Show Bible Commentary For A Bible Verse

Click here to show/hide instructions.

Selected Verse: Matthew 12:22 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mt 12:22	Strong Concordance	Then [5119] was brought [4374] unto him [846] one possessed with a devil [1139], blind [5185], and [2532] dumb [2974]: and [2532] he healed [2323] him [846], insomuch that [5620] the blind [5185] and [2532] dumb [2974] both [2532] spake [2980] and [2532] saw [991].
	King James	Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

Open All | Close All Open All | Close All

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
A BLIND AND DUMB DEMONIAC HEALED AND REPLY TO THE MALIGNANT EXPLANATION PUT UPON IT. ( = Mar 3:20-30; Luk 11:14-23). (Mat. 12:22-37) Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil--"a demonized person." blind and dumb, and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and the dumb both spake and saw.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

A BLIND AND DUMB DEMONIAC HEALED AND REPLY TO THE MALIGNANT EXPLANATION PUT UPON IT. ( = Mar 3:20-30; Luk 11:14-23). (Mat. 12:22-37)

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil--"a demonized person."

blind and dumb, and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and the dumb both spake and saw.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil - See the notes at Mat 4:24. The same account, substantially, is found in Mar 3:22-27, and Luk 11:14-26. Mat 12:23 Is not this the Son of David? - That is, Is not this the promised "descendant" of David, the Messiah? They were acquainted with the prophecy in Isa 35:5, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped," and they inferred that he must be the promised Messiah who was able to do this. This inference was drawn by the common people, and not by the proud and haughty Pharisees. It is not uncommon that people of plain common sense, though unlearned, see the true meaning of the Bible, while those who are filled with pride and science, falsely so called, are blinded. Mat 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it ... - It was necessary for the Pharisees, who had determined to reject Jesus of Nazareth, to account in "some" way for the miracles he had performed. Here was a manifest miracle, an exertion of power unquestionably superior to what people could put forth. The common people were fast drawing the proper inference from it, and coming into the belief that this was the Messiah. The authority and power of the Pharisees were declining. Unless, therefore, some way should be devised of accounting for these facts, their influence would be at an end. Whatever way of accounting for them was adopted, it was necessary that they should acknowledge that there was "superhuman power." The people were fully persuaded of this, and no man could deny it. They therefore ascribed it to the prince of the devils - to Beelzebub. In this they had two objects: 1. To concede to the people that here was a "miracle," or a work above mere human power. 2. To throw all possible contempt on Jesus. Beelzebub, or Beelzebul, as it is in the Greek, and correctly rendered in the margin, was an opprobrious name given to the leader of the devils as an expression of supreme contempt. See the notes at Mat 10:25. Mat 12:25, Mat 12:26 And Jesus knew their thoughts ... - To know the thoughts of the heart belongs only to God, Psa 139:2; Jer 17:10. Every kingdom ... - Their subtle and cunning device was completely foiled, and Jesus made their argument recoil on their own heads. A kingdom or a family can prosper only by living in harmony. The different parts and members must unite in promoting the same objects. If divided - if one part undoes what the other does - it must fall. So with the kingdom of Satan. It is your doctrine that Satan has "possessed" these whom I have cured. It is also your doctrine that he has helped me to cure them. If so, then he has helped me to undo what he had done. He has aided me to cast himself out - that is, to oppose and discomfit himself. At this rate, how can there be any stability in his kingdom? It must fall, and Satan must have less than human prudence. Mat 12:27 By whom do your children cast them out? - Your disciples; your followers. See the notes at Mat 1:1. Christ was not satisfied by showing them the intrinsic absurdity of their argument. He showed them that it might as well be applied to them as to him. your disciples, taught by you and encouraged by you, pretend to cast out devils. If your argument be true that a man who casts out devils must be in league with the devil, then "your disciples" have made a covenant with him also. You must therefore either give up this argument, or admit that the working of miracles is proof of the assistance of God. Therefore they shall be your judges - They condemn you and your argument. They are conclusive witnesses against the force of your reasoning. Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God ... - The Spirit of God, here, means the "power" of God - in Luke, by the "finger" of God. Compare Exo 8:19; Psa 8:3. If this work is not by the aid of Satan, then it is by the aid of God. Then his kingdom, or "reign," is come, Mat 3:2. The reign of Satan over people, and the reign of God are in opposition. If God expels Satan from his dominion over people, then his reign has come. Mat 12:29 Or else ... - The Saviour makes use of a new illustration to confute the Pharisees, drawn from breaking into a house. A man could not break into the house of a strong man and take his property unless he had rendered the man himself helpless. If he had taken his goods, it would therefore be sufficient proof that he had bound the man. So I, says he, have taken this "property - this possessed person" - from the dominion of Satan. It is clear proof that I have subdued "Satan himself," the "strong" being that had him in possession. The words "or else" mean "or how:" "How, or in what way, can one, etc." Spoil his goods - The word "spoil" commonly means, now, to corrupt, injure, or destroy. Here it means "to plunder," to take with violence, as it commonly does in the Bible. See Col 2:8, Col 2:15; Exo 3:22. Mat 12:30 He that is not with me ... - In addition to his other arguments, Jesus urges this general principle, that there can be but two parties in the universe. If anyone did not act with him, he was against him. If he gathered not with him, he scattered. This is taken from the practice of persons in harvest. He that did not gather with him, or "aid" him, scattered abroad, or opposed him. The application of this was, "As I have not united with Satan, but opposed him, there can be no league between us." The charge, therefore, is a false one.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil - See the notes at Mat 4:24. The same account, substantially, is found in Mar 3:22-27, and Luk 11:14-26.

