Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 12:29

"Or how can one enter into the house of the strong [man,] and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong [man]? and then he will spoil his house." — Matthew 12:29 (ASV)

Jesus now asks the Pharisees to look at this through a parable. Jewish expectation looked forward to the binding of Satan in the Messianic Age; under this metaphor Jesus is the one who ties up the strong man (Satan) and carries off his “possessions.” The argument has thus advanced: if Jesus’ exorcisms cannot be attributed to Satan (vv.25–26), then they reflect authority greater than that of Satan. By this greater power Jesus is binding “the strong man” and plundering his “house.” So the kingdom of heaven is forcefully advancing .