{"id":25408,"date":"2022-09-24T11:05:27","date_gmt":"2022-09-24T16:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/exegetical-and-hermeneutical-commentary-of-luke-1121\/"},"modified":"2022-09-24T11:05:27","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T16:05:27","slug":"exegetical-and-hermeneutical-commentary-of-luke-1121","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/exegetical-and-hermeneutical-commentary-of-luke-1121\/","title":{"rendered":"Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 11:21"},"content":{"rendered":"

When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: <\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n

21<\/strong>. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace<\/em> ] The same metaphor is used of the Christian opposing Satan, as here of Satan opposing Christ, Eph 6:13<\/span>. The world is here Satan’s palace (Joh 12:31<\/span>; Joh 16:11<\/span>) and men his possessions (2Ti 2:26<\/span>).<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 11:21-22<\/span><\/p>\n

A strong man armed<\/em><\/p>\n

The strong one driven out by a stronger one<\/strong><\/p>\n


I.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A PICTURE OF MAN IN HIS SINFUL STATE. Observe, that although mans hear, was intended to be the throne of God, it is now become the palace of Satan. It is said of this strong man, moreover, that he is armed. Truly the prince of the power of the air is never without weapons. His principal weapon is the lie. Then we are told that he wears armour–for we read that the stronger warrior taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted. Certain it is, the evil spirit is well accoutred in that which is proof against all terrestrial steel. Prejudice, ignorance, evil education–all these are chain-armour with which Satan girds himself. A hard heart is the impenetrable breast-plate which this evil spirit wears; a seared conscience becomes to him like greaves of brass; habitude in sin is a helmet of iron. Notice, again, this strong man: besides being armed and plated with armour, he is very watchful; for it is said he keepeth his palace–keeps it like the faithful warder who with ceaseless tramp and sleepless eye holds watch upon the castle wall. He does not put on the armour to sleep in it. You may find sleeping saints, but never sleeping devils. We have in the text a good reason given why Satan thus watches over the man whose heart he inhabits, because he considers the man to be his property–he keepeth his goods. They are not his in justice; whatever goods there are in the house of manhood must belong to God who built the house, and who intended to tenant it. But Satan sets up a claim and calls everything in the man his goods. The mans memory he makes a storehouse for ill words and bad songs; the mans judgment he perverts so that the scales and weights are false; the mans love he sets on fire with coals of hell, and his imagination be dazzles with foul delusions. He claims the whole man to be his own; and it is wonderful how readily his claim is allowed. Men fancy music in the chains with which Satan binds them, and hug the fetters which he hangs upon them. Nor is this all; Satan not only claims possession, but he claims sovereignty. You perceive it is said, his palace. A palace is usually the abode of a king, so Satan considers himself a great king when he dwells in the human heart. I must not leave this picture until you have observed that it is said, while he keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. This is the most fearful sign in the whole affair. The man is quite undisturbed–conscience does not prick him: why should it? God does not alarm him: who is God, that he should obey His voice? Thoughts of hell never disturb him. Men who are stupefied with laudanum may be naked, but they are not cold; they may have empty stomachs, but they are not hungry; they may be diseased in body, but they do not feel the torment: they are drunken, and know not their misery: and so it is with the most of carnal men–nothing awakens them. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>A REPRESENTATION OF MAN FOR A TIME REFORMED. Observe, then, that in the case before us the unclean spirit goes out of his own free will. Why does the evil spirit leave a man for a time? Has he not some hellish purpose in view? Certainly he has. I think it often is because he feels if he does not go out he will be driven out, but he thinks that by giving way for a time he will satisfy the conscience till he gets it lulled to sleep faster than ever. Thus he will stoop to conquer, retreat to draw his opponent into an ill position; allow his throne to shake, that he may re-establish his dominion permanently. Moreover, he thinks that by letting the man indulge in a little religion for a time, and then turn aside from it, he will make him permanently sceptical so that he will hold him fast by the iron chain of infidelity, and drag him down to hell with that book in his jaws. Now, after a time it appears that the evil spirit returned; he could find no rest for himself except in the hearts of the wicked, and therefore he came back again. There is no opposition to his entrance, the door is not locked, or if it be he has the latch-key. He comes in, there is no tenant, no man in possession, no other proprietor. He looks round and cries, Here is my house. I left it when I took my walks abroad, and I have come back, and here it is ready for me. The devil shouts his Halloa! and there is an echo through every room, but no intruder starts up. Is Christ here? No answer. He goes outside and he looks at the lintel, for Christs mark is sure to be there if Jesus is within. No mark of blood on the post, Christ is not here, says he, it is empty, I will make myself at home; for if Jesus had been there, though He had been hidden in a closet, yet when He came out He would claim possession, and drive out the traitor, and say, Get thee gone! this is no place for thee; I have bought it with My blood, and I mean to possess it for ever. But it is empty, and so Satan fills it with stores of evil. The next thing the fiend notices is that it is swept; as one says, Swept, but never washed. Sweeping takes away the loose dirt, washing takes away all the filth. O to be washed in Jesus blood I Here is a man whose house is swept–the loose sins are gone. He is not a drunkard; there is a pledge over the mantelpiece. He is no longer lustful; he hates that sin or says he does, which is as much as the devil wants him to do. The place is swept so tidy, so neat, you would not know him to be the same man as he used to be; and he himself is so proud to think he has got his house so clean, and he stands up at the threshold as he meets the devil with a Good morning, and he says, I am not as other men are–I am neither an extortioner, nor a drunkard; nor even as that Christian over yonder, who is not half what he ought to be–nor a tithe so consistent as I am. And as the devil looks round and finds the place swept, he finds it garnished too. The man has bought some pictures–he has not real faith, but he has a fine picture of it over the fireplace; he has no love to the cross of Christ, but he hag a very handsome crucifix hanging on the wall. He has no graces of the Spirit, but he has a fine vase of flowers on the table, of other peoples experiences and other peoples graces, and they smell tolerably sweet. There is a fireplace without fire, but there is one of the handsomest ornaments for the fireplace that was ever bought for money. It is swept and garnished. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>A GRAPHIC PORTRAIT OF MAN ENTIRELY CONQUERED BY THE POWER OF THE GREAT REDEEMER. NOW, observe here is a stronger than he. This is not the man himself, the man is the house, the man is not so strong as the devil–who is this? This is Jesus Christ, who comes by His Spirit into the heart of man, and the Spirit of God is vastly superior to Satanic power, as much as the infinite Creator Himself must ever be superior to the finite creature. He comes upon him, that is to say, He attacks him; and ah, how vehemently does Christ lay to at the great enemy of souls. One sword-cut cuts away the plume of pride; another blow takes away the comfort of sin; and another destroys the reigning power of sin. As soon as ever the stronger man has conquered the enemy, what does he do? He takes his sword of rebellion, snaps it across his knee, and pulls the armour from the back of the unclean spirit. Prejudice, ignorance, hardheartedness, all these are pulled off the old enemy. Christ Jesus then proceeds to divide the spoil. There is the mans heart, I will take that, says He, that shall be a jewel in My crown. The mans love I will set as a jewel upon My arm for ever. His memory, his judgment, his power of thought, utterance, and working–these are all Mine, says Christ. He begins to divide the spoil, He putsthe broad arrow of the King upon every room in the house, upon every piece of furniture. The garnishing He pulls out; I will adorn it far better than this, saith He. There shall be no pictures of faith, but faith; there shall be no ornament in yonder gate except the ornament of the glowing fire of fervid zeal; there shall be no borrowed flowers, but I will train round this window the sweet roses and jessamine of love and peace of mind; I will wash what was only swept, with My blood I will make it white, and sweet, and clean; and I will strike the lintel and the two side posts with the hyssop, and with the blood mark, and then the destroying angel when he sweeps by shall sheathe his sword, and the black fiend when he would enter shall see the mark there, and go back trembling to his accursed den. This is conversion, the other was only conviction; this is change of heart, the other was only change of life. (C. H. Spurgeon.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The strong man armed<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>Look AT THE DEVILS INFLUENCES FOR EVIL. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> His possession may be more or less apparent. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> His possession may be more or less oppressive. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>LOOK AT THE LORDS APPLIANCES FOR GOOD. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> The Lord Jesus comes upon Satan. Deliverance is from without, from above. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The Lord Jesus stands against Satan. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> The Lord Jesus rises above Satan. <\/p>\n

(1)<\/strong> Strips him of his power. <\/p>\n

(2)<\/strong> Deprives him of his prey. <\/p>\n

(3)<\/strong> Expels him from his usurped authority in the soul. <\/p>\n

Lessons: <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Whether men mean it or not, they do, and they must take sides. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Unless the expulsion of evil be by Christ, it will be a temporary relief followed by increased mischief. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> When sceptical standers-by comment upon the seeming difficulties, the dispossessed soul knows and proves that the dumb spirit is gone. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> When the unprejudiced observers witness what the Lord is doing, they know by whom it has been done. (John Richardson, M. A.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Christ overthrowing Satan<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>CHRIST AFFIRMS THE ANCIENT DOMINION OF THE EVIL ONE IN ITS STRENGTH AND SECURITY. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Satans kingdom was held by dint of great strength. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> By means of many and various agencies. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> With all the security of antiquity and custom. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> And in consequence of the ignorance of the subjects over whom he reigned. <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Yet this dominion was iniquitous. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>CHRIST DECLARES HIMSELF TO BE THE MIGHTY ONE, OVERTHROWING AND SPOILING MANS SPIRITUAL TYRANT. The figure is picturesque and vigorous. When you see a warrior in the palace of his foeman, capturing his arms and appropriating his goods, you know that the battle has been lost and won, that the strong man has yielded to the stronger, and is now either bound in the dungeon or dead upon the field. So, when you see such a victory as Christs over the demon possessing this miserable sufferer, you know that the fight upon our behalf has been fought, that He who came to release the prisoners has already grappled with the grim foe who has made them captive, has demolished his power and humbled his pride. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Christ is stronger by reason of His own Divine nature. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Christ is proved to be stronger, as appears by the evidence of historical fact. The events of His ministry are witness; even then He saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> His victories upon earth were an earnest of His complete triumph over His foe and mans. Every foe must he put beneath His feet. Application: Each human heart is a battlefield between the two powers. Has Christ obtained the victory in our spiritual nature? (Family Churchman.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Satan vanquished by Christ<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>THE STATE HERE DESCRIBED. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> The description, strong man armed, applies to Satan–<\/p>\n

