Sacred Texts  Bible  Bible Commentary  Index 
Matthew Index
  Previous  Next 

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917], at sacred-texts.com


Matthew Chapter 7

Matthew 7:1

mat 7:1

judge not

In the sense of condemnation.

Matthew 7:21

mat 7:21

kingdom

(See Scofield) - (Mat 3:2).

Matthew 7:22

mat 7:22

Devils

devils, lit demons. To the reality and personality of demons the New Testament scriptures bear abundant testimony. As to their origin nothing is clearly revealed, but they are not to be confounded with the angels mentioned in (Pe2 2:4); (Jde 1:6).

Summary:

Demons are spirits (Mat 12:43); (Mat 12:45) are Satan's emissaries; (Mat 12:26-27); (Mat 25:41) and so numerous as to make Satan's power practically ubiquitous. (Mar 5:9).

They are capable of entering and controlling both men and beasts (Mar 5:8); (Mar 5:11-13) and earnestly seek embodiment, without which, apparently, they are powerless for evil. (Mat 12:43-44); (Mar 5:10-12).

Demon influence and demon possession are discriminated in the New Testament instances of the latter are; (Mat 4:24); (Mat 8:16); (Mat 8:28); (Mat 8:33); (Mat 9:32); (Mat 12:22); (Mar 1:32); (Mar 5:15-16); (Mar 5:18); (Luk 8:35); (Act 8:7); (Act 16:16).

They are unclean, sullen, violent, and malicious; (Mat 8:28); (Mat 9:23); (Mat 10:1); (Mat 12:43); (Mar 1:23); (Mar 5:3-5); (Mar 9:17); (Mar 9:20); (Luk 6:18); (Luk 9:39).

They know Jesus Christ as Most High God, and recognize His supreme authority; (Mat 8:31-32); (Mar 1:24); (Act 19:15); (Jam 2:19).

They know their eternal fate to be one of torment; (Mat 8:29); (Luk 8:31).

They inflict physical maladies; (Mat 12:22); (Mat 17:15-18); (Luk 13:16), but mental disease is to be distinguished from the disorder of mind due to demonical control.

Demon influence may manifest itself in religion asceticism and formalism (Ti1 4:1-3) degenerating into uncleanness (Pe2 2:10-12).

The sign of demon influence in religion is departing from the faith, that is, the body of revealed truth in the Scriptures. (Ti1 4:1).

The demons maintain especially a conflict with believers who would be spiritual. (Eph 6:12); (Ti1 4:1-3).

All unbelievers are open to demon possession (Eph 2:2). The believer's resources, prayer and bodily control (Mat 17:21) "the whole armour of God" (Eph 6:13-18).

Exorcism in the name of Jesus Christ (Act 16:18) was practised for demon possession.

One of the awful features of the apocalyptic judgments in which this age will end is an irruption of demons out the abyss. (Rev 9:1-11).

Matthew 7:23

mat 7:23

work iniquity

sin, lawlessness.

(See Scofield) - (Rom 3:23).


Next: Matthew Chapter 8