is to give food to a hungry child. And this is the advantage of the prayer of faith, that it quiets and
establishes the heart in God.
Verses 14–26
Christ's thus casting out the devils, was really the destroying of their power. The heart of every
unconverted sinner is the devil's palace, where he dwells, and where he rules. There is a kind of
peace in the heart of an unconverted soul, while the devil, as a strong man armed, keeps it. The
sinner is secure, has no doubt concerning the goodness of his state, nor any dread of the judgment
to come. But observe the wonderful change made in conversion. The conversion of a soul to God,
is Christ's victory over the devil and his power in that soul, restoring the soul to its liberty, and
recovering his own interest in it and power over it. All the endowments of mind of body are now
employed for Christ. Here is the condition of a hypocrite. The house is swept from common sins,
by a forced confession, as Pharaoh's; by a feigned contrition, as Ahab's; or by a partial reformation,
as Herod's. The house is swept, but it is not washed; the heart is not made holy. Sweeping takes
off only the loose dirt, while the sin that besets the sinner, the beloved sin, is untouched. The house
is garnished with common gifts and graces. It is not furnished with any true grace; it is all paint
and varnish, not real nor lasting. It was never given up to Christ, nor dwelt in by the Spirit. Let us
take heed of resting in that which a man may have, and yet come short of heaven. The wicked
spirits enter in without any difficulty; they are welcomed, and they dwell there; there they work,
there they rule. From such an awful state let all earnestly pray to be delivered.
Verses 27 , 28
While the scribes and Pharisees despised and blasphemed the discourses of our Lord Jesus, this
good woman admired them, and the wisdom and power with which he spake. Christ led the woman
to a higher consideration. Though it is a great privilege to hear the word of God, yet those only are
truly blessed, that is, blessed of the Lord, that hear it, keep it in memory, and keep to it as their way
and rule.
Verses 29–36
Christ promised that there should be one sign more given, even the sign of Jonah the prophet;
which in Matthew is explained, as meaning the resurrection of Christ; and he warned them to
improve this sign. But though Christ himself were the constant preacher in any congregation, and
worked miracles daily among them, yet unless his grace humbled their hearts, they would not profit
by his word. Let us not desire more evidence and fuller teaching than the Lord is pleased to afford
us. We should pray without ceasing that our hearts and understandings may be opened, that we
may profit by the light we enjoy. And especially take heed that the light which is in us be not
darkness; for if our leading principles be wrong, our judgment and practice must become more so.
Verses 37–54