(1)<\/strong> Because he was created a being of a higher order than man, and therefore superior to him in strength. <\/p>\n

(2)<\/strong> Because he has the strength of a numerous host available to the execution of his designs. <\/p>\n

(3)<\/strong> Because the skill he must have acquired by the long practice he has had, enables him to apply that strength, as it shall best serve to the accomplishment of his own designs. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The hearts of unregenerate men are the palace of Satan. <\/p>\n

(1)<\/strong> He keeps them in a state of dire captivity, aliens from the God who made them, and enemies of the Saviour who redeemed them. <\/p>\n

(2)<\/strong> He keeps them under the most powerful delusion. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>THE CONTEST. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>THE TRIUMPH. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Satan is rendered defenceless, with reference to all those who are made free from his dominion; so that the victory achieved for them may be maintained even by the weakest amongst them. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> When Christ recovers His interest in man and His dominion over him, He disposes him, all that he has and is, for the destruction of sin, the good of the Church, and the glory of God. (J. Fowler.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The conflict between Christ and Satan for the soul of man<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>THE NATURAL CONDITION OF THE HUMAN SOUL. Under the dominion of Satan; a dominion which is–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Absolute. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Degrading. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Destructive. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>THE CHANGE WROUGHT IN THE CONDITION OF THE HUMAN SOUL BY–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> The character of the agent. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The method of the attack. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> The victory of the Saviour involves the ransom of man from the guilt of sin; there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>THE DUTIES WHICH THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE CHARGE WROUGHT IN THE CONDITION OF THE HUMAN SOUL BY MEDIATORIAL GRACE SHOULD DEEPLY AND UNIVERSALLY IMPRESS. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> There ought to be an humble acknowledgment of the supreme majesty of Christ. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Another duty must be regarded as being the formation of an impressive estimate as to the value of the human soul. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> It is a duty earnestly to aspire after the application of delivering power to ourselves. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> There is that of entire, absolute devotedness to Him by whom you are delivered. (J. Parsons.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Resources of the adversary, and means of their destruction<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>THE DEFENCE AND RESOURCES OF THE ENEMY. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Idolatry. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Imposture. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Superstition. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> Despotism. <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> Crime in its various forms. <\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> False liberality in religion. <\/p>\n

7.<\/strong> Corruption of religious revivals. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>How SHALL THE ENEMY BE VANQUISHED? <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> By the judgments of heaven, in which the Son of Man will come upon the strong man armed, and take away his armour. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> By the universal propagation of the gospel; before the light of which, idolatry, imposture, and superstition, will retreat abashed. And–<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> By frequent, and, at last, general revivals of religion; giving resistless power to the gospel, as it is preached to every creature. <\/p>\n

Conclusion: <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> There must be more faith in the Church of God. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> There must be a more intense love for Christ in His Church. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> There must be an era of more decided action, before the earth can be subdued to Christ. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> For this glorious achievement, there is demanded more courage than has, in modern days, been manifested by the Church of God. <\/p>\n

5.<\/strong> There must be new and more vigorous efforts to increase the number and power of evangelical churches in our land. <\/p>\n

6.<\/strong> Special effort is required, to secure to the rising generation an education free from the influence of bad example, and more decidedly evangelical. <\/p>\n

7.<\/strong> The vigour of charitable effort must be greatly increased. <\/p>\n

8.<\/strong> The jealousies of Christians who are united substantially in their views of evangelical doctrine and religion, and who are divided only by localities, and rites, and forms, must yield, and give place to the glorious exigencies of the present day. <\/p>\n

9.<\/strong> Let me add, that we must guard against the dangers peculiar to a state of religious prosperity. (The Preachers Treasury.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Lesson<\/strong><\/p>\n

Note here–<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> That Satan is an unclean spirit, he hath lost his original purity, his holy nature in which he was created, and is by sin become universally sinful and impure; no means being allowed him by God for the purging of his filthy and impure nature; yea, he is a perfect enemy to purity and holiness; maligning all that love it and would promote it. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> That Satan is a restless and unquiet spirit, being cast out of heaven he can rest nowhere; when he is either gone out of a man by policy, or cast out by power, he has no content or satisfaction, till he returns into a filthy heart, where he delights to be, as the swine in miry places. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> That wicked and profane sinners have this unclean spirit dwelling in them; their hearts are Satans house and habitation, and the lusts of pride and unbelief, malice and revenge, envy and hypocrisy, these are the garnishings and furniture of Satans house: mans heart was Gods house by creation, it is now Satans by usurpation and judiciary tradition. <\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> That Satan, by the preaching of the gospel, may seem to go out of persons, and they become sober and civilized; yet may he return again to his old habitation, and the latter end of that man may be worse than the beginning. (W. Burkitt.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The division of spoil<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Divine conqueror is here represented as not destroying, but dividing the spoil–i.e., employing for His own cause and glory everything that, before the conquest, Satan had been using for his own evil purposes. Now, this is the overlooked and apparently unimportant point in the parable we wish practically to consider as setting forth this simple proposition–That Christ Jesus, in the victories of His grace, whether individual or universal, turns to His own advantage, and employs for His own glory, all those physical powers and intellectual endowments–that whole array of influence and engine which previously the greatadversary had perverted and made powerful for evil. <\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>We begin with the INDIVIDUAL, as certainly the most obvious reference of the lesson–the case of a sinful soul conquered by Christ in the process of regeneration. And thus it serves to rectify some wrong conceptions often entertained of the nature of regeneration. Here the representation of the great change wrought in the regenerated soul, is only a change in the sovereignty that overrules it h change, not in the houses furniture and appointments, but in their uses and ownership. The stronger man has not come to destroy what was in the fortress, but to rescue it all from the hands of the strong man, and turn it to his own purposes. Those very endowments of reason, imagination, wit, wealth, power–acquirements which before were exercised sinfully, because without godliness–Christ would now employ for mans good and Gods glory; not destroying but only dividing the spoil. To be a Christian, is simply and truly to be the highest style of man–to have all the faculties and impulses of your nature lifted from the perishing things of earth. Oh, no; He would enter only to conquer and bind the despot that enslaves you–to unshutter the darkened windows, and let in heavenly aims, and odours, and sunshine; and, reviving in all their original beauty, and replacing in all their original glory, its magnificent adornments, transform it from the haunt of a demon to the home of a God! But now let us pass from the individual to consider–<\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>THE TEXTS WIDER AND UNIVERSAL APPLICATION. This satanic despotism over the human heart is in exact analogy with his despotism over the earth as mans dwelling-place. The Bible everywhere represents this fallen spirit as practically the god of this world. But there is a day coming when the strong man shall be mastered by one stronger than he. The kingdoms and dominions under the whole heavens are to become Immanuels, and this world become manifestly again the abode of a universally acknowledged Jehovah. All this we are assured of. But then, we do not believe that, as a result of this, earth is suddenly to be transfigured, as into another planet. Here, in the universal as in the individual, we look for this great law of conquest–that, having bound the strong man and taken away his armour, our glorious Redeemer will not destroy the spoil, but will only divide the spoil. We judge that the world, under Messiahs reign, will be the world as it is, only redeemed from sin and reestablished in, and filled with, all righteousness. Physically it will be the same world, but instead of working disobedience to the precepts of the Divine law, all natural agents and processes shall be consecrated to Christ; and holiness to the Lord shall be written on the bells of the horses. Intellectually it will be the same world, and all sciences and arts flourish, and poetry see visions, and eloquence utter prophecies; but literature shall embalm with sweet spices the name of the Crucified, and science shall go forth along all its broad journeyings, only searching for God. Socially and politically, it will be the same; and though all despotisms shall cease, and every oppressors rod be broken, yet, as under the old Hebrew theocracy different civil polities successively obtained, so then there may be all present forms of government. But high above finite magistracy shall rise one Omnipotent enthronement, and monarchs, and princes, and presidents, and mighty men shall be mighty men, and presidents, and kings unto God. (C. Wadsworth, D. D.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The strong man armed<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is it then? Why, the sinners heart is Satans house; the place wherein he dwells–not near it or round about it, but within it. Now, to make this clear, you all know what your own house is to you, You go to and fro in it at your own will and pleasure–you order everything in it, exactly after your own taste–you give commands to your servants or to your children, and they are compelled to obey you–you walk up and down its several chambers, and furnish them as suitsyour convenience–you take your ease and pleasure there, and none interrupts you–you knock at the door and it instantly opens to you–you close it, and none can have an entrance there, without your consent. In one word, which is better than the longest description that can be given, it belongs to you, it is your own; you do what you like with it, it is a part of yourselves; and you feel at once how much is contained in that! Even so is the heart of the sinner to Satan; just as much his property. Sinner! Satan is within thee! The ungodly heart is the very home of the evil spirit! But, it is well worth your remarking that our Lord describes the place wherein the strong man dwells, not as a mere ordinary house, but as a palace, a kings mansion. And yet certainly in one point of view, it is difficult to imagine anything less like a royal dwelling-place than the soul of the unconverted sinner. For who is it that lives in it? Take it, on his own showing–it is himself; he is master of it. Be it so: but what a vile thing this self is! Though men dress it up, as savages do their ugly idols, in order to give it some show of comeliness, and some appearance of beauty, it is truly a mean thing and a contemptible at the best. And as is the supposed master, so is everything about him. All the furniture of the dwelling is of the same description. Low thoughts–wretched passions–miserable ends and aims; gild them and turn them as you will, they are all of the earth, earthy! No noble faith who elevated hopes. It was intended to be a palace; because, when Almighty God first framed it, He meant it for Himself to dwell in, and to put His glory there, and His purity, and His righteousness, and all the graces which attend upon His presence, and, like so many beams from the sun, are always issuing forth, and shining round about Him. And even the smallest dwelling that ever was, if a great king should make it his house, and live in it, would be fitly styled a palace. Nobody would think of the smallness of the place, but only the grandeur of its inhabitant. At any rate, the goods which are within this dwelling, and which furnish it, are the possession of him who resides there as lord and master, be it God or be it Satan. And magnificently did He who made you furnish you forth in this respect. There is a mans mind; a mans thoughts, which he can turn as he pleases; directing them to things good or things evil. Again, there is what we call our affections, the power of loving, or feeling a strong attachment for this or that object. Then there is the power which all men possess, in a greater or less degree, of influencing the minds of other men, and persuading them by their words, or by their deeds and example, to serve God, or to serve themselves and the world! And, in very many cases, there is, all this time, a state of peace. Everything is quiet in the soul of the sinner; Satans reign is not disputed. How many solemn dispensations are sent to waken him, frequently in the shape of visitations on his friends and neighbours, sudden deaths, and so on! How is it he is neither moved nor changed, but is still the same? The man is not his own master! Satan has possession of him; and treats him as he will! The strong man keepeth his palace, and his goods are in peace, his own without difficulty or dispute. And, if you consider against how many workings and appeals of all kinds this possession is maintained, you will not and cannot doubt that a great deal of power is necessary to the strong man, to Satan with whom we have to deal. And he is strong in two ways. He is in himself powerful; not able indeed, as yet, absolutely to destroy either body or soul, as he constantly desires to do, limited round about, in many ways, by the obstacles which God throws in his way, and by which he continually overrules him, but still very mighty to tempt and destroy. He is of no mean rank. He is the prince of this world, seducing men with riches and pleasures. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> He is mighty too, not only in himself, but in the weaknesses and corruptions of those Whom he sets himself to destroy, He winds himself into them. Peace, he says to another; you are not open sinners–you do not pick, nor steal, nor slay. You are not drunkards, or swearers, or adulterers! Why should you trouble yourselves about loving God with all your heart, and making Him reign in all your thoughts? Or again he says to others, Peace! it is all true that God does require truth and holiness in the inward parts. It is true, as your alarmed heart testifies, that Almighty God is a consuming fire, and does exact obedience to His laws. But then, He is not so awfully strict and severe, as, in your first terror, you are inclined to suppose. I do not say cherish all sins, but one is not much to keep. If, I say, a man is clearly convinced that it is indeed the plain and unquestionable sense of Scripture, and the real counsel of God towards sinners, as any candid and reason able man must be, why then, there would be danger of such a persons escaping his authority, if Satan directly denied what is undeniable to an awakened conscience. He therefore, wisely, does not attempt it. He says, Peace–all this is true. But then there is abundance of time still left for it. You need not be in a hurry! So there is peace again; the tempter is believed, and all becomes quiet in his house. Dear brethren, the first sign that the power of the strong man is about to give way, is this inward struggle. It is the Spirit from above, descending to the battle, and waking you out of your sleep, to put on your armour and to fight for your life. (J. Garbett, M. A.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The strong mans armour<\/strong><\/p>\n


