Matthew 12:29
“Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and plunder his goods, unless he first bind the strong man? Then he will plunder his house.”
What does Matthew 12:29 mean?
Jesus is answering critics who claimed he cast out demons by the power of Satan himself. His point is simple: you can't rob a house while its owner remains in control. If Jesus is casting demons out (plundering Satan's goods), it proves he has authority over the enemy, not the other way around. It's like saying you'd have to overpower a guard before stealing what he's protecting. The image shows that real spiritual power isn't confused or contradictory, it operates with genuine authority, and what Jesus was doing demonstrated exactly that kind of power over the forces working against people's freedom and healing.