manner, since they are of your own race and discipline. — Jx/Sa?;.- Xovai, cast out1} See ch. vii. 22, and Mark ix. 38. — auToi, they} emphatically.
28. E/', x.r.X. if, etc.) The first portion of the dilemma having been dismissed, this particle has the force of since. — ?x/3aXX<w, / cast out) Jesus in ever}7 way destroyed the kingdom of Satan. — apa, therefore} The expulsion of Satan, together with his belong ings, is the mark and token of the kingdom of God ; for this was reserved for the Messiah.— etpdaffev, has prevented}2 This word is used here in its strict and proper sense, and intimates something important ; cf. vpurov, first, ver. 29. — n /3a<r/X£/« TOIJ Qsov, the kingdom of God) in contradistinction to that of Satan, mentioned in ver. 26.
29. TJ, or else ?) = Latin, an? A disjunctive interrogation. — otxlav, house} The world was the house of Satan. — ro\J /V^upoD, of the strong) sc. of any one who is strong ; cf. Heb. ii. 14. — trpurov, first} Jesus bound Satan : then took his spoils. — ofay, shall have bound) by superior strength. — &tap<xdsn, shall spoil) See Gnomon on Mark iii. 27.
30. 'O /ATI &v} K.T.X., he that is not, etc.} The latter part of the dilemma contained in ver. 27, 28, is confirmed by ver. 29 ; the former by ver. 30, with this meaning, your sons are not against Me, nor do they scatter abroad ; therefore they are with Me, and gather intk Me. There is no neutrality in the kingdom of God ; that activity which is natural to man is exercised either in good or in evil, especially in the case of those who hear the word of God. The work and cause of Christ is, however, simple and pure ; and though it has so many enemies and ad versaries, it overpowers them all, nor does it enter into collusion with them : see Luke xii. 51. This verse forms a Divine axiom. — away™, that gathereth} The work of Christ and of Christians is to gather; see ch. xxiii. 37, John xi. 52. This word corresponds with the Hebrew r6np,3 one that gathereth, or a preacher.
1 In My name. — V. g.
2 Prcetenit. Wesley, who avowedly copied from Bengel, explains the pas sage, " The Kingdom of God is come upon you — unawares, before you ex pected : so the word implies." Bengel himself renders it, "So ist je das Reich Goites bereits uber euch kommen." — (I. B.)
3 ~?~;~, Kohdelh is the appellation by which Solomon is designated in the