I. <\/strong>And, if you reflect for a moment upon that blessed being, in whom is our life; the sinless man; the God in the flesh; you will at once discern what peculiar fitness there is in Him for our deliverance from this spiritual battle! a fitness nowhere else to be found, or to be imagined. As the very and eternal God, He hath all power, equal to the Father, all brightness, and glory, and all unutterable perfections dwelling within Him, as in a fountain inexhaustible, and ever flowing over on the objects of His love. As man, again, one with us, He is our brother, united by ties unspeakable in any words which human nature can supply, with those for whose sake He came down from the bosom of the eternal glory. Christ for Himself has fought it all over before us, with the very same enemy, and against the very same arms and weapons which are directed against us. And right and well it is that so it should have been ordered. As Satans first victory was gained over flesh and blood, in the same flesh and blood it seemed good to Almighty God that he should be conquered. Christ, then, is the stronger man who conquereth the strong for us and frees the soul from its captivity, which is the first point which the text suggests to our consideration. <\/p>\n


II. <\/strong>The next is the use which He makes of His victory. <\/p>\n


III. <\/strong>TAKETH FROM HIM, that is, from Satan, THE ARMOUR IN WHICH HE TRUSTED. The meaning evidently is, that He deprives him of those weapons of spiritual strength and spiritual delusion, by making use of which he was enabled to keep an uninterrupted dominion for so long a time. What is Satans armour? to what, in fact, in the soul of the sinner, does he mainly trust, in order to prevent his escape into the liberty of the children of God? Evidently this is a most important point, necessary for us clearly to understand if we would enter into the secret wisdom of this mystery of iniquity, and put ourselves on an effectual guard against it. Now, I think, that those arms of Satan are mainly three. <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Our self-love. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Our unbelief. And–<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Our indulgence in some one favourite sin. <\/p>\n

So long as we allow Satan possession of these weapons, it is impossible to expel him; he keeps a fast and sure hold, in spite of any occasional struggle, of his house and all the goods that are therein. And I am sure you must confess that, wherever this is present, whichever essential doctrine of the truth as it is in Jesus it chooses not to credit, there Satans possession is quite secure! And it is, indeed, a powerful instrument of war in his hand, with which to repel the assaults of the gospel upon the heart, and to prevent Christ, the rightful owner, from entering in, and taking possession. (J. Garbett, M. A.<\/em>)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

The division of the spoils<\/strong><\/p>\n

And if it seems strange to any among you, that such things should give such delight, and if you ask the reason, it is precisely what I have been speaking about. The reason is, that the heart is in it, just as it might have been in the world, and in the service of Satan before. There is all the difference. Only imagine just as powerful a liking for the things of God, as some of you probably feel for the things of the world; and just as strong a desire for Gods favour and growth in all heavenly graces, and the full enjoyment of His presence, whether in heaven or earth, as sinners have for earthly vanities; and the marvel is explained. Satan is spoiled, and what was once his, the heart, is now Christs–that is all. And the consequence is, that the affections being engaged, the very same things, such as worshipping God in His holy house, which are practised alike by nominal and real Christians, are very different indeed in the feeling they produce, and the fruits they leave behind! <\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Only look, then, at the practical difference which this produces. Is there an opportunity given us of promoting Gods glory, and the spread of the gospel, say by giving somewhat out of our substance? We used to try to give as little as it was possible, and no more; to invent all kinds of doubts, and difficulties, and scruples, and hesitations, full of worldly caution and worldly wisdom. Now we thank Him for such a privilege. We are filled with gratitude at being thought worthy to feed or to clothe the members of Christ, or to aid in the extension of the glorious gospel. It is only giving from what is not ours, but His. If we must give up anything, it must not be these deeds of love. Satan is spoiled, and we now do for God, what we once did for him. <\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Again–Is there laid before us, solemnly and affectionately, out of Gods holy Word, some grace to be obtained, of which we never thought before; some holy temper which we have never cultivated, or some duty to ourselves, our families, or our neighbours, which has never been pressed upon us in former times. Is this the ease, as it must be, with us all? Look at the result of our choice being on heavenly things. We no longer say, No, the old ways were good enough for me; I take trouble enough in going to church and leading an upright life, and I shall do no more. No. We say, It is well; this never struck me; but it is in scripture, it is in the practice of holy men, the saints of God. It is, I cannot deny it, a good and Christian thing to do, and such as the blessing of God will fall upon, if there is any truth in plain gospel words, and any reality in Divine grace. I am willing then to follow him wheresoever He may lead me, and still to do more and more as increasing light shall guide me. By His aid I will do this good thing, and trust to Him to bless it. Here, again, the Christian is only doing in Divine things what he has done all his life in worldly ones; taking advantage of every new light, and every fresh instruction, and permitting no opportunity to pass, by which he could advance his interest or improve his chances of ultimate success. Satan is spoiled, and we now do for God what we used to do for him. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Again–It may be that, in the performance of this or that duty to God, and of obedience to one or other of the commandments which He has laid upon us, there may be inconveniences to encounter, difficulties in family arrangement, perhaps some labour to be undergone, some pleasure or relaxation to be abandoned, some worldly gain, or supposed worldly gain and advantage, to be sacrificed. We used not to scruple in such a case to sacrifice God instantly to the world or to ourselves. I <\/em>have pressing accounts upon my hands, a man says; I <\/em>cannot, therefore, come to church, or read the Bible, or meditate on my soul; business must be done whether or no, that is the main thing in the world, and God could not intend that I should so trouble myself to my own disadvantage. I <\/em>shall have so much less at the end of the year if I give this or that, and what good will Christs love do me in such a matter? It is now; God <\/em>forbid that I should break His holy law, be it the Sabbath–be it prayer–be it almsgiving–be it what it may; how shall I do this wickedness, and sin against God? My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God, and I am content if I can please and obey Him; where or what shall I be if I lose His love who is my all? Here, again, you see, the Christian only does in the concerns of his soul, and in the service of God, what men of the world are always practising for earthly ends and objects. Satan is spoiled of his old weapons, that is all; we now do for God what we used to do for him. <\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> Again–we encounter some grievous trial. We find, perhaps, when we least expected it, that something very dear to us must be given up, some grievous sacrifice be made, of something not in itself bad, perhaps; but not to be reconciled with a devotion of the soul to God in Christ. Formerly, it never would have entered into our heads to surrender it. But now it is, Take it all, O Lord, lay this and everything else upon us, if it be Thy good will; Thy will, O Lord, and not ours be done. We give up the less for the greater, and trust where we know trust should be reposed, exactly as men do in the world. Satan is spoiled, and we now do for God what we used to do for him. (J. Garbett, M. A.<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

21, 22. strong man<\/B>meaningSatan.<\/I> <\/P>

armed<\/B>pointing to allthe subtle and varied methods by which he wields his dark power overmen. <\/P>

keepeth<\/B>“guardeth.”<\/P>

his palace<\/B>man<\/I>whether viewed more largely or in individual soulshow significantof what men are to Satan! <\/P>

in peace<\/B>undisturbed,secure in his possession.<\/P><\/p>\n

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

When a strong man armed<\/strong>,…. By the strong man, is meant the devil; [See comments on Mt 12:29]<\/span> and who may be said to be “armed”, both with his own temptations, which are as fiery darts, and which are thrown by him thick and fast, suddenly and swiftly, privily, and with great art and cunning, and with great strength, and are very injurious; and also with the sins and lusts of men, which are armour of unrighteousness, and which Satan turns upon them, and makes use of against them, to their great detriment; and who<\/p>\n

keepeth his palace<\/strong>: which is the corrupt heart of an unregenerate man, where he dwells as a king, has his throne, keeps his court, and has his courtiers, and attendants, the lusts of the flesh, and the desires of the will, and the carnal affections; and which, as filthy a palace as it is, is perfectly agreeable to his nature; and this is kept by a guard of devils, and worldly lusts, till its strong holds are demolished by the Gospel, and Christ the King of glory enters in; till such time,<\/p>\n

his goods are in peace<\/strong>: there is no concern in such an heart about sin, no uneasiness on that account, no sense of danger, nor inquiry after salvation; no dread upon the mind at the curses of the law, nor fears of hell, and damnation; but such a man lives in entire security, crying Peace, Peace, to himself.<\/p>\n

