Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

Matthew 12:43

διʼ ἀνύδρων τόπων : the haunts of demons, as popularly conceived, were places uninhabited by men, deserts and graveyards. The demon in Tob 8:3 flies to the uppermost parts of Egypt; and in Bar 4:35 a land desolated by fire is to become tenanted by demons. διέρχεται ζητοῦν : the spirit keeps moving on in quest of a resting place; like a human being he feels ill at ease in the monotonous waste of sand. οὐκ εὑρίσκει : in Luke εὑρίσκον. The change from participle to finite verb is expressive. The failure to find a resting place was an important fact, as on it depended the resolve to return to the former abode.

Continues after advertising

See also Matthew 12:43 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 43. _WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT_] If there had been no reality in demoniacal possessions, our Lord would have scarcely appealed to a case of this kind here, to point out the real state of the Jewi...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT ... - The “general sentiment” which our Saviour here teaches is much more easily understood than the illustration which he uses. The Jews had asked a sign from heaven that shou...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    9. THE REJECTION CONSUMMATED AND THE BROKEN RELATIONSHIP. CHAPTER 12 1. The Hungry Disciples and the Accusing Pharisees. (Matthew 12:1 .) 2. The Man with the Withered Hand Healed.(Matthew 12:10 .) 3...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JESUS-' ANSWER TO THE VERDICT OF THE JERUSALEM SCRIBES, AND THE INTERVENTION OF HIS FAMILY (Mark 3:20 *, Luke 11:14; Luke 11:29; Luke 12:10;...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    The connexion of Matthew 12:43 is with Matthew 12:30, as is shown by Lk.; neutrality in the spiritual life cannot last. The point of the illustration is that the Jews had felt the influence of John an...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    "When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it goes through waterless places, seeking for rest, and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will go back to my house, from which I came out,' and when it come...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    CRISIS (Matthew 12:1-50) In Matthew 12:1-50 we read the history of a series of crucial events in the life of Jesus. In every man's life there are decisive moments, times and events on which the whole...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WHEN. But when. Introducing the allegory. THE. an. The Art. being inclusive and hypothetic as "a man", which also has the Art. and is rendered "a". SPIRIT. Greek. _pneuma._ See App-101. IS GONE OUT....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    A Figure to illustrate the surpassing Wickedness of the day Luke 11:24-26, where the connection is different. St Luke, as usual, omits the direct application to Israel. The connection is not clearly...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _dry places_ The waterless desert uninhabited by man was regarded by the Jews as the especial abode of evil spirits....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΔΈ, ‘but,’ introducing the explanation of the facts stated. The connection is obscured in A.V. by the omission of the particle. ἈΝΎΔΡΩΝ ΤΌΠΩΝ. The waterless desert uninhabited by man was regarded by...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    A FIGURE TO ILLUSTRATE THE SURPASSING WICKEDNESS OF THE DAY Luke 11:24-26, where the connection is different. St Luke, as usual, omits the direct application to Israel. This short parable explains th...

  • Catena Aurea Commentary

    VER 43. "WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT IS GONE OUT OF A MAN, HE WALKETH THROUGH DRY PLACES, SEEKING REST, AND FINDETH NONE. 44. THEN HE SAITH, I WILL RETURN INTO MY HOUSE FROM WHENCE I CAME OUT; AND WHEN HE...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE CLAIMS OF THE SAVIOR MATTHEW 12:38-45:_ Jesus had every right to call on people to repent and to be righteous, (1) He is greater than the temple (Matthew 12:6), (2) He is greater that Jonah (Matt...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΞΈΛΘΗ _aor. conj. act. от_ ΈΞΈΡΧΟΜΑΙ (G1831), _см._ Matthew 12:14. _Conj._ с ΌΤΑΝ (G3752) используется как обобщенное врем. _прид._ ΔΙΈΡΧΕΤΑΙ _praes. ind. med. (dep.) от_ ΔΙΈΡΧΟΜΑΙ (G1330) проходить...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 1358 THE RELAPSED DΖMONIAC Matthew 12:43. 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 h...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT, &C.— Our Lord here finishes his defence, alluding to the occasion of the dispute, Matthew 12:22 with a parable of a possessed person who, having had a devilor demon expelled o...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    Section 29 JESUS GIVES THE SIGN OF JONAH (Possible Parallel: Luke 11:16; Luke 11:24; Luke 11:26; Luke 11:29-32) TEXT: 12:38-45 38.

