John Calvin Commentary Matthew 12:27

"And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges." — Matthew 12:27 (ASV)

By whom do your children cast them out? He charges them with making an unjust and malicious decision, because in the same situation they did not decide similarly, but according to how they felt towards the individuals. Now this inconsistency shows that their prevailing motive was not a concern for what is just and right, but blind love or hatred. It was even evidence of wicked self-love (φιλαυτίας) and envy to condemn in Christ what they praised in their own children.

Regarding your children, some understand this to mean the children of the whole nation. Some think that the Apostles are so called because they were acknowledged to be children, while Christ was treated as if he were a foreigner.¹²¹ Others refer it to the ancient Prophets. I have no doubt that he means the Exorcists, who were at that time generally employed among the Jews, as is evident from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 19:19). There is reason to believe that no greater kindness would be shown in judging the disciples of Christ than their Master. To apply these words to the dead is a forced interpretation, as they clearly indicate a comparison with the present time.

Indeed, there was no statute of the Law for having Exorcists among the Jews. However, we know that God, to maintain their faithfulness to His covenant and their purity of worship, often testified to His presence among them by a variety of miracles. It is even possible that there were persons who cast out devils by calling on the name of the Lord. The people, having experienced such a display of God’s power, rashly concluded that it was an ordinary office.¹²²

The Papists afterwards, resolving not to occupy a lower rank, imitated them by creating Exorcists; and in this way were apes of apes. Besides, it was not necessary for Christ to approve of those exorcisms to point out the malice of those who wished to have them regarded as sacred and authorized by the name of God, for the objection was, as we say, of a personal nature.¹²³

Therefore they shall judge concerning you. These words are not to be taken literally. The meaning is: “We do not need to go far to find your condemnation. You attribute to Beelzebub the miracles I have performed, and you praise the same things in your own children. You have at home what is sufficient to condemn you.”

But if anyone prefers to understand them differently, as reproaching them with the grace of God, which was sometimes exhibited through the Exorcists, I do not greatly object to that view. Though they were greatly degenerated, yet the Lord was pleased not to leave them altogether without evidences of His power, so that there might be some testimony to authorize the priesthood in general and the service of the temple; for it was of the highest importance that there should be clear signs to distinguish them from the superstitions of the Gentiles. I regard the former view, however, as the natural one.

¹²¹ “Et cependant les scribes tenoyent Christ pour estranger;” — “and yet the scribes held Christ to be a foreigner.”;” — “and yet the scribes held Christ to be a foreigner.”

¹²² “Le peuple en a fait un office ordinaire sans regarder comment;”— “the people made it to be an ordinary office, without considering in what manner.”;”— “the people made it to be an ordinary office, without considering in what manner.”

¹²³ “Car l’objection s’addresse a la personne, comme on dit, et non pas a la chose: c’est a dire, Christ ne regarde point ce qu’a la verite il falloit dire de ces Exorcistes, mais ce qu’en pensoyent les scribes;” — “for the objection is addressed to the person, as we say, and not to the thing: that is to say, Christ does not consider what in truth ought to be said of these Exorcists, but what the Jews thought of them.”;” — “for the objection is addressed to the person, as we say, and not to the thing: that is to say, Christ does not consider what in truth ought to be said of these Exorcists, but what the Jews thought of them.”