Matthew 12:29

o help them to decide Jesus throws out yet another parabolic line of thought. ἢ : if all that I have said does not convince you consider this. The parable seems based on Isaiah 49:24-25, and like all Christ's parabolic utterances appeals to common sense. The theme is, spoiling the spoiler, and the argument that the enterprise implies hostile purpose and success in it superior power. The application is: the demoniac is a captive of Satan; in seeking to cure him I show myself Satan's enemy; in actually curing him I show myself Satan's master. τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ : the article is either generic, or individualising after the manner of parabolic speech. Proverbs and parables assume acquaintance with their characters. σκεύη, household furniture (Genesis 31:37); ἁρπάσαι, seize (Judges 21:21). διαρπάσει, make a clean sweep of all that is in the house, the owner, bound hand and foot, being utterly helpless. The use of this compound verb points to the thoroughness of the cures wrought on demoniacs, as in the case of the demoniac of Gadara: quiet, clothed, sane (Mark 5:15).