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Fully armed <\/B> (<\/SPAN><\/span>). Perfect passive participle of <\/SPAN><\/span>, an old verb, but here only in the N.T. Note perfective use of <\/SPAN><\/span> in composition with <\/SPAN><\/span>, to arm (from <\/SPAN><\/span>, arms). Note indefinite temporal clause (<\/SPAN><\/span> and present subjunctive <\/SPAN><\/span>).<\/P>

His own court <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). His own homestead. Mark 3:27<\/span>; Matt 12:29<\/span> has “house” (<\/SPAN><\/span>). <\/SPAN><\/span> is used in the N.T. in various senses (the court in front of the house, the court around which the house is built, then the house as a whole).<\/P>

His goods <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). “His belongings.” Neuter plural present active participle of <\/SPAN><\/span> used as substantive with genitive. <\/P> <\/p>\n

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

A strong man [ ] <\/SPAN><\/span>. It has the article : the strong man. So Rev. See on Mt 12:29<\/span>. <\/P>

Armed [] <\/SPAN><\/span>. Fully armed : down [<\/SPAN><\/span>] from head to heel. <\/P>

His palace [ ] <\/SPAN><\/span>. Lit., his own. jAulh is strictly the open court in front of a house : later, the court round which the house is built, and so applied to the house generally, as our door or roof. Rev., court; for there, in the open space, commanding the doors, he would mount guard.<\/P><\/p>\n

Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

1) “When a strong man armed,” <\/strong>(hotan ho ischuros kathoplismenos) “When a strong man who has been well armed,” alluding to the Devil, fully armed with craft, deceit, lying, as an angel of light, as he came to Eve in Eden, Gen 3:1-24<\/span>.<\/p>\n

2) “Keepeth his palace,” <\/strong>(phulasse teh heautou aulen) “Guards his own palace,” or guards his own court and courtiers, his soul-being; This strong man is the Devil while the stronger who overcame him is Christ, Isa 49:24<\/span>.<\/p>\n

3) “His goods are in peace:” <\/strong>(en erene estin ta huparchonta autou) “His goods exist in peace or security,” Deu 29:19-20<\/span>; Jer 6:14<\/span>, as a man’s goods are safe when guarded by a watchman, at least ideal or good for the strong man’s cause.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

(21-23) When a strong man armed keepeth his palace.<\/strong>See Notes on Mat. 12:29-30<\/span>. The only noticeable variations are the use of palace for house; of the strong man being armed; of the armour or panoply (the same word as in Eph. 6:13<\/span>) in which he trusted; of the division of the spoils. It is throughout a fuller and more vivid report, but apparently of the same sayings.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

“When the strong man fully armed guards his own court, his goods are in peace, but when a stronger than he shall come on him, and overcome him, he takes from him his whole armour in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.”<\/p>\n

Jesus then likened Satan to a strong man fully armed who guarded his own possessions. No one touched what belonged to him. They could not. He held his goods, these poor possessed souls, in peace. There may have been a ripple caused by an occasional exorcism, but nothing that really disturbed him. But when a ‘Stronger than he’ comes and overcomes him, He not only defeats him, but strips him of his armour and takes all his spoils for dividing up among His followers. He humiliates him. The clear implication is that Jesus has come as the Stronger than he, not only to do battle with evil spirits, but to totally defeat and humiliate them and their prince. (Compare how shortly He is also greater than Solomon, and greater than Jonah). The battle will be fought and totally won so that Satan and all his forces will be emasculated, and Jesus will be the total victor. As He had said Himself, ‘I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven’ (Luk 10:18<\/span>). That was the first evidence of Jesus’ victory, and commencement of His successful campaign, so that the enemy were on the run. ‘He disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in the cross’ (Col 2:15<\/span>). That was when He finally sealed the victory.<\/p>\n

No exorciser ever made a claim like this. It was a claim that could only be made by God’s champion, ‘the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace’ (Isa 9:6<\/span>). Let those who sought signs recognise this. What greater sign could there be than this? Thus does Jesus make plain to His adversaries the greatness of His claims, and the presence of the Kingly Rule of God, and to His people the greatness of the protection that He affords them as they pray, ‘do not bring us into temptation’.<\/p>\n

Some are puzzled as to how Jesus can be depicted as having overcome Satan, while Satan appears to be on the march more and more. But think of France’s position in the second world war in the last century. It had been overrun by the Germans and was under German control, although there were still pockets of resistance, the Maquis. But then the allied forces came and invaded on D Day, and first they gained their foothold and then gradually Paris was freed. The Germans were on the retreat. The triumphal march into Paris took place. Victory belonged to the allies. But meanwhile the Germans had to be driven completely out of France. But then at last France was free. As far as France was concerned they now had complete victory. However, V2 rockets still continued to be sent up, (the fiery darts of Hitler), and the enemy was still across the frontier, and so the battle had to go on. For had there been any relaxation the Germans might have regrouped and retaliated. And so the fighting continued into Germany and now there were Germans who would not contemplate defeat and they fought all the more fiercely. And this continued until the capture of Berlin. At last war in Europe was over. But France had had its victory long before.<\/p>\n

In the same way Jesus came to earth. It was J Day. He then commenced His battle against Satan who had overrun the world, although there were still pockets of resistance called ‘believers’ who still looked to God. And to them He could look for help. He beat back Satan and established the Kingly Rule of God. And within that Kingly Rule of God He gathered the redeemed. They were freed from Satan’s power and living in a free ‘Kingdom’. Victory had been obtained and was now assured. They had been translated from under the tyranny of darkness into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son (Col 1:11<\/span>).<\/p>\n

The war continued as men and women continued to be redeemed from Satan’s power (Act 26:18<\/span>). Evil spirits were cast out as men and women were delivered, until at the cross a huge victory was obtained. The enemy was finally put to flight, and his forces humiliated. The Kingly Rule of God had prevailed. Firm limits were put on the ability of Satan to act.<\/p>\n

But outside that Kingdom the battle still went on. The fiery darts of the wicked one still rained down, and still do. While excluded from wherever the Kingly Rule of God held sway He was now ‘the prince of the power of the air’. And this will go on until the King returns to finally defeat Satan once and for all, so that the Kingly Rule of God becomes universal. But meanwhile all in the Kingly Rule of God are safe. Once men and women are in it he cannot greatly harm them there, although he can yell at them over the border, and seek to distress them by guerrilla attacks. He can even surround the camp of the saints. But he cannot enter it. The consequence is that we must choose. Are we with Him or against Him? Have we entered under the Kingly Rule of God, or are we still under Satan’s sway? To Whom do we belong? Do we gather with Him, or are we scatterers of the flock? The choice is ours.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

DISCOURSE: 1522
THE STRONG MAN ARMED<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luk 11:21-22<\/span>. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils<\/em>.<\/p>\n

THE miracles wrought by our Lord were too manifest to be denied even by his most inveterate enemies. Some however endeavoured to evade the force of them by ascribing them to a confederacy with Satan. Our Lord shewed them the absurdity of such an idea. The expelling of evil spirits was a confirmation of our Lords doctrine; consequently it tended to the destruction of Satans kingdom, and the establishment of his own. This<\/em> Satan could not but be aware of; he would therefore never concur in an act which must terminate in his own ruin. Hence it appeared that the power which Jesus exercised over the evil spirits, was not only without the concurrence of Beelzebub, but in spite of his utmost exertions to withstand it. To illustrate this truth our Lord delivered the parable before us.<\/p>\n

Extreme caution should be used in explaining the parables, that we refine not upon them too much, nor give to any part a sense which it was not designed to bear. But some parables were certainly intended to be minutely applied in all their parts [Note: Mat 13:18-23<\/span>; Mat 13:36-40<\/span>.]. That which is now before us seems to be of that number; we shall therefore open it in a way of familiar exposition.<\/p>\n

Satan is fitly compared to a strong man armed
[The strength and power of Satan are frequently mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. His very names, Apollyon<\/em> [Note: Rev 9:11<\/span>.], the great Dragon<\/em> [Note: Rev 12:7<\/span>.], and the god of this world<\/em> [Note: 2Co 4:4<\/span>.], evidently characterize him as possessed of exceeding great power. As an angel, he excelled in strength [Note: Psa 103:20<\/span>.]; nor, though he has lost his original purity, has his native energy been at all impaired. He is rendered more formidable too by his armour. Alas! what fiery darts has he in his quiver [Note: Eph 6:16<\/span>.]! With what inconceivable subtlety does he plan his seasons and methods of assault [Note: 2Co 11:3<\/span>. <\/span>Eph 6:11<\/span>.]! Nor can he have so long engaged in this warfare, without having learned much by experience.]<\/p>\n

The hearts of unregenerate men are his palace
[He has the most intimate access to the hearts of men: he entered into the heart of Judas, and prompted him to betray his Lord [Note: Joh 13:27<\/span>.]. By the same invisible agency he urged Ananias and Sapphira to lie unto the Holy Ghost [Note: Act 5:3<\/span>.]. In the same manner he stimulates all his vassals to the commission of sin: he rules within them as a monarch [Note: Eph 2:2<\/span>.], and lords it over them with most despotic sway [Note: 2Ti 2:26<\/span>.]. Every apartment of the palace is occupied by his attendants: the understanding, the will, the affections, the memory, the conscience, are all under his controul. If seven spirits only possess some, Legion is the name of others [Note: Luk 11:26<\/span>. with 8:30.].]<\/p>\n

While he takes up his abode in them, he keeps all in peace
[One would think that a soul possessed by him should be filled with horror; but he contrives to divert the thoughts of men from all their spiritual concerns: he blinds their minds so that they cannot see their real state: he fills them with a presumptuous confidence that they shall do well at last [Note: Compare 1Ki 22:22<\/span>. with Jer 6:14<\/span>.]. Perhaps he makes them laugh at the idea of Satanic influence. He suggests that God is too merciful to inflict eternal punishment, and that all apprehensions of divine wrath are the effects of superstition or enthusiasm. If at any time they are impressed by the word of God, he catches it away, lest they should believe it and be saved [Note: Luk 8:12<\/span>.]. Thus he continually deceives his vassals, and lulls them asleep in a most fatal security.]<\/p>\n

