One possessed with a devil, blind and dumb.
I. What kind of power satan still exercises generally over mankind.
II. All who apply to, Jesus shall surely obtain deliverance.
III. On this deliverance an experience of Christ’s mercy will excite our admiration and confirm our faith. (W. P. Wait, M. A.)
I. A miracle of singular power and mercy.
II. The effect produced by this miracle on the minds of the people-“They were amazed,” etc.
III. The impious calumnies of the enemies of Christ. This charge displayed their malignity. There are two principles involved in our Lord’s reply.
1. That the power of Christ is greater than that of all the powers of darkness.
2. That the manifestation of His superior power establishes His claims as the Author of the new dispensation-“Then the kingdom of God is come unto you.”
IV. To awake salutary self-inspection the redeemer uttered the solemn admonition respecting the danger of neutrality and indecision in reference to his claims.
1. The danger of an undecided state.
2. Adore the gracious power of Christ.
3. Rejoice in the service and cause of Christ.
4. Dread the thought of being found amongst the enemies of Christ. (J. Fletcher.)
Christ and the Pharisees
I. The good man’s relation to the world of want.
1. The good man is approachable.
2. He is sympathetic.
3. He is unostentatious.
II. The devil’s relation to good men. How did these Devil’s men use Christ?
1. They resorted to personal abuse-“This fellow.”
2. They ignored the value of the greatest blessings.
3. They insulted the plainest common-sense.
4. They attempted to trace good results to a bad cause.
5. They falsified the deepest and truest instincts of human nature. (J. Parker.)