Matthew 12:25
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
Knowing their thoughts
This phrase highlights Jesus' divine omniscience. The Greek word for "knowing" is "εἰδώς" (eidōs), which implies a deep, intuitive understanding. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, perceives the inner thoughts and intentions of the heart, a characteristic attributed to God alone (1 Samuel 16:7). This insight into human nature underscores His authority and divinity, reminding us that nothing is hidden from God’s sight.

Jesus said to them
Here, Jesus directly addresses the Pharisees, who were questioning His authority and power. The act of speaking is significant in biblical terms, as God's word is powerful and creative (Genesis 1). Jesus' words are not just responses but authoritative declarations that reveal truth and challenge falsehood.

Every kingdom divided against itself
The term "kingdom" (Greek: "βασιλεία" - basileia) refers to a realm or domain under a sovereign rule. Historically, kingdoms that experienced internal strife often faced downfall, as seen in the divided kingdom of Israel after Solomon's reign (1 Kings 12). This principle of unity is crucial for the survival and prosperity of any nation or organization.

will be laid waste
The phrase "laid waste" (Greek: "ἐρημοῦται" - erēmoutai) suggests desolation and ruin. It conveys the inevitable consequence of division, emphasizing the destructive power of discord. This serves as a warning that internal conflict leads to devastation, a truth applicable to both spiritual and earthly realms.

and every city or household divided against itself
The inclusion of "city" and "household" broadens the scope from political entities to personal and communal relationships. The Greek word for "household" is "οἰκία" (oikia), which can mean both a physical house and a family unit. This illustrates that the principle of unity is essential at all levels of society, from the smallest family unit to the largest empire.

will not stand
The phrase "will not stand" (Greek: "οὐ σταθήσεται" - ou stathēsetai) indicates instability and collapse. In biblical terms, to "stand" often means to endure or remain firm (Ephesians 6:13). This serves as a call to unity and harmony, reflecting the biblical ideal that strength and endurance come from being united in purpose and spirit.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees and the crowd. He is responding to their thoughts and accusations with divine insight.

2. Pharisees
A religious group in Judaism known for strict adherence to the Law. They are often depicted as opposing Jesus and His teachings.

3. Crowd
The people who were present during Jesus' ministry, witnessing His miracles and teachings.

4. Kingdoms, Cities, Households
These are metaphors used by Jesus to illustrate the principle of unity and division. They represent different levels of societal and relational structures.

5. Event
This teaching occurs in the context of Jesus being accused by the Pharisees of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.
Teaching Points
Unity is Essential for Stability
Jesus emphasizes that division leads to destruction. Whether in a kingdom, city, or household, unity is crucial for stability and success.

Spiritual Insight and Discernment
Jesus knew the thoughts of the Pharisees, highlighting the importance of spiritual discernment. Believers are encouraged to seek wisdom and understanding through the Holy Spirit.

Guard Against Division
In families, churches, and communities, believers should actively work to prevent division by fostering love, communication, and reconciliation.

The Power of Jesus' Authority
Jesus demonstrates His authority not only over physical ailments and demons but also over the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Recognizing His authority should lead to trust and obedience.

Reflect on Personal and Communal Unity
Believers should examine their own lives and communities for areas of division and seek to address them in a Christ-like manner.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Jesus' response to the Pharisees in Matthew 12:25 challenge us to think about unity in our own lives and communities?

2. In what ways can division manifest in a church setting, and how can we apply Jesus' teaching to address it?

3. How does understanding the original Greek word for "divided" (diaireitai) enhance our comprehension of this passage?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure that our households are not "divided against themselves"?

5. How do the teachings in 1 Corinthians 1:10 and James 3:16 complement Jesus' message in Matthew 12:25, and how can we apply these teachings to promote unity?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Mark 3:24-25
This passage parallels Matthew 12:25, where Jesus uses the same metaphor of a divided kingdom to teach about unity and strength.

Luke 11:17
Another parallel account where Jesus addresses the same issue of division and its consequences.

1 Corinthians 1:10
Paul urges the church to be united in mind and thought, echoing the principle that division leads to downfall.

