Or else, how can anyone enter into a strong man's
house,
&c.] This is another argument of Christ's proving that his
casting out of devils could not be by Satan, but by the Spirit of
God; for if he did not act by any superior power to Satan's, and
such by which he was able to master, overcome, and bind him, he
could never
spoil his goods,
as he did; or dispossess devils out of the bodies or souls of
men: just as if a man should enter into another man's house, who
is strong and robust, with a design to spoil his goods, who would
never make use of the man himself to do it, and can never be
thought to effect it, unless he has a power superior to his, and
uses it;
except he first bind the strong man, and then he will spoil
his
house:
by the "strong man", is meant the devil, see ( Isaiah 49:24
Isaiah
49:25 ) who is powerful and mighty, as appears from his
nature, being an angel, though a fallen one, excelling in
strength human creatures; from his names, such as the roaring
lion, the great red dragon, leviathan from the extent of his
dominion, here called "his house"; which reaches to the whole
posse of devils, and world of men; whence he is called the prince
of the power of the air, and the prince of this world, and the
god of it; and from his works and actions, in and over the bodies
and estates of men, by divine permission; which might be
exemplified in the case of Job, and the demoniacs in the time of
Christ; and in and over the souls of men, not only over wicked
men, but men under a show of religion, as antichrist and his
followers; yea, saints themselves, and even over Adam in a state
of innocence; but Christ is stronger than he, and attacked him,
and dispossessed him of the bodies of men; and restraining him
from doing them any hurt, enters into the souls of men, dethrone
him, and leads him captive, who led others; and keeps him from
doing them any damage; as he will in the latter day "bind" him
and shut him up in prison a thousand years; and also "spoils his
goods", or "vessels", and "his house"; the palace of Satan, by
taking bodies and souls out of his possession; by awakening the
conscience, enlightening the mind, working upon the affections,
subduing the will, and implanting principles of grace and
holiness in the heart; and so making it a fit habitation for God,
which spoils it for the devil: in all which, Satan can never be
thought to have any hand; and therefore the suggestion that
Christ casts out devils by his assistance, even out of the bodies
of men, has no show of reason in it.
