Luke 11:20

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) If I with the finger of God . . .—Note the substitution of this language for “by the Spirit of God,” in Matthew 12:28, and its connection with the use by the older prophets of “the hand of the Lord,” to indicate the state which issued in prophetic inspiration (Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 37:1), and with “the finger of God” as writing the Commandments on the tables of stone (Exodus 31:18), and Pharaoh’s confession that “the finger of God” was with Moses and Aaron in the wonders which they wrought (Exodus 8:19). The meaning of this boldly anthropomorphic language is sufficiently obvious. As the “hand” denotes power generally, so the “finger” symbolises power in its concentrated and specially-directed energy.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:14-26 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 12:22-30.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. the finger of God—"the Spirit of God" (Mt 12:28); the former figuratively denoting the power of God, the latter the living Personal Agent in every exercise of it.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 11:18"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But if I with the, finger of God,.... The power of God, referring to Exodus 8:19 and so the Cabalistic Jews (r) explain it,

"the finger is one of the five in the hand, and is that finger which works by the power of Elohim;''

it is the same with the Spirit of God; See Gill on Matthew 12:28 which is often called the hand of the Lord, Ezekiel 1:3.

(r) R. Mosch in Sepher Hashem, apud Cabal. Denudata. T. I. par. l. p. 146.

Geneva Study Bible

But if I with the {d} finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

(d) That is, by the power of God: so it says in Geneva Ex 8:19.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 11:20. ἐν δακτύλῳ Θεοῦ: instead of Mt.’s ἐν πνεύματι Θεοῦ, which is doubtless the original expression, being more appropriate to the connection of thought. Lk.’s expression emphasises the immediateness of the Divine action through Jesus, in accordance with his habit of giving prominence to the miraculousness of Christ’s healing acts. But the question was not as to the fact, but as to the moral quality of the miracle. The phrase recalls Exodus 8:9.—ἔφθασεν: φθάνω in classics means to anticipate, in later Greek to reach, the idea of priority being dropped out.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

20. with the finger of God] “Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God” Exodus 8:19.

is come upon you] The word and tense imply suddenness and surprise.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 11:20. Δακτύλῳ, with the finger) by a power manifestly divine, and without any difficulty. Comp. Exodus 8:19.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. Here Jesus points to a fact well known and thoroughly established. There was no question here; the most obstinate cases of possession had yielded to that "finger" be spoke of here; the fiercest of the, alas! (then) great company of the insane, at the bidding of that quiet, humble Rabbi, for ever shook off the spirit of madness, in whatever form of terrible possession it had been dwelling in his body. There was no question here; the only point raised by his enemies how had that quiet Rabbi done these strange, mighty works - Jesus had answered; and now draws a picture of one of these acts of his. The "finger of God" in St. Matthew, where the same or a similar discourse is related, is called the "Spirit of God." The expression is strange, but is one not unusual in ancient Hebrew phraseology. So the Egyptian magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19). The ten commandments are described as written on the two tables of stone with the "finger of God." "You have seen by what power the devils obey me; yea, the kingdom of God, for which you are waiting and looking, lo, it is come upon you." Luke 11:20

Vincent's Word Studies

Is come upon you

See on Matthew 12:28.

Luke 11:20Is come upon you

See on Matthew 12:28.