Matthew 12:29 kjv
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Matthew 12:29 nkjv
Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
Matthew 12:29 niv
"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
Matthew 12:29 esv
Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Matthew 12:29 nlt
For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger ? someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.
Matthew 12 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 3:27 | "But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man..." | Parallel account, highlighting Jesus' power over evil. |
| Lk 11:21-22 | "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe... But when one stronger than he attacks him... carries off his spoil." | Parallel account; Jesus as the "stronger" one. |
| Is 49:24-25 | "Can plunder be taken from the mighty... But thus says the LORD: 'Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued...'" | Old Testament precedent for plundering the powerful. |
| Col 2:15 | "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." | Jesus' ultimate victory over spiritual powers. |
| Jn 12:31 | "Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out." | Jesus' mission involves overthrowing Satan's reign. |
| Heb 2:14 | "...He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil..." | Jesus defeats the devil's power through His death. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | "...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." | Jesus' purpose: dismantle the devil's work. |
| Rev 20:1-3 | "Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven... He seized the dragon... and bound him for a thousand years..." | Future prophetic binding of Satan, signifying his defeat. |
| Rev 20:10 | "...And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur..." | Ultimate fate of Satan. |
| Mt 8:16 | "That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word..." | Jesus' authority over demons through simple command. |
| Lk 4:18-19 | "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor... to set at liberty those who are oppressed..." | Jesus' anointed mission includes liberating the oppressed. |
| Acts 10:38 | "...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil..." | Jesus' ministry as a demonstration of God's power over evil. |
| Acts 26:18 | "...to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God..." | Transfer of individuals from Satan's dominion to God's. |
| Col 1:13 | "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son..." | God's deliverance of believers from Satan's power. |
| Rom 16:20 | "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." | God's final victory over Satan involving His people. |
| Lk 10:17-18 | "The seventy-two returned with joy... saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!' He said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.'" | Jesus grants authority over demons to His disciples. |
| 2 Cor 10:4 | "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." | Believers' spiritual weapons against spiritual powers. |
| Mt 4:1-11 | Jesus' temptation in the wilderness and triumph over Satan's direct attacks. | Jesus' initial triumph over Satan's temptations. |
| Eph 6:12 | "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness..." | The spiritual nature of the ongoing battle against evil. |
| Mk 1:27 | "...He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." | Recognition of Jesus' unique authority over spirits. |
| Rev 12:7-9 | The spiritual war in heaven where Michael casts Satan and his angels to earth. | Origin of Satan's defeated status. |
| Zec 3:1-5 | Vision of Joshua the high priest being rescued from Satan's accusations and given clean garments. | Prophetic imagery of snatching individuals from Satan's grasp. |
| Lk 11:17-20 | Jesus' previous argument that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, concluding His power is by the finger of God. | Immediately preceding context: Kingdom of God vs. kingdom of Satan. |
| Gen 3:15 | "He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." | Protoevangelium foreshadowing ultimate victory over Satan. |
Matthew 12 verses
Matthew 12 29 Meaning
Matthew 12:29 explains how Jesus, through His exorcisms, demonstrated that the Kingdom of God was breaking into the world. He uses a vivid parable of a "strong man" (Satan) whose "house" (his domain, the world under his sway, and the people he holds captive) cannot be plundered or robbed of its "goods" (people oppressed by him) unless the "strong man" himself is first bound or rendered powerless. Jesus, by casting out demons, proves He is the "stronger man" who has entered Satan's domain, bound him by His divine authority, and is now rescuing souls, thereby plundering his spiritual household. This signifies Jesus' direct conflict with and triumph over the forces of evil, revealing the divine source of His power.
Matthew 12 29 Context
Matthew 12:29 is part of Jesus' response to the Pharisees' blasphemous accusation that He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Mt 12:22-24). Earlier, Jesus had just performed a remarkable exorcism, healing a blind and mute man who was oppressed by a demon, which astonished the crowds. Instead of marveling at God's power, the Pharisees, in their hardened opposition, attributed Jesus' miraculous works to Satan. In verses 25-28, Jesus refuted their accusation by showing the absurdity of Satan fighting himself (a house divided against itself cannot stand) and by logically explaining that if He casts out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has indeed come upon them. Verse 29 provides a concrete illustration, drawing an analogy from everyday life: to seize another's possessions, one must first overcome the one who owns and defends them. This analogy serves to clarify that His successful expulsion of demons is direct proof of His superior power over Satan, making Him the victorious invader of Satan's dominion.
Matthew 12 29 Word analysis
- Or else: (Ἢ πῶς - Ē pōs) Functions as an interrogative asking, "How can one possibly...?" or "Otherwise, how...?" It sets up a rhetorical question, indicating the impossibility of the desired action without the stated prerequisite.