Mat 12:23

Is not this the Son of David? - That is, Is not this the promised "descendant" of David, the Messiah? They were acquainted with the prophecy in Isa 35:5, "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped," and they inferred that he must be the promised Messiah who was able to do this. This inference was drawn by the common people, and not by the proud and haughty Pharisees. It is not uncommon that people of plain common sense, though unlearned, see the true meaning of the Bible, while those who are filled with pride and science, falsely so called, are blinded.

Mat 12:24

But when the Pharisees heard it ... - It was necessary for the Pharisees, who had determined to reject Jesus of Nazareth, to account in "some" way for the miracles he had performed.

Here was a manifest miracle, an exertion of power unquestionably superior to what people could put forth. The common people were fast drawing the proper inference from it, and coming into the belief that this was the Messiah. The authority and power of the Pharisees were declining. Unless, therefore, some way should be devised of accounting for these facts, their influence would be at an end. Whatever way of accounting for them was adopted, it was necessary that they should acknowledge that there was "superhuman power." The people were fully persuaded of this, and no man could deny it. They therefore ascribed it to the prince of the devils - to Beelzebub. In this they had two objects:

1. To concede to the people that here was a "miracle," or a work above mere human power.

2. To throw all possible contempt on Jesus. Beelzebub, or Beelzebul, as it is in the Greek, and correctly rendered in the margin, was an opprobrious name given to the leader of the devils as an expression of supreme contempt. See the notes at Mat 10:25.

Mat 12:25, Mat 12:26

And Jesus knew their thoughts ... - To know the thoughts of the heart belongs only to God, Psa 139:2; Jer 17:10.

Every kingdom ... - Their subtle and cunning device was completely foiled, and Jesus made their argument recoil on their own heads. A kingdom or a family can prosper only by living in harmony. The different parts and members must unite in promoting the same objects. If divided - if one part undoes what the other does - it must fall. So with the kingdom of Satan. It is your doctrine that Satan has "possessed" these whom I have cured. It is also your doctrine that he has helped me to cure them. If so, then he has helped me to undo what he had done. He has aided me to cast himself out - that is, to oppose and discomfit himself. At this rate, how can there be any stability in his kingdom? It must fall, and Satan must have less than human prudence.

Mat 12:27

By whom do your children cast them out? - Your disciples; your followers.

See the notes at Mat 1:1. Christ was not satisfied by showing them the intrinsic absurdity of their argument. He showed them that it might as well be applied to them as to him. your disciples, taught by you and encouraged by you, pretend to cast out devils. If your argument be true that a man who casts out devils must be in league with the devil, then "your disciples" have made a covenant with him also. You must therefore either give up this argument, or admit that the working of miracles is proof of the assistance of God.

Therefore they shall be your judges - They condemn you and your argument. They are conclusive witnesses against the force of your reasoning.

Mat 12:28

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God ... - The Spirit of God, here, means the "power" of God - in Luke, by the "finger" of God.

Compare Exo 8:19; Psa 8:3. If this work is not by the aid of Satan, then it is by the aid of God. Then his kingdom, or "reign," is come, Mat 3:2. The reign of Satan over people, and the reign of God are in opposition. If God expels Satan from his dominion over people, then his reign has come.