There is One however, even Jesus, who is stronger than he
[Satan indeed is a roaring lion: but Jesus is the all-powerful Lion of the tribe of Judah [Note: Rev 5:5<\/span>.]. Satan is the serpent that bruised the heel of Jesus: but Jesus is the womans seed that effectually bruised his head [Note: Gen 3:15<\/span>.]. Jesus vanquished him in repeated combats [Note: Mat 4:10<\/span>. Joh 14:30<\/span>; Joh 16:11<\/span>.], and at last triumphed over him upon the cross [Note: Col 2:15<\/span>.]: yea, and led him captive in his resurrection and ascension [Note: Eph 4:8<\/span>.]: nor does he exercise less power in<\/em> his people than he then did for<\/em> them [Note: 1Jn 4:4<\/span>.]. His grace is sufficient to fortify us against the fiercest assaults of Satan [Note: 2Co 12:7-9<\/span>.]: nor shall the weakness of his people counteract or retard his career of victory [Note: Rev 6:2<\/span>.].]<\/p>\n

Nor can Satan any longer retain his hold when Jesus comes to eject him
[Satan strove indeed to the utmost to keep possession of the bodies of men; nor relinquished them at last without the most strenuous efforts to destroy them [Note: Mar 9:20<\/span>; Mar 9:26<\/span>.]. Thus will he maintain a conflict with Jesus in their souls. If he be driven from the outworks, he will defend himself in the citadel. Sometimes he may appear for a season to defy Omnipotence itself; but in due season he is invariably overcome. His strong holds, one after another, are demolished [Note: 2Co 10:5<\/span>.], and he is constrained to surrender the palace which he can no longer keep.]<\/p>\n

Jesus, having driven him from the soul, will turn all its powers against him
[A sinner, while under Satans dominion, has many things which prove serviceable to that wicked fiend: his wisdom, riches, influence, are all pressed into the service of the devil; all are used to strengthen his power, and to undermine the authority of Christ. But when Jesus has gained possession of a soul, he instantly secures all its powers, and turns the artillery of Satan against himself: whatever wealth or influence the man possessed, is now made subservient to the Redeemers interests: the gold of Egypt is formed into vessels for the sanctuary of the Lord; and every talent is improved in promoting and establishing his kingdom [Note: 2Co 10:5-6<\/span>.]. Thus does Jesus drive Satan from his fortress [Note: 1Jn 5:18<\/span>.], and enable the once captive soul to trample on him as a vanquished enemy [Note: Rom 16:20<\/span>.].]<\/p>\n

From the parable thus explained we may learn
1.<\/p>\n

What true conversion is<\/p>\n

[Conversion does not consist merely in a change of sentiment: it supposes that our false peace has been broken, and that Satan has been made to yield to the victorious grace of Jesus. Jesus himself too is now become the sole monarch of our hearts, and we are cordially serving him with all our power. Let us try ourselves by this touchstone: let us see whether we be indeed new creatures: nor let us rest till we be turned from the power of Satan unto God [Note: Act 26:18<\/span>.].]<\/p>\n

2.<\/p>\n

Whence it is that any are converted<\/p>\n

[Men are in themselves the willing slaves of Satan: so far from desiring deliverance from him, they fight against their deliverer. Most assuredly therefore they are not the authors of their own conversion. It is Jesus alone who chooses the objects of his favour: it is he alone who begins and carries on the good work within them [Note: Zec 4:9<\/span>. Heb 12:2<\/span>.]. To him therefore must every redeemed soul ascribe the glory [Note: Zec 4:7<\/span>.]. None can boast<\/em> as if they had effected any thing by their own power [Note: 1Co 4:7<\/span>.]: nor need any despair<\/em> as though their bonds could never be broken. To every one, who wishes to be made free, there is abundant encouragement in the Scriptures [Note: Isa 49:24-25<\/span>.]. May our eyes be so directed to Jesus that his power may be magnified in our deliverance [Note: Isa 45:22<\/span>.]!]<\/p>\n

3.<\/p>\n

What is the duty of those who are converted<\/p>\n

[As Satan never leaves a soul without reluctance, so does he ever watch for an opportunity to return to it: nor will he fail of accomplishing his purpose, if our hearts be not guarded by the Lord Jesus. Let none then be satisfied with purging out only some grosser sins [Note: 2Pe 1:9<\/span>.]. In vain will the house be swept and garnished, if it be not occupied by the Divine inhabitant. Satan will return with seven devils worse than himself; and the last state of such men will be worse than the first [Note: ver. 25, 26.]. Let all then be on their guard, and commit the keeping of their souls to Jesus [Note: 1Pe 4:19<\/span>.]. Then shall all the attempts of their enemy be baffled. He who never slumbers will surely preserve them [Note: Psa 121:4-7<\/span>.], and they shall be made the habitation of God<\/em> to all eternity [Note: Eph 2:22<\/span>.]. What we say therefore to one, we say unto all, Watch [Note: Mar 13:37<\/span>.]]<\/p>\n<\/p>\n


<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ver. 21. When a strong man armed<\/strong> ] Qui se dedebant, arma tradebant.<\/em> (Caesar de Bell. Gall. lib. 3.) They that yielded threw down their arms. <\/p>\n

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

21.<\/strong> ] This parabolic sentence is in close connexion with many prophetic sayings, Isa 40:10 mar [85] ; Isa 53:12<\/span> , and most pointedly Isa 49:24-25<\/span> . It will be remembered that the Baptist called the Lord by this name, placing after it, it is true, <\/strong> ,<\/strong> but still using it as indicative of the Almightiness of the Son of God, rather than in comparison with himself.<\/p>\n

[85] Margin. ‘marg-eccles’ denotes that the reading cited is given on the margin as an alteration to be made in reading the passage in church, e.g. the name of our Lord, where the pronoun would otherwise stand at the beginning of a ‘Gospel for the day.’<\/p>\n

The <\/strong> is the adversary, Satan; his <\/strong> ,<\/strong> this present world, Joh 12:31<\/span> ; Joh 14:30<\/span> ; Joh 16:11<\/span> . His goods, or tools, or spoils, <\/strong> = = , are the sons of men<\/em> , 2Ti 2:26 ; 1Jn 5:19<\/span> (Greek). With these is he clothed and armed, or rather with their evil capacities<\/em> , which he furbishes and brightens for his use: with the , compare by way of contrast, the , Eph 6:11-20<\/span> . Without these arms and tools he would be powerless: the evil one must have evil men something receptive of evil to work upon. But these the takes from him, and divides his spoils, Isa 53:12<\/span> . He divides his spoils<\/em> turns to His own use and that of His followers all that good which the enemy had corrupted into evil.<\/p>\n

The Stronger had already come into the strong man’s house the Saviour<\/em> , into the world<\/em> and was robbing him of his captives, and making them into His own disciples e.g. Mary Magdalene and others: but the work was not fully completed yet, till the Lord, by and in His death, overcame him that had the power of death, i.e. the devil. And that His great victory is still proceeding; He is still taking from him one and another, rescuing the sons of men by the power of His gospel, till the end, when He shall (Rev 20:1<\/span> ff.) bind him in the abyss; and though he be loosed for the final conflict by His sufferance, shall cast him overthrown into the lake of fire for ever. Rev 20:14<\/span> .<\/p>\n

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 11:21<\/span> . : introducing the parable of the strong man subdued by a stronger, symbolising the true state of the case as between Beelzebub and Jesus, probably more original in Lk. than in Mt. (Mat 12:29<\/span> ). , fully armed, here only, in N.T. , court<\/em> , whose entrance is guarded, according to some; house, castle, or palace according to others ( in Mt.).<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

a = the. <\/p>\n

armed = fully armed: from head to foot. Compare Mat 12:28. Greek. kathoplizomai. Occurs only here in N.T. <\/p>\n

keepeth = guardeth. <\/p>\n

his palace = his own court. Greek. aule. Mat 26:3, Mat 26:58, Mat 26:69 <\/p>\n

goods = possessions. <\/p>\n

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

21.] This parabolic sentence is in close connexion with many prophetic sayings, Isa 40:10 mar[85]; Isa 53:12, and most pointedly Isa 49:24-25. It will be remembered that the Baptist called the Lord by this name, -placing after it, it is true, , but still using it as indicative of the Almightiness of the Son of God, rather than in comparison with himself.<\/p>\n

[85] Margin. marg-eccles denotes that the reading cited is given on the margin as an alteration to be made in reading the passage in church, e.g. the name of our Lord, where the pronoun would otherwise stand at the beginning of a Gospel for the day.<\/p>\n

The is the adversary, Satan; his , this present world,-Joh 12:31; Joh 14:30; Joh 16:11. His goods, or tools, or spoils,- = = ,-are the sons of men,-2Ti 2:26; 1Jn 5:19 (Greek). With these is he clothed and armed, or rather with their evil capacities, which he furbishes and brightens for his use: with the , compare by way of contrast, the , Eph 6:11-20. Without these arms and tools he would be powerless: the evil one must have evil men-something receptive of evil-to work upon. But these the takes from him, and divides his spoils, Isa 53:12. He divides his spoils-turns to His own use and that of His followers all that good which the enemy had corrupted into evil.<\/p>\n

The Stronger had already come into the strong mans house-the Saviour, into the world-and was robbing him of his captives, and making them into His own disciples-e.g. Mary Magdalene and others: but the work was not fully completed yet, till the Lord, by and in His death, overcame him that had the power of death, i.e. the devil. And that His great victory is still proceeding;-He is still taking from him one and another,-rescuing the sons of men by the power of His gospel, till the end, when He shall (Rev 20:1 ff.) bind him in the abyss; and though he be loosed for the final conflict by His sufferance, shall cast him overthrown into the lake of fire for ever. Rev 20:14.<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Greek Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Luk 11:21. , a strong man) intrinsically strong. This is the Subject.-, armed) extrinsically: Armed, i.e. whilst he is armed, so long as no one strips him of his armour. This is to be joined to the Predicate.- , his own) See 2Pe 2:19 [servants of corruption, who constitute Satans own palace].- , his goods, his resources) which are kept safe in his palace.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Chapter 72<\/p>\n

