Matthew 12:24-41

24 It is usual to associate this chief of the demons with the god of Ekron, called Baalzebub, Owner or Lord of Flies (2Ki_1:2). This the Septuagint renders Baal muian, Baal fly. But all the Greek texts have a different ending - boul. This is supposed to be derived from a Rabbinic word meaning dung. But it is not likely that a god Ekron should be the chief of the demons, though doubtless he was one of them (1Co_10:20). There is a Hebrew verb zabal (Gen_30:20) which means reside. It may be that the name of the chief of the demons is Owner-residence, the equivalent of Master of the house. Our Lord calls him a householder (Mat_10:25). There is no real reason for identifying him with Satan, but rather, like Apollyon, he seems to be subordinate, though head of that division of Satan's kingdom which includes the demons.

29 Compare Mar_3:27; Luk_11:21-22. See Isa_49:24; Isa_53:12.

30 Compare Luk_11:23. See Luk_9:50.

31-32 Compare Mar_3:28-30; Luk_12:10.

31 The blasphemy of the Spirit consists in attributing the works of Christ, done by the power of God's Spirit, to demons or unclean spirits. As these works were the means used to produce repentance and pardon, and this was essential for entrance into the kingdom, it is readily seen that pardon is quite impossible in such a case. The time, however, is limited to this eon or the coming eon of the kingdom. Eventually, all mankind will be far more than pardoned. They will be justified (Rom_5:18) and reconciled (Col_1:20). But this will not take place until a full con later, when the kingdom is given over to the Father (1Co_15:24). We cannot commit the sin against the holy Spirit because our salvation not based on miracles and signs. It follows faith, not sight. And we are not pardoned, but justified (Rom_3:24; Rom_3:26). Condemnation is impossible (Rom_8:1). Moreover, we are explicitly told that, in the latter eras, some will be withdrawing from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teaching of demons. Any spirit manifestation in perfect accord with the scriptures should be given the most severe tests, lest we be among those who are deceived by them.

33-37 Compare Luk_6:43-45. See Joh_3:6; Joh_3:739

What sign can be given to those who attribute His wonderful works to the agency of the demons? No sign shall be given them. They, instead, will provide themselves with a sign by murdering the Messiah. His death, entombment and resurrection is the only sign He will give them. Briefly, they will have one more opportunity to repent after He has been roused from the dead. This is given them in the Pentecostal era.

38 Compare Mar_8:11-12 Joh_2:18-22. See 1Co_1:22-23.

39-40 Compare Luk_11:29-30.

40 Twelve times in the four accounts of our Lord's life we read that He would be roused “the third day”. When speaking to Romans it is twice “after three days”. Here only, quoting from the Hebrew, it is “three days and three nights”. The designation of time varies much in all languages. Hebrew chronology always counts the smallest part of a year or a clay as a whole. The twelve times repeated testimony of our Lord, besides Peter (Act_10:40), and Paul (1Co_15:4), shows that “the third day” is a literal and this phrase an idiomatic expression.

40 In Jonah this sea monster is called a large fish. The Greek name is now used as a scientific term for sea mammals, such as the whale. We are not told what species of sea monster it was, nor is there any good reason why we should know. Among the Greeks there was a tradition that it was a shark. There is a species in the Mediterranean some of which are so large that a man could stand upright in their outstretched throat. Men have been found whole in their stomachs. There are marine monsters in the depths of the sea, which are seldom seen. These are so large that they could swallow several mere at one time. It is said that an English seaman, thrown into the water when a gigantic sperm whale capsized the boat, was given up for drowned. But two days later, when the whale was cut up, he was found in the stomach of the sea monster, unconscious, but alive. He recovered completely. In some ways this is more remarkable than Jonah's case, for his sea monster had been specially prepared for his reception.

41 Compare Luk_11:32. See Jon_3:1-.

42 Compare Luk_11:31. See 1Ki_10:1; 2Ch_9:1.