Matthew 12:23

But if. Having shown the absurdity of the claim made by the Pharisees (vs. 25, 26) and having confronted them with a dilemma to which they could give no answer (v. 27), Christ leads on to the inevitable alternative that what they have attributed to Satan is in reality none other than the power of God (see on v. 24). Luke speaks of this power as the “finger of God” (Luke 11:20; cf. Ex. 8:19). During His ministry on earth Christ’s miracles were accomplished by the power of God through the ministry of angels (DA 143). His miracles attested His Messiahship (see DA 406), and if the Messiah were here (see Matt. 12:23), it must be that His “kingdom” could not be far away.

Is come. Literally, “has come.”

Were amazed. See on Mark 2:12.

Son of David. See on ch. 1:1. The form of the question in Greek implies that a negative answer is expected (see on Luke 6:39). The people exclaim, as it were, “This cannot be the Son of David [the Messiah], can it?” They may have realized that the Messiah of prophecy was to do the wonderful deeds that Christ performed, but they found it difficult to see in Jesus, apparently a common man among men, the Messiah of prophecy (cf. DA 197, 385). The fact that many people heard Christ gladly (see Mark 12:37), recognized Him as a great teacher (see John 3:2), and even a prophet (see Matt. 21:11), does not mean they necessarily accepted Him as the Messiah. His many mighty works ignited the flame of hope in their hearts that He might be the Messiah (see on Luke 24:21; cf. DA 406), but their preconceived idea of what the Messiah was to be like (see on Matt. 4:17; Luke 4:19; cf. DA 30) almost immediately quenched the feeble flame.