John Calvin Commentary Matthew 12:24

"But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub the prince of the demons." — Matthew 12:24 (ASV)

But when the Pharisees heard it. The scribes cannot withhold acknowledgment of a fact so open and manifest, and yet they maliciously find fault¹⁰⁵ at what Christ did by Divine power. Not only do they obscure the praise for the miracle, but they endeavor to turn it into a reproach, as if it were performed by magical enchantment; and that work, which could not be ascribed to a human, is alleged by them to have the devil as its author. I have spoken of the word Beelzebub in the Tenth Chapter,¹⁰⁶ and I have said a little about the prince of the devils in the Ninth Chapter.¹⁰⁷ The opinion expressed by the scribes, that there is a prince among wicked spirits, did not arise from a mistake of the common people, or from supposition, but from a conviction held by the godly, that the reprobate have a head, just as Christ is the Head of the Church.

¹⁰⁵ “Ils ne laissent pas toutesfois de ronger, comme par despit et d’un vouloir malicieux;” — “and yet they do not fail to carp as with spite, and with a wicked disposition.”;” — “and yet they do not fail to carp as with spite, and with a wicked disposition.”

¹⁰⁶ Harmony, volume 1. p. 459..

¹⁰⁷ Harmony, volume 1: p. 419. The reader must have observed that, when our Author has explained a phrase or illustrated a fact, he seldom repeats what he had said, but refers to the earlier portions of his work, in which the information may be found. It is not improbable that this may have been his leading motive for adopting the plan of a . The reader must have observed that, when our Author has explained a phrase or illustrated a fact, he seldom repeats what he had said, but refers to the earlier portions of his work, in which the information may be found. It is not improbable that this may have been his leading motive for adopting the plan of a Harmony, instead of writing a separate Commentary on each Gospel. He had made some observations on instead of writing a separate Commentary on each Gospel. He had made some observations on Matthew 9:34, , But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils by the prince of the devils; and takes for granted, that the terms which occur in that passage require no farther elucidation. But it would appear to have escaped his recollection that, on the occasion alluded to, he satisfied himself with general remarks on the “wicked slander” of the Pharisees, and took no notice of the phrase, and takes for granted, that the terms which occur in that passage require no farther elucidation. But it would appear to have escaped his recollection that, on the occasion alluded to, he satisfied himself with general remarks on the “wicked slander” of the Pharisees, and took no notice of the phrase, prince of the devils. The deficiency is partly supplied by an explanation which he now makes. -- The deficiency is partly supplied by an explanation which he now makes. -- Ed.