Mat 12:29

Or else ... - The Saviour makes use of a new illustration to confute the Pharisees, drawn from breaking into a house.

A man could not break into the house of a strong man and take his property unless he had rendered the man himself helpless. If he had taken his goods, it would therefore be sufficient proof that he had bound the man. So I, says he, have taken this "property - this possessed person" - from the dominion of Satan. It is clear proof that I have subdued "Satan himself," the "strong" being that had him in possession. The words "or else" mean "or how:" "How, or in what way, can one, etc."

Spoil his goods - The word "spoil" commonly means, now, to corrupt, injure, or destroy. Here it means "to plunder," to take with violence, as it commonly does in the Bible. See Col 2:8, Col 2:15; Exo 3:22.

Mat 12:30

He that is not with me ... - In addition to his other arguments, Jesus urges this general principle, that there can be but two parties in the universe.

If anyone did not act with him, he was against him. If he gathered not with him, he scattered. This is taken from the practice of persons in harvest. He that did not gather with him, or "aid" him, scattered abroad, or opposed him. The application of this was, "As I have not united with Satan, but opposed him, there can be no league between us." The charge, therefore, is a false one.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
possessed (Greek, "daimonizomai", "demonized"). (See Scofield) - (Mat 7:22).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
A demoniac, blind and dumb - Many undoubtedly supposed these defects to be merely natural. But the Spirit of God saw otherwise, and gives the true account both of the disorder and the cure. How many disorders, seemingly natural, may even now be owing to the same cause? Luk 11:14.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
One possessed with a devil, blind and dumb - A person from whom the indwelling demon took away both sight and hearing. Satan makes himself master of the heart, the eyes, and the tongue of the sinner. His heart he fills with the love of sin; his eyes he blinds that he may not see his guilt, and the perdition which awaits him; and his tongue he hinders from prayer and supplication, though he gives it increasing liberty in blasphemies, lies, slanders, etc. None but Jesus can redeem from this threefold captivity.

Top

¹⁴ And [2532] he was [2258] casting out [1544] a devil [1140], and [2532] it [846] was [2258] dumb [2974]. And [1161] it came to pass [1096], when the devil [1140] was gone out [1831], the dumb [2974] spake [2980]; and [2532] the people [3793] wondered [2296].
¹⁵ But [1161] some [5100] of [1537] them [846] said [2036], He casteth out [1544] devils [1140] through [1722] Beelzebub [954] the chief [758] of the devils [1140].
¹⁶ And [1161] others [2087], tempting [3985] him, sought [2212] of [3844] him [846] a sign [4592] from [1537] heaven [3772].
¹⁷ But [1161] he [846], knowing [1492] their [846] thoughts [1270], said [2036] unto them [846], Every [3956] kingdom [932] divided [1266] against [1909] itself [1438] is brought to desolation [2049]; and [2532] a house [3624] divided against [1909] a house [3624] falleth [4098].
¹⁸ If [1161] [1499] Satan [4567] also [1499] be divided [1266] against [1909] himself [1438], how [4459] shall [2476] his [846] kingdom [932] stand [2476]? because [3754] ye say [3004] that I [3165] cast out [1544] devils [1140] through [1722] Beelzebub [954].
¹⁹ And [1161] if [1487] I [1473] by [1722] Beelzebub [954] cast out [1544] devils [1140], by [1722] whom [5101] do [1544] your [5216] sons [5207] cast them out [1544]? therefore [1223] [5124] shall they [846] be [2071] your [5216] judges [2923].
²⁰ But [1161] if [1487] I with [1722] the finger [1147] of God [2316] cast out [1544] devils [1140], no doubt [686] the kingdom [932] of God [2316] is come [5348] upon [1909] you [5209].
²¹ When [3752] a strong man [2478] armed [2528] keepeth [5442] his [833] palace [1438], his [846] goods [5224] are [2076] in [1722] peace [1515]:
²² But [1161] when [1875] a stronger [2478] than he [846] shall come upon him [1904], and overcome [3528] him [846], he taketh [142] from him [846] all his armour [3833] wherein [1909] [3739] he trusted [3982], and [2532] divideth [1239] his [846] spoils [4661].
²³ He that is [5607] not [3361] with [3326] me [1700] is [2076] against [2596] me [1700]: and [2532] he that gathereth [4863] not [3361] with [3326] me [1700] scattereth [4650].

