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Matthew 12 · a question people ask

Who is "the strong man" in 12:29, and who binds him?

In the text

The saying doesn't name either. Here are Jesus's words in their order. The Pharisees had said, "This man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons" (12:24). Jesus answered, "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?" (12:26), and "But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you" (12:28). Then: "Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house." (12:29). The saying is a question, and it names no one. Mark's telling (Mark 3:27) and Luke's (Luke 11:21-22) give it in their own words, and name no one either. These notes don't name them for him.

The verses

“But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder unless he first binds the strong man; then he will plunder his house.”
Mark 3:27 · World English Bible
““When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his plunder.”
Luke 11:21-22 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Matthew 12

Matthew 12: Someone greater is here

Three times in Matthew 12 Jesus says one greater is here: "one greater than the temple" (12:6), "someone greater than Jonah" (12:41) and "someone greater than Solomon" (12:42). And the verb of "Stretch out your hand" (12:13) comes back at the chapter's end, when Jesus "stretched out his hand toward his disciples" (12:49).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions