The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 492

notes). Were amazed UEl.,-.,.av.,.o); here only ThPir words show that they need a com- in Matt.hew, but cf. Mark ii. 12. And said, plete change at heurt (vers, 38-35). 11 this (p.l,.,., o~or lnw). The form of the (7) Is this to mako too much of words? question suggests tbat it seemed altogether too wonderful to allow of an affirmative It is by words that men will be judged answer being returned. The American (vers. 36, 37). Committee of Revision wished to translate, Ver. 25.-Vers 25, 26, parallel passages: "Can this be," etc.? The Son of De.vid 1 Markiii.24,25; Lukoxi.17,18. Andleaus (eh. ix. 27, note). knew their thoughts (oh. ix. 4, note), and Ver. 24.--{On the relation of this verse to said unto them, Every kingdom dividei eh. ix. 34, see notes there.) But when the against itself is brought to desole.tion. Pharisees. Not further defined here, but in According to Mark iii. 28, our Lord begins Mfll'k iii. 22 spoken of as ·• the scribes that with the direct retort, "How can Satan cas* bad come down from Jernrolcm." Heard out Satan?" But while that gives, of it, they se..id, This fellow; man (Revised course, our Lord's thought, it is very unlike Version); ohor(ef. eh. ix. 3, note). Obser\"e his method, which is to begin his reply that oi.,.or (in Matthew only) here answers with a parabolio saying. And every oity. to the .~.,.or of ver. 23. "This man " is e.t Matthew only. Or houae divided against once the object of hope in the minds o~ ~be itself. It is worth noticing that, apart from multiturles, and of the deepest opposition all metaphor, the peasants' houses in some on the part of the Pharisees. Doth not cast districts of Palestine are built of such poor out devils, but. In the parallel passages material as to easily give way and burst in there is mPrely a direct assertio_n that ~e half ( cf. Thomson, • Lnnd and the Book,.' does it by Beelzebub; here there lB a demal p. 890, edit. 1887). Shall not stBJ1d. of bis power to do it by any other agency. Neither kingdom, town, nor family can Docs Matthew's version express rather the endure snch self-destruction; no, nor an process of their delibP.ration, and that of individual. There is, too, the further Mark and Luke the final result? (On the thou.,.bt that Satan is more than a mere Jewish tradition that our Lord pP.rformed individual; that he is bound up with hia miracles by magic, see eh. ii. 14, note, a1;1d kin.,.dom, and his kingdom with him. Liahtfoot, • Hor. Hehr.,' here.) By j tn, Ver. 26.-Aud if Satan cast eut SatBll, ha Rerised Version, margin (eh. ix. 34, note). is divided against him.self; how shall th~n, Beelzebub (eh. x. 25, note). The prince, The transposition in the Revised Version Better omit the article, .t,.pxo,,.,., giving, so to how then ehall brings out more distinctly to speak, his official title. Of the devils. the fa.et that then is not temporal, but argu- Vera. 25-37.-Onr Lord shows the mentative (o~v). His kingdom stand t T0 De Wette's objection that Satan might monstrous character of their accusation, and perhaps do such a thing once so as to gaiu urges the need of a complete change at in other ways, Meyer ans"!ers that 01;1r Lord heart. is referring to the prOfhoo o~ cast1~g out (J) An a priori argument that such an devils, which, ns such, 1s certarnly directed action on Satan's part, as they suppose, again.at Satan. would be self-de&trnctive (vers. 25, 26). Vera. 27, 28.-Parallel pass&ge: Luke xi. (2) An argumentum ad hominem. The 19, 20, almost verbally identical. Pharisees cannot logically and morally ac- Ver. 27.-And (,ea{). Another stage iD knowledge that their disciples' miracles are his argument. There is a further rensot1 performed by Divine help without ackuow- why they should hesitate before making ledging that Jesus' miracles are also. But such an &ccusation; their own disciples tLen they ought to recognize what this im- claimed to be 11ble to c&st out devils. I! I i,lies-tliat the kingdom of God has come by Beelzebub c11st out d~vils, by :Whom ,do your ohildren ; ,ons (Rev1Bed Version) ; ,.e. (vcrs. 27, 28). your pupils, who will carry on your worll: (3) This last alternative is true; for how ( cf. "BODS of the prophets"). Cut them otherwise can they explain tlie fact o! out t (cf. eh. iv. 24, note). For examples of Satan's captives being released (ver. 29) ? such cases by others t~&n professed fol!ower1 (4) An appeal to them and to the by- of Christ, lle8 Luke 1x. 49: Acts iux. 13. Btandera to be decided (ver. 30). Josephus also mentions some, but ,th~r. are mere impostures; he s11ys (' Ant., vm. 2. (5) Therefore he warns them solemnly 5), " Solomon left behind h!1n the man~cr against committing the sin for which there of using exorcisms, by which they dnve ls no furgivenc1111 (ver& 31, 32). away demons, so th&t they never return, (6) Wh7 be enrprhed at this language? and this method of cure ill of great force ea. xn. 1-60.] THE GOSPEL A.CCORDl~G TO ST. MATTIIEW. 41,9