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT IS GONE OUT OF A MAN ... On this important parable, in connectio...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    42 “The ends of the earth,” an expression which does not include the sea, would describe any location on Eurasia or Africa not far from the further coast line. 43-45 Compare Luk_11:24-26 43 Actual i...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PLUCKING CORN ON THE SABBATH. BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST 1-8. Plucking the corn on the sabbath (Mark 2:23; Luke 6:1). This chapter begins the period of active conflict with the Pharisees. It is...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    A SIGN DEMANDED. Astounding impudence after they had just ascribed His miracles to Beelzebub, and declared Him possessed with an unclean spirit. It was the practice of Jesus to work signs for those wh...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    A MAN] i.e. the Jewish nation. DRY PLACES] or deserts, were supposed to be the favourite abode of demons (Tob 8:3; Bar 4:35; Isaiah 13:21; Isaiah 34:14). These pictorial details must not be pressed a...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE RETURN OF THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT (Luke 11:24). The connexion in St. Matthew is preferable. The expulsion of the evil spirit represents the submission of the nation to the baptism of John, which was a...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MATTHEW’S GOOD NEWS MATTHEW’S *GOSPEL _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 12 QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO USE GOD’S REST DAY 12:1-14 Matthew gives two examples of the ‘*yoke’ of the *Jewish law: 1. The *disciples...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT IS GONE OUT OF A MAN. — The parable comes in abruptly, possibly because here, as elsewhere, we have a part and not the whole of a discourse, striking passages noted and put tog...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    Chapter 10 The Shadow of the Cross - Matthew 11:1; Matthew 12:1 I-DISCOURAGEMENTS. Matthew 11:1 HITHERTO almost everything has been hopeful and encouraging in our Evangelist's record of the Saviour'...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    OPPOSING OR DOING GOD'S WILL Matthew 12:38-50 It was an evil and adulterous age. It had no spiritual appreciation, and was intent on getting an outward and sensible sign. Nineveh itself would have co...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    This chapter chronicles direct attacks on Christ. The first was petty and foolish. It is on the question of the Sabbath. The Master gives to His people the true conception of the sanctity of the Sabba...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    AWFUL STATE OF THE BACKSLIDER Matthew 12:43-45. _“When the unclean spirit may go out from a man, he goeth through dry places seeking rest, and findeth none.”_ Here we see the man is converted; this un...

  • Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament

    CHAPTER 24 THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES SEEK A SIGN FROM HEAVEN Matthew 12:38-45; Luke 11:16-36. “Then certain ones of the scribes and Pharisees responded, saying, Master, we wish to see a sign from The...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. (39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a si...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Chapter 8, which opens the portion that comes before us tonight, is a striking illustration as well as proof of the method which God has been pleased to employ in giving us the apostle Matthew's accou...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE DEVIL DETHRONED_ ‘When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man … the last state of that man is worse than the first.’ Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out, Christ tells what takes...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    43._But when the unclean spirit hath gone out. _He speaks of scribes and hypocrites of a similar character, who, despising the grace of God, enter into a conspiracy with the devil. Against such person...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    At length the rejection of the nation, in consequence of their contempt of the Lord, is plainly shewn, as well as the cessation of all His relations with them as such, in order to bring out on God's p...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT IS GONE OUT OF A MAN,.... By "the unclean" spirit, is meant Satan, the old serpent, the devil; who by the Jews, is wont to be called as here, רוח מסאבא, "the unclean spirit" x;...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Ver. 43. _When the unclean spirit_] Unclean the devil is called: 1. _Affectione_ (saith Ja...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _When the unclean spirit_, &c. In these verses, with a view to show how dreadful the state of the Jewish people would be, if they continued to reject him and his gospel, our Lord introduces a parable,...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    DRY PLACES; barren and desolate regions, here considered as the haunts of evil spirits....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT IS GONE OUT OF A MAN, HE WALKETH THROUGH DRY PLACES SEEKING REST, AND FINDETH NONE....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A comparison:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    We have seen that Matthew groups events with a dispensational end in view, and chapter 12 shows a building up on Israel's part to a state of utter rejection of their Messiah. The expression "at that t...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    38-45 Though Christ is always ready to hear and answer holy desires and prayers, yet those who ask amiss, ask and have not. Signs were granted to those who desired them to confirm their faith, as Abr...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    SEE POOLE ON "MATTHEW 12:45"....

