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Matthew 12

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.

But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day.

But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him;

How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests?

Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple.

But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

And charged them that they should not make him known:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

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.

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

What does Matthew 12:28 mean?

Explanation

Matthew 12:28 is a statement by Jesus in response to the Pharisees who accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub (the prince of demons).

In this verse, Jesus refutes their accusation by presenting a logical argument: if He casts out demons by the Spirit of God, then it is an indication that the kingdom of God has arrived among them.

This verse expresses the close relationship between Jesus' exorcisms and the inauguration of the kingdom of God. The "Spirit of God" signifies divine authority and power, contrasting the Pharisees' false claim that Jesus was using demonic power.

The phrase "the kingdom of God is come unto you" implies that through Jesus' actions, God's sovereign rule is becoming a reality, overturning the forces of evil and offering salvation to humanity.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of Matthew was written in a Jewish environment around 70-110 AD, a period after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in 70 AD. Jews of the time were expecting a Messiah who would deliver them from the political oppression of their Roman rulers.

However, Jesus' ministry did not align with these expectations, focusing instead on spiritual deliverance and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth.

Within this cultural and historical context, the Jewish leaders often perceived Jesus' miracles with skepticism, leading to accusations, confrontations, and Jesus defending His ministry as divine rather than diabolic.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, the verse encapsulates the mission of Jesus as the one who destroys the works of the devil, manifesting God's kingdom.

The reference to the "Spirit of God" reflects Trinitarian beliefs where God the Father works through God the Son by the power of God the Holy Spirit.

This verse also demonstrates the clash between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan, with Jesus revealing His divinity and authority over evil.

Practical Applications

The practical application of Matthew 12:28 lies in recognizing the presence and power of God's kingdom in one's life today.

Christians are encouraged to see Jesus as the ultimate authority over evil and to live with the affirmation that God's kingdom is not a distant reality but is already at work.

It challenges believers to trust in the power of God amidst adversity and to take part in the spiritual battle against evil through prayer, faith, and godly living.

Cross-References

Luke 11:20: "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you."
1 John 3:8: “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

Luke 10:17-18: "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "Spirit" is πνεύματι (pneumati), denoting the Holy Spirit or the divine force of God.

"Kingdom" is βασιλεία (basileia), referring to the sovereign rule or realm of a king, in this case, the reign of God.

The phrase "is come unto you" translates εφθασεν εφ' ὑμας (ephthasen eph' humas) which implies an arrival or sudden emergence signifying the immediate presence of God's rule.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The idea of an individual with the power to cast out demons has parallels in various ancient cultures, including exorcism practices in Babylonian and Jewish traditions. These practices often involved rituals, incantations, or the invocation of a higher power.

However, Jesus' approach is unique in that He casts out demons by His authoritative word, emphasizing a direct connection to the power of God rather than through elaborate ritual.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science generally does not acknowledge the existence of demons or the supernatural realm, with psychology explaining phenomena such as possessions in terms of mental health disorders.

However, the verse touches on the important theme of the interplay between spiritual beliefs and physical realities, inviting reflections on the role of faith and spirituality in human life and well-being.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of Matthew 12:28.

Some emphasize the verse as evidencing Jesus' divinity and authority over evil forces, validating His claim to bring the kingdom of God.

Others focus on the eschatological aspect, noting that the kingdom's arrival signifies a new era in salvation history where God's rule is manifest not in a political or territorial sense but through Jesus' ministry.

Commentators also discuss the relationship between this exorcism and the broader message of the Gospel, which sees Jesus' miracles as a sign of God's compassion and a foretaste of the ultimate triumph over evil.

Matthew 12

Matthew 12

What does Matthew 12:28 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Matthew 12:28 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Matthew Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?