Matthew 9:34

But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. BUT THE PHARISEES SAID, HE CASTETH OUT DEVELS THROUGH THE PRINCE OF THE DEVILS - `the demons through the prince of the demons.' This seems to be the first muttering of a theory of such miracles which soon became a fixed mode of calumniating them-a theory which would be ridiculous if it were not melancholy, as an outburst of the darkest malignity. (See the note at , etc.) Remarks: (1) So manifestly were these bodily cures designed to set forth analogous operations of grace on the soul, that in the case of opening the eyes of the blind, our Lord, before performing it, in one notable instance, expressly announced the higher design of it, saying, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world" ...

34._But the Pharisees said _Hence it is evident with what rage and fury they were filled, who did not scruple to assail with wicked slander so illustrious a work of God. We ought to observe the contrast between the applause of the people and the blasphemy of those men. The saying of the people, that _nothing like it ever happened in Israel, _is a confession arising from a sense of the divine glory: which makes it the more evident, that those persons were utterly mad who ventured, as it were, to curse God to his face. We learn from it also, that, when wickedness has reached the height of blindness, there is no work of God, however evident, which it will not pervert. It is, no doubt, monstrous and incredible that mortal men should cry against their Creator: but there is so much the greater reason for dreading that blindness, which arises from the Lord’s vengeance on the wicked after long-s...

32-34 Of the two, better a dumb devil than a blaspheming one. Christ's cures strike at the root, and remove the effect by taking away the cause; they open the lips, by breaking Satan's power in the soul. Nothing can convince those who are under the power of pride. They will believe anything, however false or absurd, rather than the Holy Scriptures; thus they show the enmity of their hearts against a holy God....

Verse 34. _HE CASTETH OUT DEVILS THROUGH THE PRINCE OF THE_ _DEVILS._] This verse is wanting in both the Greek and Latin of the _C. Bezae_, in another copy of the _Itala_, and in _Hilary_ and _Juvencus_. But Matthew 12:24. It is a consummate piece of _malice_ to attribute the _works of God_ to the _devil_. _Envy_ cannot suffer the approbation which is given to the excellencies of others. Those whose hearts are possessed by this vice speak the very language of the devil. _Calumny_ is but a little distance from _envy_. Though all persons may not have as much _envy_ as the _Pharisees_, yet they should fear having some degree of it, as all have the _principle_ from whence it proceeds, viz. _sin_....

BUT THE PHARISEES SAID, HE CASTETH OUT DEVILS THROUGH THE PRINCE OF THE DEVILS - That is, Beelzebub. See the notes at Matthew 12:24. They did not deny the reality of the miracle or the facts in the case, but they ascribed what was done to the power of the great leader of the fallen host, as if Jesus were in league with him. For the manner in which the Saviour met that reasoning, see the notes at Matthew 12:25....

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 9:1 _The_ _paralytic forgiven and healed. _Parallel passages: Mark 2:1; Luke 5:17. (For connexion of thought, cf. Matthew 8:18, note.) In the parallel passages this narrative follows our Matthew 8:1. Matthew's account is shorter, as usual. MATTHEW 9:1 AND HE ENTERED INTO A SHIP; _boat _(Revised Version). So completely did he grant the request of the Gadarenes. Obs

BUT THE PHARISEES SAID,.... Who were the sworn enemies of Christ, and were filled with envy at him, and malice against him: these men could not bear, that so much honour and glory should be given to Christ; and therefore said, HE CASTETH OUT THE DEVILS THROUGH THE PRINCE OF THE DEVILS: they could not deny matter of fact, that he had cast out a devil; nor could they say he had done an ill thing in so doing; they could not but own that it was a preternatural action, more than human; nor could they contradict what the multitude said, that no such thing had been ever seen, or known, in Israel: but that Christ might not have the glory of the action, and to fix a mark of infamy upon him, foolishly impute it to a diabolical influence, as if one devil would eject another; and to Christ's familiarity with, and the assistance he had from, not a common devil, but the prince of them. In Beza's most...

Matthew 9:1. _And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city._ Our Lord had given these Gergesenes an opportunity of becoming his disciples, the kingdom of God had come very near to them, but as they accounted themselves unworthy of it, and besought him to depart out of their coasts, he did not force himself upon them. Take heed, dear friends, if you do but hear the gospel once, that you do not reject it, for you may never have the opportunity of hearing it again. Matthew 9:2. _And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee._ He saw the faith of the one man who was brought to him, and also the faith of the four be

DEVILS demons. (_ See Scofield) - (Matthew 7:22). _...

MATTHEW 9:34 _include verse_ {B} It is difficult to decide whether this verse should be included in the text or placed in the apparatus. According to several commentators (e.g. Allen, Klostermann, Zahn) the words are an intrusion here from Matthew 12:24 or from Luke 11:15. On the other hand, the evidence for the shorter text is exclusively Western and relatively meager. Moreover, the passage seems to be needed to prepare the reader for Matthew 10:25. A majority of the Committee was impressed by the preponderant weight of t...