James 3:16
James warns that where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder, which aligns with the idea that division leads to chaos.
Christ and the PhariseesJ. Parker.Matthew 12:22-29
The Blasphemy Against the Holy GhostJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 12:22-32
Casting Out Devils, and Blasphemy Against the Holy GhostMarcus Dods Matthew 12:22-37
The Bathos of Detracting BlasphemyP.C. Barker Matthew 12:22-37
People
Beelzebub, David, Isaiah, Jesus, Jonah, Jonas, Ninevites, Solomon
Places
Galilee, Nineveh
Topics
Civil, Desolated, Desolation, Destruction, Divided, Division, Household, Internal, Itself, Kingdom, Laid, Low, Raged, Ruined, Stand, Strife, Subsist, Suffers, Thoughts, Town, War, Waste
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 12:25

     2054   Christ, mind of
     5027   knowledge, God's of humanity
     5191   thought
     5834   disagreement

Matthew 12:23-28

     2012   Christ, authority

Matthew 12:24-25

     2045   Christ, knowledge of

Matthew 12:24-28

     4133   demons, possession by

Matthew 12:24-29

     3245   Holy Spirit, blasphemy against

Matthew 12:25-28

     4165   exorcism

Matthew 12:25-29

     8738   evil, victory over

Library
An Attempt to Account for Jesus
'But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.'--MATT. xii. 24. Mark's Gospel tells us that this astonishing explanation of Christ and His work was due to the ingenious malice of an ecclesiastical deputation, sent down from Jerusalem to prevent the simple folk in Galilee from being led away by this new Teacher. They must have been very hard put to it to explain undeniable but unwelcome facts, when they hazarded such a preposterous
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'Make the Tree Good'
'... Make the tree good, and his fruit good....' --MATT. xii. 33. In this Gospel we find that our Lord twice uses this image of a tree and its fruit. In the Sermon on the Mount He applies it as a test to false teachers, who hide, beneath the wool of the sheep's clothing, the fangs and paws of ravening wolves. He says, 'By their deeds ye shall know them; for as is the tree so is its fruit.' That is a rough and ready test, which applies rather to the teacher than to his doctrine, but it applies, to
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'A Greater than Jonas'
'A greater than Jonas is here.'--MATT. xii. 41. There never was any man in his right mind, still more of influence on his fellows, who made such claims as to himself in such unmistakable language as Jesus Christ does. To say such things of oneself as come from His lips is a sign of a weak, foolish nature. It is fatal to all influence, to all beauty of character. It is not only that He claims official attributes as a fanatical or dishonest pretender to inspiration may do. He does that, but He does
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'A Greater than Solomon'
'A greater than Solomon is here.'--MATT. xii. 42. It is condescension in Him to compare Himself with any; yet if any might have been selected, it is that great name. To the Jews Solomon is an ideal figure, who appealed so strongly to popular imagination as to become the centre of endless legends; whose dominion was the very apex of national glory, in recounting whose splendours the historical books seem to be scarce able to restrain their triumph and pride. I. The Man. The story gives us a richly
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Pharisees' Sabbath and Christ's
'At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the corn; and His disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. 2. But when the Pharisees saw it they said unto Him, Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the Sabbath day. 3. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; 4. How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 32, "Whosoever Shall Speak a Word against the Holy Spirit, it Shall not be Forgiven Him, Neither In
1. There has been a great question raised touching the late lesson of the Gospel, to the solution of which I am unequal by any power of mine own; but "our sufficiency is of God," [2335] to whatever degree we are capable of receiving His aid. First then consider the magnitude of the question; that when ye see the weight of it laid upon my shoulders, ye may pray in aid of my labours, and in the assistance which is vouchsafed to me, may find edification for your own souls. When "one possessed with a
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xii. 33, "Either Make the Tree Good, and Its Fruit Good," Etc.
1. The Lord Jesus hath admonished us, that we be good trees, and that so we may be able to bear good fruits. For He saith, "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt, for the tree is known by his fruit." [2484] When He says, "Make the tree good, and his fruit good;" this of course is not an admonition, but a wholesome precept, to which obedience is necessary. But when He saith, "Make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt;" this is not a
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament

Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints
I. First, we have before us a view of MORTAL FRAILTY And first, the encouragement offered in our text applies to weak ones. What in the world is weaker than the bruised reed, or the smoking flax? A reed that groweth in the fen or marsh, let but the wild duck light upon it, and it snaps; let but the foot of man brush against it and it is bruised and broken; every wind that comes howling across the river makes it shake to and fro, and well nigh tears it up by the roots. You can conceive of nothing
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 1: 1855

How to Read the Bible
I. That is the subject of our present discourse, or, at least the first point of it, that IN ORDER TO THE TRUE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES THERE MUST BE AN UNDERSTANDING OF THEM. I scarcely need to preface these remarks by saying that we must read the Scriptures. You know how necessary it is that we should be fed upon the truth of Holy Scripture. Need I suggest the question as to whether you do read your Bibles or not? I am afraid that this is a magazine reading age a newspaper reading age a periodical
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 25: 1879

Strength in the Weak.
"He is Faithful that Promised." "A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench."--MATT. xii. 20. Strength in the Weak. Will Jesus accept such a heart as mine?--this erring, treacherous, traitor heart? The past! how many forgotten vows--broken covenants--prayerless days! How often have I made new resolutions, and as often has the reed succumbed to the first blast of temptation, and the burning flax been well-nigh quenched by guilty omissions and guiltier commissions! Oh!
John Ross Macduff—The Faithful Promiser

Identity of Christ's Character.
THE argument expressed by this title I apply principally to the comparison of the first three Gospels with that of Saint John. It is known to every reader of Scripture that the passages of Christ's history preserved by Saint John are, except his passion and resurrection, for the most part different from those which are delivered by the other evangelists. And I think the ancient account of this difference to be the true one, viz., that Saint John wrote after the rest, and to supply what he thought
William Paley—Evidences of Christianity

What are Evidences of Backsliding in Heart.
1. Manifest formality in religious exercises. A stereotyped, formal way of saying and doing things, that is clearly the result of habit, rather than the outgushing of the religious life. This formality will be emotionless and cold as an iceberg, and will evince a total want of earnestness in the performance of religious duty. In prayer and in religious exercises the backslider in heart will pray or praise, or confess, or give thanks with his lips, so that all can hear him, perhaps, but in such a
Charles G. Finney—The Backslider in Heart

Lesser and Fuller Forms.
Moreover, we have endeavoured to use the fullest form, including the words of those Gospels which have the lesser forms of sentences, except where the sentence ends in a period, in which case have given the least form, so that the larger form of the other Gospels might be made apparent; as, for instance, this sentence, taken from Matt. xii. 47; Mark iii. 32; Luke viii. 20: ^c 20 And it was told him, ^a Behold, thy mother and thy brethren bseek for thee. ^c stand without desiring to see thee. ^a seeking
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Defends Disciples who Pluck Grain on the Sabbath.
(Probably While on the Way from Jerusalem to Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 1-8; ^B Mark II. 23-28; ^C Luke VI. 1-5. ^b 23 And ^c 1 Now it came to pass ^a 1 At that season ^b that he ^a Jesus went { ^b was going} on the { ^c a} ^b sabbath day through the grainfields; ^a and his disciples were hungry and began ^b as they went, to pluck the ears. ^a and to eat, ^c and his disciples plucked the ears, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands. [This lesson fits in chronological order with the last, if the Bethesda
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Heals Multitudes Beside the Sea of Galilee.
^A Matt. XII. 15-21; ^B Mark III. 7-12. ^a 15 And Jesus perceiving it withdrew ^b with his disciples ^a from thence: ^b to the sea [This was the first withdrawal of Jesus for the avowed purpose of self-preservation. After this we find Jesus constantly retiring to avoid the plots of his enemies. The Sea of Galilee, with its boats and its shores touching different jurisdictions, formed a convenient and fairly safe retreat]: ^a and many followed him; ^b and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 22-37; ^B Mark III. 19-30; ^C Luke XI. 14-23. ^b 19 And he cometh into a house. [Whose house is not stated.] 20 And the multitude cometh together again [as on a previous occasion--Mark ii. 1], so that they could not so much as eat bread. [They could not sit down to a regular meal. A wonderful picture of the intense importunity of people and the corresponding eagerness of Jesus, who was as willing to do as they were to have done.] 21 And when his friends heard it, they went
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sign Seekers, and the Enthusiast Reproved.
(Galilee on the Same Day as the Last Section.) ^A Matt. XII. 38-45; ^C Luke XI. 24-36. ^c 29 And when the multitudes were gathering together unto him, ^a 38 Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. [Having been severely rebuked by Jesus, it is likely that the scribes and Pharisees asked for a sign that they might appear to the multitude more fair-minded and open to conviction than Jesus had represented them to be. Jesus had just wrought
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Christ's Teaching as to his Mother and Brethren.
(Galilee, Same Day as the Last Lesson.) ^A Matt. XII. 46-50; ^B Mark III. 31-35; ^C Luke VIII. 19-21. ^a 46 While he yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without seeking to speak to him. [Jesus was in a house, probably at Capernaum--Mark iii. 19; Matt. xiii. 1.] ^c 19 and there came { ^b come} ^c to him his mother and ^b his brethren; ^c and they could not come at him for the crowd. ^a and, standing without, they sent unto him, calling him. 32 And the multitude
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Defends Healing a Withered Hand on the Sabbath.
(Probably Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 9-14; ^B Mark III. 1-6; ^C Luke VI. 6-11. ^a 9 And he departed thence. [The word here points to a journey as in Matt. xi. 1 and xv. 29, which are the only places where Matthew uses this expression. Greswell may be right in thinking that it indicates the return back to Galilee from the Passover, since a cognate expression used by John expresses such a journey from Galilee to Judæa. See John vii. 3 ], ^c 6 And it came to pass on another sabbath [another sabbath
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Acceptance of the Christian Conception of Life Will Emancipate Men from the Miseries of Our Pagan Life.
The External Life of Christian Peoples Remains Pagan Though they are Penetrated by Christian Consciousness--The Way Out of this Contradiction is by the Acceptance of the Christian Theory of Life--Only Through Christianity is Every Man Free, and Emancipated of All Human Authority--This Emancipation can be Effected by no Change in External Conditions of Life, but Only by a Change in the Conception of Life--The Christian Ideal of Life Requires Renunciation of all Violence, and in Emancipating the Man
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you