The Strong Man Armed Bound And Cast Out<\/p>\n

From the beginning of time the prince of darkness has been at war with the Son of God, and the Son of God has been at war with him (Genesis 3; Isaiah 14; Revelation 12). It is a mutual conflict, a mutual enmity. It is ever the purpose of that fiend of hell and the myriads of demons ruled by him to topple the throne of God, usurp his authority, and destroy the souls of men. His principle weapon of warfare is religious self-righteousness and will-worship (2 Corinthians 11; Gal 1:6-9).<\/p>\n

But the fiend of hell, that old serpent, the devil shall accomplish nothing. He is Gods devil. He is by the omnipotent power of Christ forced into servitude. And soon he shall be cast into hell, crushed beneath our Saviours feet and ours. Yes, he shall be crushed beneath the feet of us, poor, weak mortals whom he seeks to destroy (Rom 16:20).<\/p>\n

Because he knows he has but a short time, he is in a rage (Rev 12:12) and goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. But, blessed be God, our all-glorious, omnipotent Saviour has everything in control. This lion can do nothing but roar! He cannot hurt anything or anyone in Gods holy mountain, Zion! The warfare is real but victory is sure!<\/p>\n

Beyond these things, we know nothing. Let us be wise, and leave these matters alone. Do not investigate witchcraft, demonism, and the occult. Playing with these things is indescribably more dangerous than playing with arsenic. It is enough for us to know only what God has revealed.<\/p>\n

In Luk 11:21-26 our Lord Jesus lifts the corner of the veil and allows us to have and instructive peek at the warfare that takes place in the spirit world for the souls of men. The Lords instruction here is not instruction about demonology and exorcism. It is instruction about the wonders of Gods almighty, saving grace in Christ. <\/p>\n

A Great Destroyer<\/p>\n

In Luk 11:21 Satan is described as a strong man armed, keeping his palace. The palace he keeps is the heart of a man. This is a picture of fallen man in his natural state and condition. We have before us a picture of all fallen men, deceived and being deceived by the prince of darkness. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace (Luk 11:21).<\/p>\n

Our hearts ought to be the throne of God, but they have become the palace of Satan. When our father Adam was the obedient servant of the Most High, his body was a temple for Gods love. No more! Now, through the fall, we have become the servants of sin, and our bodies have become the workshops of Satan, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience (Eph 2:1-4).<\/p>\n

Satan is here called a strong man. Who can stand against him? The monster of darkness, the red dragon of hell is well named Abaddon and Apollyon Destroyer! He has been at the business of soul destruction for thousands of years. No mortal has ever been a match for him. Adam, in all his created perfection, could not stand before the great destroyer. Samson, with all his might, was no match for the prince of darkness. Solomon, with all his wisdom, was weak as water before the fiend of hell. Satan is so strong that if all men should combine against him, he would laugh at us as Leviathan laughs at the grappling hook.<\/p>\n

Satan is strong, not simply as one possessing force, but in the sense of intense, fiendish cunning. He knows how to adapt his temptations to our besetting sins. He knows the best time to assail us. He understands that there is a time when kings go forth to battle, and he is ever ready for the fray. He is a good swordsman. He is a supreme marksman. He knows our weak places. He sees every chink in our armour. Therefore, unsuspecting men are taken captive by him at his will.<\/p>\n

He is a strong man with a vengeance, full of fury and full of envy (Heb 2:9-14). We should ever bless and praise our God that there is One stronger than this fiend of hell. Satan would crush us to eternal ruin if it were not that the omnipotent Christ comes in to rescue chosen, redeemed sinners by almighty grace.<\/p>\n

This strong man, the Destroyer, we are told here, is armed. He is armed with the most cunning deception, the most appealing temptations, and the most alluring charms. He finds in our own hearts his willing accomplices: Our inward lusts. our stubborn pride, our wilful compliance, our hardness of heart! And he is armed with the lie of freewill, works religion.<\/p>\n

The Prince of Darkness always keeps his palace; and his goods are in peace. Satan is never caught sleeping off guard. Whenever the Son of God comes, whenever the Holy Spirit begins to work, he will do everything he can to keep his palace. And the best way to keep his palace in the City of Mansoul is to keep his goods in peace.<\/p>\n

While we sleep he sows tares. He never sleeps. He is always the busiest one around. We may neglect our souls; but Satan never does. He is always making visitations and going from place to place upon his evil business to watch after his black sheep. The sinners heart must be carried away by storm, if it be ever taken, for there is no hope of taking the Evil Spirit by surprise. He keepeth his palace. His goods are in peace!<\/p>\n

Kept in peace, the unbelieving soul has no fear of God before his eyes. He has no great sense of guilt before God, no uneasiness, no tormenting conscience. He is at peace. He has all the peace of one dead!<\/p>\n

Yet, all his strength is withered muscle, all his armour is melting plastic, all his palace is unfortified, all his goods are vulnerable before that One who is stronger than he. Thank God, there is One stronger than he! And that One who is stronger than he is the Son of God, the sinners Friend, and he is <\/p>\n

A Great Deliverer<\/p>\n

The Lord Jesus Christ, when he comes in the saving operations of omnipotent grace, comes upon and assails the Prince of Darkness in his palace, and spoils his goods (Luk 11:22; Mat 12:29; Isa 49:24-25; Isa 53:10-12; Col 2:15). He comes upon the fiend of hell, binds him, overcomes him, takes away his armour, and divides his spoils.<\/p>\n

There is an obvious reference here to Isa 53:12. The Lord Jesus comes and takes possession of those very goods once used by the fiend of hell for evil and makes them instruments of good in the palace of his grace!<\/p>\n

The fact that Satan sets up and maintains an empire of sin in every human heart is a fact too obvious to be questioned by any rational person. The terrible effects of it are too well known to be denied. Here we have that fact plainly stated. It was, as Robert Hawker wrote, the setting up this kingdom against God and his Christ, for which the devil and his angels are said to have been cast out of heaven and to have left their own habitation (Rev 12:7-12; Jud 1:6). It was by Satans seduction of Eve that Adam was brought down, and by Adams transgression that the whole human race was made a fallen, corrupt, sinful race (Rom 5:12). It is Satan who works in all the children of disobedience continually (Eph 2:2-4).<\/p>\n

Because Satans kingdom of darkness, deception, and sin takes in the entire human race, he is called the prince of this world (Joh 16:11). Because he seeks to destroy our souls and seeks to destroy the church and kingdom of God, he is called a roaring lion (1Pe 5:8) and the dragon (Rev 12:7), the devil and Satan. Here he is called the strong man armed. So powerful is his influence over the unregenerate, that men are taken captive by him at his will (2Ti 2:26).<\/p>\n

How happy and thankful we ought to be to read in the Book of God that the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil (1Jn 3:8). One great purpose and design of the gospel is the overthrow of Satan and his kingdom and the restoration of perfect order in Gods creation. Let us rejoice! The Son of God came into this world to save his people from their sins and that he might destroy the works of the devil and that which he came to accomplish shall be accomplished! The Word of God reveals a threefold binding of Satan.<\/p>\n

First, by his death upon the cross, in the accomplishment of our redemption, and by his resurrection from the grave our Saviour bound Satan and broke the power of his usurped dominion over the nations of the world of Satan (Joh 12:31-33; Col 2:13-15; Heb 2:14-15; Rev 20:1-6).<\/p>\n

Then, in regeneration and conversion, by the power of his grace, through the operations of his Holy Spirit in the new birth, the Son of God binds Satan in the hearts of chosen, redeemed sinners and takes possession of his house.<\/p>\n

That is what is described in Luk 11:21-26. Our Saviour is the man stronger than the strong man armed. He comes by omnipotent mercy into the hearts of chosen sinners, binds Satan, casts him out, and spoils him of all. This is what happens every time he saves a sinner. He does not stand knocking at the door of the lost sinners heart, hoping that the sinner might choose to let him enter. He knocks the door down, bolt and bar, enters the house of the ransomed soul, and sets up his throne in the heart, bringing his welcome with him. Thus it is that we have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Gods dear Son (Isa 49:24; Mar 3:27; Luk 11:21-22; Joh 12:31; Joh 14:30; Joh 16:7-11; Eph 2:1-4).<\/p>\n

Finally, when he comes again to make all things new, the Lord Jesus will cast Satan out of this world into the lake of fire, where he shall have no more power (Rev 20:10).<\/p>\n

There is a day coming when Christ will come again in his glory, when the total and everlasting destruction of Satans kingdom will take place. In that day we who are one with Christ will triumph over the prince of darkness in complete victory (Rom 16:20). There is no such thing as a devils hell. Hell belongs to God. It is his torture chamber in which he will forever torment the devil and all who have followed him to destruction.<\/p>\n

Now, look at Luk 11:23, and observe this fact. There is among men in this world <\/p>\n

A Great Division<\/p>\n

Those who are not with Christ are against him. There is no middle ground. He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. The Lord Jesus here shows us the impossibility of neutrality with regard to him, his gospel, and his kingdom. Multitudes try to straddle the fence, halting between two opinions, not wishing to deny Christ altogether, and not wishing to serve him altogether, not wanting to engage in open rebellion to the Son of God, but not wanting to engage in the cause of Christ. Such neutrality is impossible.<\/p>\n

There are, with regard to spiritual things, only two camps; there are only two sides. Either we are with Christ, committed to him and his cause, or we are against Christ, committed to the world, the flesh, and the devil. We cannot serve both God and mammon. If we do not serve Christ, we oppose him. There is no middle ground. In a word, the gospel of Christ demands decisiveness (Jos 24:15). John Gill wrote:<\/p>\n

Since there is such an open war proclaimed and carried on between Christ and the devil, none ought to be neutral; whoever is not on the side of Christ, is reckoned as an enemy; and whoever is not concerned by prayer or preaching, or other means to gather souls to his word and ordinances, and to his church, and to himself, is deemed by him a scatterer of them. <\/p>\n

Next, in Luk 11:24-26 our Lord gives us a warning concerning spurious conversions.<\/p>\n

A Great Deception<\/p>\n

That which is Satans greatest weapon of defence against Christ and the gospel of his grace, that by which he most securely keeps his palace is a refuge of lies.<\/p>\n

