Matthew 12 · Verse 28

Matthew 12:28

But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Matthew 12:28, King James Version

Matthew 12:28 in other translations

BSBBut if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
WEBBut if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you.
ASVBut if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you.
YLT‘But if I, by the Spirit of God, do cast out the demons, then come already unto you did the reign of God.
DARBYBut if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then indeed the kingdom of God is come upon you.
BBEBut if I by the Spirit of God send out evil spirits, then is the kingdom of God come on you.
WebsterBut if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come to you.

What does Matthew 12:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God--In Luke (Lu 11:20) it is, "with (or 'by') the finger of God." This latter expression is just a figurative way of representing the power of God, while the former tells us the living Personal Agent was made use of by the Lord Jesus in every exercise of that power. then--"no doubt" (Lu 11:20). the kingdom of God is come unto you--rather "upon you," as the same expression is rendered in Luke (Lu 11:20):--that is, "If this expulsion of Satan is, and can be, by no other than the Spirit of God, then is his Destroyer already in the midst of you, and that kingdom which is destined to supplant his is already rising on its ruins."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 28. But if I--by the Spirit of God, etc. The Spirit of God, here, means the power of God--in Luke, by the finger of God. Compare Ex 8:19, Ps 8:3. If this work is not by the aid of Satan, then it is by the aid of God. Then his kingdom, or reign, is come, Mt 3:2. The reign of Satan over men, and the reign of God, are in opposition. If God expels Satan from his dominion over men, then his reign has come.

(z) "kingdom of God" Dan 2:44, Mt 6:33, Lk 11:20, 17:21, Rom 14:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God - Perhaps the Spirit of God is here mentioned by way of opposition to the magical incantations of the Jews; for it is well known that by fumigations and magical washings, they professed to cast out devils. See a case mentioned by Schoettgen on this verse. Then the kingdom of God - For the destruction of the kingdom of Satan plainly implies the setting up of the kingdom of God. Is come unto you - Is come unexpectedly upon you. Εφθασεν, from φθανω, to appear suddenly - unexpectedly. They pretended to be in expectation of the kingdom of God, and consequently of the destruction of the kingdom of Satan. But, by being not prepared to receive Christ in these proofs of his Divine mission, they showed that their expectation was but pretended. They were too carnal to mind spiritual things.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 12:22-30

A soul under Satan's power, and led captive by him, is blind in the things of God, and dumb at the throne of grace; sees nothing, and says nothing to the purpose. Satan blinds the eyes by unbelief, and seals up the lips from prayer. The more people magnified Christ, the more desirous the Pharisees were to vilify him. It was evident that if Satan aided Jesus in casting out devils, the kingdom of hell was divided…

Read the full comment on Matthew 12:22-30 →

Matthew 12:28 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

εἰeiIfG1487
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐνenby [the]G1722
πνεύματιpneumatiSpiritG4151
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
ἐκβάλλωekballōcast outG1544
τὰta<the>G3588
δαιμόνια,daimoniademons,G1140
ἄραarathenG686
ἔφθασενephthasenhas comeG5348
ἐφ᾽eph᾽uponG1909
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ἡhētheG3588
βασιλείαbasileiakingdomG932
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦ.theouof God.G2316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 12:28

  • Luke 11:20

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

  • Daniel 7:14

    And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

  • Matthew 6:33

    But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

  • Acts 10:38

    How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

  • Colossians 1:13

    Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

  • Matthew 21:43

    Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

  • Mark 1:15

    And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

  • Matthew 21:31

    Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

  • Luke 17:20-21

    And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

  • Luke 16:16

    The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

  • Daniel 2:44

    And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

  • Romans 14:17

    For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I cast.
18; Mr 16:17; Lu 11:20; Ac 10:38
then.
6:33; 21:31,43; Isa 9:6,7; Da 2:44; 7:14; Mr 1:15; 11:10
Lu 1:32,33; 9:2; 10:11; 11:20; 16:16; 17:20,21; Ro 14:17; Col 1:13
Heb 12:28

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 12:27

    And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

  • Matthew 12:28

    But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

  • Matthew 12:29

    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.

Read all of Matthew 12

Matthew 12:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si por espíritu de Dios yo echo fuera los demonios, ciertamente ha llegado á vosotros el reino de Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais si moi je chasse les démons par l’Esprit de Dieu, alors le royaume de Dieu est parvenu jusqu’à vous.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn ich aber durch den Geist Gottes die Dämonen austreibe, so ist also das Reich Gottes zu euch hingekommen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Si autem ego in Spiritu Dei ejicio dæmones, igitur pervenit in vos regnum Dei.