The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn by the Disciples, and the Healing of the Man with the Withered Hand
IN grouping together the three miracles of healing described in the last chapter, we do not wish to convey that it is certain they had taken place in precisely that order. Nor do we feel sure, that they preceded what is about to be related. In the absence of exact data, the succession of events and their location must be matter of combination. From their position in the Evangelic narratives, and the manner in which all concerned speak and act, we inferred, that they took place at that particular
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The First Peræan Discourses - to the Pharisees Concerning the Two Kingdoms - their Contest - what Qualifies a Disciple for the Kingdom of God, And
It was well that Jesus should, for the present, have parted from Jerusalem with words like these. They would cling about His hearers like the odour of incense that had ascended. Even the schism' that had come among them [4194] concerning His Person made it possible not only to continue His Teaching, but to return to the City once more ere His final entrance. For, His Peræan Ministry, which extended from after the Feast of Tabernacles to the week preceding the last Passover, was, so to speak,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Opposition to Jesus.
During the first period of his career, it does not appear that Jesus met with any serious opposition. His preaching, thanks to the extreme liberty which was enjoyed in Galilee, and to the number of teachers who arose on all hands, made no noise beyond a restricted circle. But when Jesus entered upon a path brilliant with wonders and public successes, the storm began to gather. More than once he was obliged to conceal himself and fly.[1] Antipas, however, did not interfere with him, although Jesus
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus

The Cardinal was Seated, -- He Rose as Moretti Appeared. ...
The Cardinal was seated,--he rose as Moretti appeared. "I beg your Eminence to spare yourself!" said Moretti suavely, with a deep salutation, "And to pardon me for thus coming unannounced into the presence of one so highly esteemed by the Holy Father as Cardinal Bonpre!" The Cardinal gave a gesture of courteous deprecation; and Monsignor Moretti, lifting his, till then, partially lowered eyelids, flashed an angry regard upon the Abbe Vergniaud, who resting his back against the book-case behind him,
Marie Corelli—The Master-Christian

Links
Matthew 12:25 NIV
Matthew 12:25 NLT
Matthew 12:25 ESV
Matthew 12:25 NASB
Matthew 12:25 KJV

Matthew 12:25 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Matthew 12:24
Top of Page
Top of Page