- how: Reinforces the rhetorical question, demanding an explanation or challenging the underlying assumption.
- can one: (δύναται τις - dynatai tis) Refers to a generic "one" or "anyone," establishing a general principle. In this context, the "one" is Jesus, the stronger one.
- enter: (εἰσελθὼν - eiselthōn) Implies intentional entry and active engagement. It's not passive observation but an invasion. This points to Jesus actively confronting and penetrating Satan's sphere.
- a strong man's: (τοῦ ἰσχυροῦ - tou ischyrou) "The strong one," an epithet for Satan. He is mighty in his realm, hence the challenge. The Greek article "the" points to a specific, well-known "strong man" in their spiritual understanding.
- house: (οἰκίαν - oikian) Refers to the "strong man's" domain or dwelling, symbolizing Satan's kingdom, the world system, and humanity enslaved by sin and demonic influence.
- and plunder: (διαρπάσαι - diarpasai) To pillage, to carry off as spoil or prey. It's a forceful act of taking something by force. This signifies Jesus' act of liberating souls from Satan's grasp.
- his goods: (τὰ σκεύη - ta skeue) Literally "vessels," "furniture," or "equipment." Metaphorically, these are Satan's possessions or captives—those under his dominion, oppressed by demons, or spiritually enslaved. Jesus is taking back what Satan has held.
- unless he first: (ἐὰν μὴ πρῶτον - ean mē prōton) Emphasizes a necessary precondition. The act of binding must precede the plundering. This highlights the order of operations in spiritual warfare and conquest.
- bind: (δήσῃ - dēsē) To tie, shackle, restrain, or render powerless. This indicates a definitive act of exercising superior authority and power to incapacitate the "strong man," Satan. It refers to Jesus' authority over demonic forces.
- the strong man: (τὸν ἰσχυρόν - ton ischyron) Repetition reinforces the target of the binding—Satan himself.
- and then: (καὶ τότε - kai tote) Indicates a consequence or subsequent action that is only possible after the initial act of binding.
- he will plunder his house: The guaranteed outcome. Once Satan is bound, Jesus is free to liberate those he held captive, demonstrating the active inauguration of the Kingdom of God.
- Words-group: "enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods": This phrase encapsulates the mission of Jesus: to invade the enemy's territory and reclaim what belongs to God. It highlights that the liberation of individuals from demonic oppression is a direct assault on Satan's kingdom.
- Words-group: "unless he first bind the strong man": This phrase explains the method and source of authority. Jesus' power to cast out demons is not due to cooperation with Satan, but because He has already demonstrated superior power over Satan, having effectively "bound" him, thereby disabling his hold over people. This binding refers to the inauguration of God's Kingdom in which Satan's full power is broken.
Matthew 12 29 Bonus section
This verse subtly introduces a concept foundational to understanding Jesus' ministry: the ongoing spiritual conflict and Jesus' role as the victorious warrior. The "binding" is not just about isolated acts of exorcism, but a decisive spiritual assault on Satan's kingdom that commenced with Jesus' public ministry. Scholars often point to Jesus' temptation in the wilderness (Mt 4:1-11) as an initial, critical moment of binding the "strong man," where He utterly defeated Satan's direct assaults by obedience and relying on Scripture. The parables of the kingdom often imply this struggle. Furthermore, this verse sets the stage for the progressive diminishing of Satan's power until his final, eternal defeat at the end of the age. It provides comfort and assurance to believers that Jesus has indeed triumphed over the forces of darkness, giving them the authority to participate in "plundering" Satan's house through evangelism and spiritual liberation.
Matthew 12 29 Commentary
Matthew 12:29 is Jesus' powerful answer to the absurd charge of the Pharisees that He casts out demons by Beelzebul. He employs a common-sense analogy to illustrate a profound spiritual truth. No thief can rob a well-guarded house without first subduing its formidable owner. Similarly, Jesus' ability to liberate individuals from demonic oppression directly proves that He possesses authority and power superior to Satan. His exorcisms are not acts of Satanic alliance but decisive attacks on Satan's kingdom. The "strong man" is Satan, whose "house" represents his domain of influence and the people held captive by him (his "goods"). By "binding" Satan, Jesus refers to the initial, decisive victory He gained over the devil, particularly evident in His successful temptation in the wilderness and the consistent expelling of demons throughout His ministry. This "binding" means rendering Satan's power ineffective in preventing the rescue of his captives. It is not Satan's ultimate and final incarceration (which is still future), but rather his defeat in a way that allows Jesus to reclaim those whom he has enslaved. Jesus is the stronger One who has entered the "strong man's" house, overcome him, and now takes His "goods" back—that is, delivering souls and establishing the Kingdom of God. Every deliverance from demonic power is evidence that God's kingdom has arrived, demonstrating Jesus' sovereign authority over evil.