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.<\/p>\n

The unclean spirit goes out of his own free will. He is not cast out, but goes out. He walks through dry, desert places seeking rest, but finds none. He returns to his house from which he came out. When he returns, he finds his house in wonderful condition. It was swept, not washed, but swept. It was garnished, not made new, but garnished. When he returns, he brings seven spirits more wicked than himself. Then the last state of that man is worse than the first. When the sinner takes for himself a refuge of lies, seeks to hide from God in false religion, he is worse off than a person with no religion (Isa 28:14-20). But even here, the soul is not beyond the reach of omnipotent grace (Isa 28:16; Isa 28:20; Hos 4:17; Hos 11:8-9; Hos 13:4; Hos 13:9; Hos 13:12; Hos 13:14).<\/p>\n

O Lord Jesus, Great Deliverer, O Blessed Son of God, Almighty Saviour, if you are passing by, travelling in the greatness of your strength, come and show your mighty prowess. Turn aside, O Heavenly Samson, and rend the lion in this vineyard. If you have dipped your robes in the blood of your foes, come dye them all again with the blood of my cruel sins! If you have trodden the winepress of Jehovahs wrath, and crushed your enemies, here is another of the accursed crew. Come drag him out and crush him! Here is an Agag in my heart, come and hew him in pieces! Here is a Dagon in my soul, break, O break, his head and set me free from my old state of sin! Deliver me from my fierce enemy, and unto you alone shall be the praise, forever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Mat 12:29, Mar 3:27 <\/p>\n

Reciprocal: Pro 11:16 – and Isa 49:24 – prey Jer 31:11 – stronger Mat 12:44 – my Mar 5:9 – What Act 14:4 – the multitude Act 26:18 – and from Eph 2:2 – the spirit 2Ti 2:26 – who are<\/p>\n

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

THE STRONG MAN OVERCOME<\/p>\n

When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.<\/p>\n

Luk 11:21-22<\/p>\n

Satan is the strong man of whom our Lord speaks. Beelzebub the Jews called him, after the name of the god whom the Philistines of old time worshipped.<\/p>\n

I. He is armed and ready for his fell work of combat.His girdle is the lies with which he is so richly supplied and with which he furnishes himself for the fight. His breastplate, the wickedness in which he delights. His feet are shod with strife, which he would fain persuade men is their natural and normal condition in their intercourse one with another. His shield is doubt, with which he tries to stop the bright arrows of truth; his helmet is despair; and he flings the fiery darts of temptation with practised hand.<\/p>\n

II. The palace which he attacks is the heart of man, made so fair and beautiful by the Hand of the great Architect. And if Satan can once gain possession, he keeps it with what vigilance and skill he may. Many a prejudice against good does he set up as a bulwark. Many a flattery does he use to make his dominion secure. Why not do as others do? is an argument he finds very effective. And his goods are in peace; the voice of conscience is stilled. A deaf ear is turned to the whispers of the Holy Spirit of God. There is at last deep self-satisfaction, and a grievous insensibility to good.<\/p>\n

III. A stronger than he has come, and has conquered him. Vain were all the attacks of Satan against that stronger One, whether made directly or by means of human agents. And Christ, our victorious champion, has seized for Himself the spoil of Satan, the hearts which he thought that he had subjugated for ever to his sway. And just as surely as the Saviour with the finger of God, that is, with the slightest exertion of Divine power, cast out the evil spirits from those who were possessed, so surely can He deliver those who have subjected themselves to the dominion of Satan in any form, and been deceived by his wiles; provided only that they be willing to be rescued.<\/p>\n

Rev. R. M. Faithfull Davies.<\/p>\n

Illustration<\/p>\n

The glimpse which our Lords words give to us of the unseen world around us, and of the forces which continually seek to influence us to wrong-doing, should impress upon us the stern but happy necessity of taking our side, of standing forth boldly against the strong, in the might of the Stronger. Pledged by our Baptism, by our Confirmation, by each Communion that we make, to fight manfully against sin, the world, and devil, it may be that we have been slack in the combat, have parleyed with the enemy, have even yielded ourselves prisoners. Our Lord tells us plainly that a house divided against itself cannot stand; neither public nor private interests can prosper under such conditions.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

2<\/p>\n

See the comments on Mat 12:29.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

THE subject of these words of Christ is mysterious, but deeply important. They were spoken concerning Satan and his agency. They throw light on the power of Satan, and the nature of his operations. They deserve the close attention of all who would war the Christian warfare with success. Next to his friends and allies, a soldier ought to be well acquainted with his enemies. We ought not to be ignorant of Satan’s devices.<\/p>\n

Let us observe in these verses what a fearful picture our Lord draws of Satan’s power. There are four points in His description, which are peculiarly instructive.<\/p>\n

Christ speaks of Satan as a “strong man.” The strength of Satan has been only too well proved by his victories over the souls of men. He who tempted Adam and Eve to rebel against God, and brought sin into the world,-he who has led captive the vast majority of mankind, and robbed them of heaven; that evil one is indeed a mighty foe. He who is called the “Prince of this world,” is not an enemy to be despised. The devil is very strong.<\/p>\n

Christ speaks of Satan as a “strong man, armed.” Satan is well supplied with defensive armor. He is not to be overcome by slight assaults, and feeble exertions. He that would overcome him must put forth all his strength. “This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.”-And Satan is also well supplied with offensive weapons. He is never at a loss for means to injure the soul of man. He has snares of every kind, and engines of every description. He knows exactly how every rank, and class, and age, and nation, and people can be assailed with most advantage. The devil is well armed.<\/p>\n

Christ speaks of man’s heart as being Satan’s “palace.” The natural heart is the favorite abode of the evil one, and all its faculties and powers are his servants, and do his will. He sits upon the throne which God ought to occupy, and governs the inward man. The devil is the “spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Eph 2:2.)<\/p>\n

Christ speaks of Satan’s “goods being at peace.” So long as a man is dead in trespasses and sin, so long his heart is at ease about spiritual things. He has no fear about the future. He has no anxiety about his soul. He has no dread of falling into hell. All this is a false peace no doubt. It is a sleep which cannot last, and from which there must be one day an awful waking. But there is such a peace beyond question. Thoughtless, stolid, reckless insensibility about eternal things is one of the worst symptoms of the devil reigning over a man’s soul.<\/p>\n

Let us never think lightly of the devil. That common practice of idle jesting about Satan which we may often mark in the world, is a great evil. A prisoner must be a very hardened man who jests about the executioner and the gallows. The heart must be in a very bad state, when a man can talk with levity about hell and the devil.<\/p>\n

Let us thank God that there is One who is stronger even than Satan. That One is the Friend of sinners, Jesus the Son of God. Mighty as the devil is, he was overcome by Jesus on the cross, when He triumphed over him openly. Strong as the devil is, Christ can pluck his captives out of his hands, and break the chains which bind them. May we never rest till we know that deliverance by experience, and have been set free by the Son of God!<\/p>\n

Let us observe, for another thing, in these verses, how strongly our Lord teaches the impossibility of neutrality. He says, “he that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.”<\/p>\n

The principle laid down in these words should be constantly remembered by all who make any profession of decided religion. We all naturally love an easy Christianity. We dislike collisions and separation. We like, if possible, to keep in with both sides. We fear extremes. We dread being righteous overmuch. We are anxious not to go too far.-Such thoughts as these are full of peril to the soul. Once allowed to get the upper hand, they may do us immense harm. Nothing is so offensive to Christ as lukewarmness in religion. To be utterly dead and ignorant, is to be an object of pity as well as blame. But to know the truth and yet “halt between two opinions,” is one of the chiefest sins.<\/p>\n

Let it be the settled determination of our minds that we will serve Christ with all our hearts, if we serve Him at all. Let there be no reserve, no compromise, no half-heartedness, no attempt to reconcile God and mammon in our Christianity. Let us resolve, by God’s help, to be “with Christ,” and “gather” by Christ’s side, and allow the world to say and do what it will.-It may cost us something at first. It will certainly repay us in the long run. Without decision there is no happiness in religion. He that follows Jesus most fully, will always follow Him most comfortably.-Without decision in religion, there is no usefulness to others. The half-hearted Christian attracts none by the beauty of his life, and wins no respect from the world.<\/p>\n

Let us observe, finally, in these verses, how dangerous it is to be content with any change in religion short of thorough conversion to God. This is a truth which our Lord teaches by an awful picture of one from whom a devil has been cast forth, but into whose heart the Holy Spirit has not entered. He describes the evil spirit, after his expulsion, as seeking rest and finding none.-He describes him planning a return to the heart which he once inhabited, and carrying his plan into execution.-He describes him finding that heart empty of any good, and like a house “swept and garnished” for his reception.-He describes him as entering in once more, with seven spirits worse than himself, and once more making it his abode. And He winds up all by the solemn saying, “the last state of that man is worse than the first.”<\/p>\n

We must feel in reading these fearful words, that Jesus is speaking of things which we faintly comprehend. He is lifting a corner of the veil which hangs over the unseen world. His words, no doubt, illustrate the state of things which existed in the Jewish nation during the time of His own ministry. But the main lesson of his words, which concerns us, is the danger of our own individual souls. They are a solemn warning to us, never to be satisfied with religious reformation without heart conversion.<\/p>\n

There is no safety excepting in thorough Christianity. To lay aside open sin is nothing, unless grace reigns in our hearts. To cease to do evil is a small matter, if we do not also learn to do well.-The house must not only be swept and whitewashed. A new tenant must be introduced, or else the leprosy may yet appear again in the walls.-The outward life must not only be garnished with the formal trappings of religion. The power of vital religion must be experienced in the inward man.-The devil must not only be cast out. The Holy Ghost must take his place. Christ must dwell in our hearts by faith. We must not only be moralized, but spiritualized. We must not only be reformed, but born again.<\/p>\n

Let us lay these things to heart. Many professing Christians, it may be feared, are deceiving themselves. They are not what they once were, and so they flatter themselves, they are what they ought to be. They are no longer sabbath-breaking, daring sinners, and so they dream that they are Christians. They see not that they have only changed one kind of devil for another. They are governed by a decent, Pharisaic devil, instead of an audacious, riotous, unclean devil.-But the tenant within is the devil still. And their last end will be worse than their first. From such an end may we pray to be delivered! Whatever we are in religion, let us be thorough. Let us not be houses swept and garnished, but uninhabited by the Spirit. Let us not be potsherds covered with silver, fair without, but worthless within. Let our daily prayer be, “Search me, O God;-and see whether there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psa 139:24.)<\/p>\n

