardonable sin, while those who have come the nearest to it, seldom have any fear about it. We may be sure that those who indeed repent and believe the gospel, have not committed this sin, or any other of the same kind; for repentance and faith are the special gifts of God, which he would not bestow on any man, if he were determined never to pardon him; and those who fear they have committed this sin, give a good sign that they have not. The trembling, contrite sinner, has the witness in himself that this is not his case.
Commentary on Matthew 12:33-37
(Read Matthew 12:33-37)
Men's language discovers what country they are of, likewise what manner of spirit they are of. The heart is the fountain, words are the streams. A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams. Nothing but the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt communication. An evil man has an evil treasure in his heart, and out of it brings forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions, dwelling and reigning in the heart, are an evil treasure, out of which the sinner brings forth bad words and actions, to dishonour God, and hurt others. Let us keep constant watch over ourselves, that we may speak words agreeable to the Christian character.