Matthew 7:22 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

In that day— That is, the day of judgment so called by way of eminence. Instead of devils, Dr. Heylin reads daemons; for as an evil spirit is called by two different names in the original; namely διαβολος, where it is spoken of as the tempter or accuser of mankind, and διαμων, where bodily possessions are spoken of, it would be proper to render the first by devil, and the second by daemon. There certainly is a material difference, though we can give no satisfactory account of it. Have we not prophesied, in this place, means preached; and indeed they are often synonymous terms in the New Testament. Bad men, on some occasions, have, in the wisdom of Providence, been commissioned by God to signify his pleasure, and have been furnished with powers to prove their commission; witness Judas Iscariot, who was admitted into the college of apostles by our Lord himself. Prophesying and preaching, ejecting of devils, and other miracles are mentioned, to shew that no gift, endowment, or accomplishment whatsoever, without faith and holiness, will avail with God;—a caution very proper at all times, and particularly in those days, when the gifts of the Spirit were to be bestowed in such plenty on those who made profession of Christianity. See Macknight and Calmet.