Matthew 12:24

The Pharisees heard it. Apparently the flickering hope of the people that Jesus might prove to be the Messiah of prophecy (see v. 23) angered the Pharisees. Mark speaks of these Pharisees as “the scribes which came down from Jerusalem” (Mark 3:22), probably spies sent out by the Sanhedrin to observe and report on Christ (see on Mark 2:6). These wary foes of Jesus could not deny that a genuine miracle had been performed, for the healed man “spake and saw” (Matt. 12:22). The greater the evidence of the divinity of Jesus, the greater became their anger and hatred, which led eventually to the commission of the unpardonable sin by some of Jesus’ enemies (see on vs. 31, 32).

This fellow. Gr. houtos, “this [one].” These Pharisees showed their contempt by refusing to take the name of Jesus on their lips and disdainfully referred to Him as “this [one]” (see on Luke 14:30; Luke 15:2).

Beelzebub. Textual evidence is divided (cf. p. 146) between the readings “Beezebul” and “Beelzebub” The KJV reading “Beelzebub” was adopted by Jerome for the Latin Vulgate, and, apparently, from there was taken over by the KJV translators. The meaning of the name is debatable. Perhaps the name Beelzebul is from the Hebrew ba‘al zebul, possibly meaning “lord of the great house [or temple],” or “lord of the heavenly house.” Several Ras Shamrah tables from about 1400 B.C. speak of “Zebul, prince of the earth.” Beelzebul may thus mean “Baal is prince.” It has been suggested that the Jews may have changed the name from Beelzebul to Beelzebub, “lord of flies,” out of contempt for this pagan deity, the patron god of Ekron (see on 2 Kings 1:2).

In the healing of the blind and dumb demoniac it was evident that more than human power was present. The spies refused to concede that Jesus was divine and possessed power to effect the miracle; He must, therefore, be in league with the devil.