Luke 11:14-23 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And he was casting out a devil See on Matthew 9:32-34; and Matthew 12:22-23. Some said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub These he answers, Luke 11:17. Others, to try whether it were so or not, sought a sign from heaven These he reproves, in the 29th and following verses. Beelzebub signifies the lord of flies, a title which the heathen gave to Jupiter, whom they accounted the chief of their gods, and yet supposed him to be employed in driving away flies from their temples and sacrifices. The Philistines worshipped a deity under this name as the god of Ekron: from hence the Jews took the name, and applied it to the chief of the devils. He, knowing their thoughts, &c. See this whole paragraph explained, on Matthew 12:25-30. A house divided against a house That is, one part of a family divided against, and contending with, an other part, falleth, cometh to inevitable ruin. If I cast out devils by the finger of God That is, by a power manifestly divine. Perhaps the expression intimates further that it was done without any labour: no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you Unawares, unexpectedly; so the expression, εφθασεν εφ ' υμας, implies. When a strong man armed Alluding to Satan, strong in himself, and armed with the pride, obstinacy, and security of him in whom he dwells.