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Irenaeus Against Heresies Book I For when the unclean spirit of folly has gone forth, and when afterwards he finds them not waiting upon God, but occupied with mere worldly questions, then, "taking s...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Matthew 12:43 G1161 When G3752 unclean G169 spirit G4151 goes G1831 (G5632) of G575 man G444 goes...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and does not find it.' In Matthew 10:11 the disciples were given power to cast out ‘unclean spir...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE SAD PLIGHT OF THIS GENERATION (12:43-45). This short illustration takes up the themes that have previously been presented and is firmly in context. Compare (Matthew 12:1) the being healed from an...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Matthew 12:43. The figure in Matthew 12:43-45 refers primarily to the Jewish people, but is applicable also in the history of Christianity and to individuals (see on Matthew 12:45). WHEN. The origina...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    INTRODUCTORY NOTE. These occurrences seem to have followed each other in immediate succession. Luke places the last one (Matthew 12:46-50) after the parable of the sower, but Mark gives the same order...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Matthew 12:38 Truth through and by life. Consider in what respects Christ was greater than Solomon. I. The Proverbs could not well be spared from the Bible nor dropped out of the life of the world....

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Matthew 12:38. _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...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Jesus announces Himself Lord of Sabbath, Controversy with Pharisees. Healing of the withered hand. A demoniac healed. The unpardonable sin. Death and resurrection foretold. Deficiency of sel...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Matthew 12:2. _Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath- day._ The pharisees did not find fault with eating a few ears of barley in their hunger, while others enjoyed their fea...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    43-45. WHEN AN EVIL SPIRIT. This is a parable, and its meaning is based on the last sentence: _"This is the way it will happen to the evil people of this day."_ This is the climax of the passage which...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man._ FURNISHED, BUT VACANT The central lesson of this text is this: that reformation is not necessarily salvation-that, indeed, reformation without godlines...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    MATTHEW—NOTE ON MATTHEW 12:43 Demons were often associated with WATERLESS PLACES. Apparently deserts were thought of as lacking the blessing of God that came with rainfall and plentiful crops (see...

  • The Gospels Compared

    JESUS TEACHES ABOUT UNCLEAN SPIRITS MATTHEW 12:43-45; LUKE 11:24-26; MATTHEW 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none....

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    1-50 CHAPTER XII. _At that time Jesus went through the corn fields_ (Through the crops of corn becoming white, or ripe), &c. Luke adds that this Sabbath was the first from the second (_Vulg_.); which...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ Matthew 12:38. A SIGN.—See Luke 11:16. They wanted something of an immediate and decisive nature, to show, not that His miracles were real—that they seemed willing to concede—but that...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION MATTHEW 12:1 The opposition that our Lord met with (1) from his enemies (Matthew 12:1); (2) from his relations (Matthew 12:46-4

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn to the twelfth chapter of the gospel of Matthew? Jesus was not one to follow traditions. He's already pointed out in the Sermon on the Mount, that through their interpretation of the law...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Peter 5:8; Acts 8:13; Amos 8:11; Ezekiel 47:8; Isaiah 35:6;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    But how dreadful will be the consequence of their rejecting me? When the unclean spirit goeth out — Not willingly, but being compelled by one that is stronger than he. He walketh — Wanders up and down...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    The design and scope of this parable is to show that the Pharisees, by rejecting the gospel and refusing to believe in Christ, were in. seven-fold worse condition than if the gospel had never been pre...

Continues after advertising

Old Testament