²⁰ And [2532] the multitude [3793] cometh together [4905] again [3825], so that [5620] they [846] could [1410] not [3361] so much as [3383] eat [5315] bread [740].
²¹ And [2532] when his [846] friends [3844] heard [191] of it, they went out [1831] to lay hold [2902] on him [846]: for [1063] they said [3004], [3754] He is beside himself [1839].
²² And [2532] the scribes [1122] which [3588] came down [2597] from [575] Jerusalem [2414] said [3004], [3754] He hath [2192] Beelzebub [954], [3754] and [2532] by [1722] the prince [758] of the devils [1140] casteth he out [1544] devils [1140].
²³ And [2532] he called [4341] them [846] unto him, and said [3004] unto them [846] in [1722] parables [3850], How [4459] can [1410] Satan [4567] cast out [1544] Satan [4567]?
²⁴ And [2532] if [1437] a kingdom [932] be divided [3307] against [1909] itself [1438], that [1565] kingdom [932] cannot [3756] [1410] stand [2476].
²⁵ And [2532] if [1437] a house [3614] be divided [3307] against [1909] itself [1438], that [1565] house [3614] cannot [3756] [1410] stand [2476].
²⁶ And [2532] if [1487] Satan [4567] rise up [450] against [1909] himself [1438], and [2532] be divided [3307], he cannot [3756] [1410] stand [2476], but [235] hath [2192] an end [5056].
²⁷ No man [3762] can [3756] [1410] enter [1525] into [1519] a strong man's [2478] house [3614], and spoil [1283] his [846] goods [4632], except [3362] he will [1210] first [4412] bind [1210] the strong man [2478]; and [2532] then [5119] he will spoil [1283] his [846] house [3614].
²⁸ Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] All [3956] sins [265] shall be forgiven [863] unto the sons [5207] of men [444], and [2532] blasphemies [988] wherewith [3745] soever [302] they shall blaspheme [987]:
²⁹ But [1161] he [3739] that [302] shall blaspheme [987] against [1519] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] hath [2192] never [3756] [1519] [165] forgiveness [859], but [235] is [2076] in danger [1777] of eternal [166] damnation [2920]:
³⁰ Because [3754] they said [3004], He hath [2192] an unclean [169] spirit [4151].

³⁰ He that is [5607] not [3361] with [3326] me [1700] is [2076] against [2596] me [1700]; and [2532] he that gathereth [4863] not [3361] with [3326] me [1700] scattereth abroad [4650].

²² But every woman [0802] shall borrow [07592] of her neighbour [07934], and of her that sojourneth [01481] in her house [01004], jewels [03627] of silver [03701], and jewels [03627] of gold [02091], and raiment [08071]: and ye shall put [07760] them upon your sons [01121], and upon your daughters [01323]; and ye shall spoil [05337] the Egyptians [04714].

¹⁵ And having spoiled [554] principalities [746] and [2532] powers [1849], he made a shew of them [1165] openly [1722] [3954], triumphing over [2358] them [846] in [1722] it [846].

⁸ Beware [991] lest [3361] any man [5100] spoil [2071] [4812] you [5209] through [1223] philosophy [5385] and [2532] vain [2756] deceit [539], after [2596] the tradition [3862] of men [444], after [2596] the rudiments [4747] of the world [2889], and [2532] not [3756] after [2596] Christ [5547].

²⁹ Or [2228] else how [4459] can [1410] one [5100] enter [1525] into [1519] a strong man's [2478] house [3614], and [2532] spoil [1283] his [846] goods [4632], except [3362] he first [4412] bind [1210] the strong man [2478]? and [2532] then [5119] he will spoil [1283] his [846] house [3614].

² And [2532] saying [3004], Repent ye [3340]: for [1063] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772] is at hand [1448].

³ When I consider [07200] thy heavens [08064], the work [04639] of thy fingers [0676], the moon [03394] and the stars [03556], which thou hast ordained [03559];

¹⁹ Then the magicians [02748] said [0559] unto Pharaoh [06547], This is the finger [0676] of God [0430]: and Pharaoh's [06547] heart [03820] was hardened [02388], and he hearkened [08085] not unto them; as the LORD [03068] had said [01696].

²⁸ But [1161] if [1487] I [1473] cast out [1544] devils [1140] by [1722] the Spirit [4151] of God [2316], then [686] the kingdom [932] of God [2316] is come [5348] unto [1909] you [5209].