==================<\/p>\n

Notes-<\/p>\n

v21.-[A strong man.] The Greek expression so translated, would be more literally rendered “the strong one.” The word “man” is not in the Greek. The same remark applies to Mat 12:29, and Mar 3:27. The literal translation brings out the character of the devil, and the applicability of the whole passage to him with much force.<\/p>\n

[His goods.] The literal meaning of the Greek expression so translated is, “the things that are his,-that belong to him.”<\/p>\n

v22.-[A stronger than he.] This expression again would be more literally rendered, “the One stronger than he.” It evidently refers to our Lord, the great conqueror of Satan. There is a probable reference to Isa 53:12. John the Baptist calls our Lord “the mightier one,” in Mar 1:7, and Luk 3:16. In both these places the Greek is the same as it is here.<\/p>\n

[Divideth his spoils.] It admits of a question whether our Lord did not mean us to put a literal sense on these words, and to interpret them of that new application of man’s faculties and powers which He makes when He converts a soul. He takes possession of the affections and intellectual capacities, over which the devil once exercised dominion, and uses them for His own glory. Ford quotes a saying of Bishop Reynolds: “God maketh use of that art, wealth, power, learning, wisdom, intellect, which Satan used against Christ’s kingdom, as instruments and ornaments unto the Gospel; as, when a magazine in war is taken, the General makes use of those arms, which were provided against him, for his own service.”<\/p>\n

v23.-[He that is not with me is against me.] The application of this expression is differently interpreted by different commentators. Some think that it should be confined strictly to the subject of which our Lord is speaking,-that is, the utter division which exists between His kingdom and that of the devil. They think our Lord is enforcing the absurdity of the idea that He cast out devils by Beelzebub, and that His argument is, “There can be no alliance between me and Satan. He is not with me, and so he is against me. He is not gathering with me, and so he scatters.”-Others think that the expression is of much wider application, and that it is a general truth concerning all waverers, and doubters, and halfhearted, and excuse-making people, of whom no doubt there were many among our Lord’s hearers. They argue that our Lord is exposing the awful danger of many of His Jewish hearers, who had been a little roused by John the Baptist, and seemed likely to receive Christ when He appeared. And yet, when He did appear, they hung back and affected to be troubled with doubts, and so continued neutral and undecided.-This last opinion appears to me by far the most probable, and is confirmed by the passage which immediately follows. The sentence is directed against undecided Jews, who were like the man from whom the unclean spirit had gone forth. Their hesitating neutrality was a most dangerous position. Their last end was likely to be worse than their first.<\/p>\n

At first sight, it seems difficult to reconcile our Lord’s words in this verse with His words in another place. We find Him saying of one who cast out devils in His name, but did not follow His disciples, Forbid him not; for he that is not against us, is for us.” (Luk 9:50.) Here, however, we find Him saying, “He that is not with us, is against us.”<\/p>\n

The reconciliation of the two sentences in reality is not difficult. They were spoken of two entirely different classes of persons. In the former case, our Lord was speaking of one who was really working for Christ, and against the devil, and was doing good, though perhaps not in the wisest way. Of him He says, “He that is not against us, is for us.” He works against the same enemy that we work against, and therefore he is on our side.-In the case before us, our Lord is speaking of men who refused to join Him and become His disciples, who held aloof from Him, and were afraid or ashamed of His service. Of them He says, “He that is not with us is against us.” He does not avow himself our friend, and so he becomes practically one of our foes.<\/p>\n

v24.-[He walketh through dry places.] The expression translated “walketh,” is more frequently rendered, “passeth,” or “goeth through.” Let it be noted, that it is the “spirit,” and not the man, of whom this is said.-The expression, “dry places,” is a difficult one. The literal signification of the Greek words would be,-“places without water.” According to some, it means “uninhabited or wilderness-places,” where the devil finds no rest, finding no one to injure.-According to others it signifies the Gentiles, over whom Satan exercised special power before the Gospel was preached to them, and the heathen, over whom Satan specially reigns now.-Our inability to make out clearly the meaning of the expression, arises, in a great measure, from our ignorance of what is going on in the unseen world of spirits, both evil and good. To an immaterial creature, like a devil, the expression would probably be quite plain.<\/p>\n

[Seeking rest.] This is an awful expression! It shows the restless unwearied craving to do mischief, and inflict injury on God’s creatures, which seems at present a special attribute of the devil, during the period that he is permitted to do evil.<\/p>\n

[He saith, I will return unto my house.] This is another most awful expression. How many men and women are being daily watched by the devil, and mischief planned against them, while they, in their folly, never dream of what Satan is doing!<\/p>\n

v25.-[And when he cometh, he findeth.] Let it be carefully noted both here and in the following verse, that it is the evil spirit, and not the man, of whom these things are said. Literally translated, the Greek words should be, “When it cometh, it findeth, &c.”<\/p>\n

[Swept and garnished.] These expressions must of course be regarded as figurative. They are borrowed from the condition of a house, and applied to the state of a reformed, but unconverted, people or heart.<\/p>\n

Let it be remembered that there may be much moral cleanliness, and even much “garnishing,” about one who is unsanctified. There may be much that is fair to the eye, and yet no grace.<\/p>\n

v26.-[Seven other spirits.] The number seven is often used in Scripture proverbially, to denote great increase in number, or size, or quantity, or intensity. Thus, Psa 119:164; Pro 24:16; Mat 18:21; Dan 3:19.<\/p>\n

[Worse than himself.] This expression seems to denote that even among devils there are degrees of wickedness and malice.<\/p>\n

Just so there are degrees of glory in heaven, grace on earth, and punishment in hell.<\/p>\n

[Last state…worse than the first.] The Greek expressions so rendered mean literally “the last things,” and the “first things.”<\/p>\n

The tendency of a backslider, or a man who has at one time professed religion, but afterwards turned back to the world, to become worse than he ever was before, is a painful fact, but a notorious one.-The possession of clear knowledge of the Gospel, combined with deliberate choice of sin and the world, seems the parent of the most hardened state of soul to which mortal man can attain. Ford quotes a striking sentence from Cowper’s letters on this subject: “I have observed that when a man who once seemed a Christian has put off that character, and resumed his old one, he loses, together with the grace which he seemed to possess, the most amiable parts of the character that he resumes. The best features of his natural face seem to be struck out, that after having worn religion only as a mask, he may make a more disgusting appearance than he did before he assumed it.”<\/p>\n

The story of the unclean spirit in this passage admits of a threefold application. 1.-It describes the history of the Jewish nation before Christ came upon earth. For a time after the giving of the law they seemed better than the Gentiles, and like a house swept and garnished. But when they became proud, self-righteous, and unholy, the evil spirit returned to them. They were cast off by God, and given over to be oppressed and scattered by the Babylonians, Syrians, and the Romans. And forty years after our Lord was upon earth, their last state was worse than their first. 2.-It describes the history of the Gentile churches since the time when Christ was on earth. For many centuries they seemed like a house swept and garnished. The evil spirit seemed cast out. But in the vast majority of cases they have departed from their first things. The Spirit of God has left them. The evil spirit has returned. Their end seems likely to be worse than their beginning. 3.-Above all, the passage describes the state of individuals who are content with reformation without conversion. This is a sense which ought never to be lost sight of. Historical and prophetical interpretations are useful, but they must not be allowed to overlay and bury the lessons that concern each one of ourselves.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Ryle’s Expository Thoughts on the Gospels<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

Our Saviour having sufficiently shown that he did not work his miracles by the power of the devil, he next informs the Pharisees from whence he had that power, even from God himself; accordingly he compares Satan to a strong man armed with weapons to defend his house; and himself clothed with divine power, he compares to one that is stronger than the strong man. So that the argument runs thus: the devil is very strong and powerful, and there is no power but only God’s that is stronger than his: if, then says Christ, I were not assisted with a divine power, I could never cast out this strong man, who reigns in the bodies and souls of men, as in his house; for it must be a stronger than the strong man that shall bind Satan; and who is he but the God of strength? <\/p>\n

Learn thence, that only Christ’s divine power is superior to Satan’s strength: he only can vanquish and overrule him at his pleasure, and drive him out of that possession, which he holds either in the bodies or souls of men: The strong man armed keeps the house, till a stronger than he comes upon him, and overcomes him. When the unclean spirit goeth out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.<\/p>\n

Note here,<\/p>\n

1. That Satan is an unclean spirit, he hath lost his original purity, his holy nature in which he was created, and is by sin become universally sinful and impure; no means being allowed by God, for the purging of his filthy and impure nature; yea, he is a perfect enemy to purity and holiness; maligning all that love it, and would promote it.<\/p>\n

2. That Satan is a restless and unquiet spirit; being cast out of heaven, he can rest no where; when he is either gone out of a man by policy, or cast out by power, he has no content or satisfaction, until he returns into a filthy heart, where he delights to be, as the swine in miry places.<\/p>\n

3. That wicked and profane sinners have this unclean spirit dwelling in them: their hearts are Satan’s house and habitation, and the lusts of pride and unbelief, malice and revenge, envy and hypocrisy, these are the garnishings and furniture of Satan’s house. Man’s heart was God’s house by creation, it is now Satan’s by usurpation and judiciary tradition.<\/p>\n

4. That Satan by the preaching of the gospel, may seem to go out of persons, and they become sober and civilized; yet may he return again to his old habitation, and the latter end of that man be worse than the beginning.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his {e} palace, his goods are in peace:<\/p>\n

(e) The word properly signifies an open and empty room in front of a house, and so in translation is taken for noblemen’s houses.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n

The strong man in this parable is Satan, and the stronger man is Jesus. Satan had amassed much booty in terms of human captives and had kept these people imprisoned. Jesus had come, had attacked Satan in the instances of His exorcisms, and had overcome him. He had removed Satan’s defenses, namely, his demons, and had set free those whom he had taken captive.<\/p>\n

Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 21. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace ] The same metaphor is used of the Christian opposing Satan, as here of Satan opposing Christ, Eph 6:13. The world is here Satan’s palace (Joh 12:31; Joh 16:11) and men his possessions … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 11:21”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25408","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25408"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25408\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25408"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25408"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/bible-commentary\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25408"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}