Matthew 12:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After the first answer, He comes to a second more plain than the first, saying, And if I by Beelzebub cast out dæmons, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges.

He states, "If I drive out demons by the authority of God, I am the Son of God, sent for your benefit, to bring you healing, so that my arrival, represented by the kingdom of God, may 'come to you.' Why then do you speak ill of my presence, which has occurred for your benefit?"

Whence the sense might be this, If I by Beelzebub vast out dæmons, then, according to your own opinion, the kingdom of God is come upon you, for the kingdom of the Devil, being thus divided against itself, cannot stand. Thus calling that the kingdom of God, in which the wicked are condemned, and are separated from the faithful, who are now doing penitence for their sins.

He alludes, as is His manner, under the name children of the Jews, either to the exorcists of that race, or to the Apostles who are by race of that nation. If He means the exorcists who by the invocation of God cast out dæmons, He thus constrains the Pharisees by a wise enquiry to confess that their work was of the Holy Spirit. If, He would say, the casting out of the dæmons by your children is imputed to God, and not to dæmons, why should the same work wrought by Me not have the same cause? Therefore shall they be your judges, not by authority but by comparison, they ascribe the casting out of the dæmons to God, you to the Prince of the dæmons. But if it is of the Apostles also that this is said, (and so we should rather take it,) then they shall be their judges, for they shall sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Demons are expelled by the finger of God (Luke 11:20) or, as stated by Matthew, through the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28). This clearly indicates that the kingdom of God is united, akin to a single body; Christ represents the right hand of God, while the Spirit symbolizes the finger, reflecting the unity of the divine essence manifested in the form of a body. If the kingdom can be likened to a body, its indivisibility becomes evident. We read that in Christ, the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily (Col. 2:9). This truth applies equally to both the Father and the Spirit. However, do not misunderstand this comparison to suggest a division in divine power; what is indivisible cannot be fragmented. Thus, the reference to the finger signifies unity rather than a partition of power.

While the other Gospel writers indicated, “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God,” Luke articulated it as, “But if I cast out demons by the finger of God” (Luke 11:20). The "finger of God" refers to the Holy Spirit. By demonstrating that He does not expel demons through the authority of Beelzebub, He also reveals that He drives them out by the Spirit of God. Here, the Spirit of God is associated with the power of God; thus, Luke refers to it as the finger of God, which signifies His hand, representing His divine authority. When He states that if He casts out demons by God's power—not merely as a mortal, but truly as the Son of God—it clearly indicates that the kingdom of God has come upon you.

And they are worthily appointed judges over them, to whom Christ is found to have given that power over the dæmons, which it was denied that He had.

Or, because the Apostles well knew within their own conscience that they had learnt no evil art from Him.

Once again, as one empowered to liberate individuals from demonic forces through the Spirit, Christ wields this authority within the family of God. If the work of the Spirit signifies the reign of God, we must clearly reject the notion that the Spirit originates from the fallen creation to establish this divine kingdom. If the work of the Spirit embodies the kingdom of God, we cannot entertain the idea that the Spirit connects to the Godhead through the creature in bondage to the administration of this kingdom.

If I expel demons by the Spirit of God, not merely as a human but with the authority of the Son of God, then it is evident that the kingdom of God is among you. St. Chrysostom observes that the Lord refrains from explicitly stating, “I have come,” to prevent inciting their animosity; instead, He subtly indicates through the phrase, “the Kingdom of God has come to you,” signaling the arrival of a time of joy for you.

The miraculous healing of the blind man possessed by demons created a profound impact on the crowd, leading them to ponder, 'Could the one who healed him be the Messiah?' This sentiment was surely displeasing to Jesus' adversaries, the scribes and Pharisees. Nonetheless, it was evident to everyone that the healing was an act of divine intervention. In an attempt to misconstrue this miracle, they claimed that Jesus had expelled demons through the power of Beelzebub, the leader of demons. To counter such accusations, Christ presented two arguments: First, if He cast out demons by Beelzebub’s power, it would indicate that Satan was opposing himself, which is nonsensical because in that case, Satan’s kingdom could not endure (25-26).

Matthew records, if I am the Spirit of God... and the Evangelist Luke states, if I am the finger of God... (Luke 11:20), indicating that the expulsion of demons is an act of unparalleled authority and extraordinary grace. He did not merely declare that the kingdom of God has arrived... the kingdom of God, but emphasized, ‘unto you’. So, why do you not find joy in the blessings bestowed upon you? Why do you prepare yourselves against your salvation? Look, now is the time spoken of by the prophets. This serves as the evidence of their anticipated arrival: demons are cast out by divine might.

Through the Spirit of God: by the divine power and gifts of the Holy Spirit that were bestowed upon Him at His baptism, although as the eternal Son of God He shares the same essence and eternity with the Holy Spirit and the Father. The message that ‘the kingdom of God has come upon you’ signifies that the kingdom of the Messiah has arrived among them; they could realize, if they desired, that the Messiah is present, for through His miraculous works He affirmed His identity as the Messiah. Wherever the Messiah is revealed and actively engaged, His kingdom is already present, albeit not in its complete realization, but in its unfolding in time.

The astounding acts of Christ serve as a definitive indication of the approaching Kingdom of God. When I, empowered by the Spirit of God, or as stated in Luke, by the finger of God, expel evil spirits, it signals the restoration of the Kingdom of God among you. The contrast between the phrases used by the Evangelists Matthew and Luke, along with the interpretations of the holy Fathers, makes it clear that the "finger of God" refers to the Holy Spirit. As noted by St. Athanasius of Alexandria, "the Giver of the Spirit declares that He casts out demons through the Spirit," which must be understood in light of His humanity—meaning He expels demons by the Spirit as a man.