¹ The book [976] of the generation [1078] of Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], the son [5207] of David [1138], the son [5207] of Abraham [11].

²⁷ And [2532] if [1487] I [1473] by [1722] Beelzebub [954] cast out [1544] devils [1140], by [1722] whom [5101] do your [5216] children [5207] cast them out [1544]? therefore [5124] [1223] they [846] shall be [2071] your [5216] judges [2923].

¹⁰ I the LORD [03068] search [02713] the heart [03820], I try [0974] the reins [03629], even to give [05414] every man [0376] according to his ways [01870], and according to the fruit [06529] of his doings [04611].

² Thou knowest [03045] my downsitting [03427] and mine uprising [06965], thou understandest [0995] my thought [07454] afar off [07350].

²⁶ And [2532] if [1487] Satan [4567] cast out [1544] Satan [4567], he is divided [3307] against [1909] himself [1438]; how [4459] shall [2476] then [3767] his [846] kingdom [932] stand [2476]?

²⁵ And [1161] Jesus [2424] knew [1492] their [846] thoughts [1761], and said [2036] unto them [846], Every [3956] kingdom [932] divided [3307] against [2596] itself [1438] is brought to desolation [2049]; and [2532] every [3956] city [4172] or [2228] house [3614] divided [3307] against [2596] itself [1438] shall [2476] not [3756] stand [2476]:

²⁵ It is enough [713] for the disciple [3101] that [2443] he be [1096] as [5613] his [846] master [1320], and [2532] the servant [1401] as [5613] his [846] lord [2962]. If [1487] they have called [2564] the master of the house [3617] Beelzebub [954], how much [4214] more [3123] shall they call them of his [846] household [3615]?

²⁴ But [1161] when the Pharisees [5330] heard [191] it, they said [2036], This [3778] fellow doth [1544] not [3756] cast out [1544] devils [1140], but [1508] by [1722] Beelzebub [954] the prince [758] of the devils [1140].

⁵ Then the eyes [05869] of the blind [05787] shall be opened [06491], and the ears [0241] of the deaf [02795] shall be unstopped [06605].

²³ And [2532] all [3956] the people [3793] were amazed [1839], and [2532] said [3004], Is [2076] not [3385] this [3778] the son [5207] of David [1138]?

²² And [2532] the scribes [1122] which [3588] came down [2597] from [575] Jerusalem [2414] said [3004], [3754] He hath [2192] Beelzebub [954], [3754] and [2532] by [1722] the prince [758] of the devils [1140] casteth he out [1544] devils [1140].
²³ And [2532] he called [4341] them [846] unto him, and said [3004] unto them [846] in [1722] parables [3850], How [4459] can [1410] Satan [4567] cast out [1544] Satan [4567]?
²⁴ And [2532] if [1437] a kingdom [932] be divided [3307] against [1909] itself [1438], that [1565] kingdom [932] cannot [3756] [1410] stand [2476].
²⁵ And [2532] if [1437] a house [3614] be divided [3307] against [1909] itself [1438], that [1565] house [3614] cannot [3756] [1410] stand [2476].
²⁶ And [2532] if [1487] Satan [4567] rise up [450] against [1909] himself [1438], and [2532] be divided [3307], he cannot [3756] [1410] stand [2476], but [235] hath [2192] an end [5056].
²⁷ No man [3762] can [3756] [1410] enter [1525] into [1519] a strong man's [2478] house [3614], and spoil [1283] his [846] goods [4632], except [3362] he will [1210] first [4412] bind [1210] the strong man [2478]; and [2532] then [5119] he will spoil [1283] his [846] house [3614].

²⁴ And [2532] his [846] fame [189] went [565] throughout [1519] all [3650] Syria [4947]: and [2532] they brought [4374] unto him [846] all [3956] sick [2560] people [2192] that were taken with [4912] divers [4164] diseases [3554] and [2532] torments [931], and [2532] those which were possessed with devils [1139], and [2532] those which were lunatick [4583], and [2532] those that had the palsy [3885]; and [2532] he healed [2323] them [846].

²² Many [4183] will say [2046] to me [3427] in [1722] that [1565] day [2250], Lord [2962], Lord [2962], have we [4395] not [3756] prophesied [4395] in thy [4674] name [3686]? and [2532] in thy [4674] name [3686] have cast out [1544] devils [1140]? and [2532] in thy [4674] name [3686] done [4160] many [4183] wonderful works [1411]?