Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 12].
12:20 {A bruised reed} (\kalamon suntetrimmenon\). Perfect
passive participle of \suntrib•\. A crushed reed he will not
break. The curious augment in \kateaxei\ (future active
indicative) is to be noted. The copyists kept the augment where
it did not belong in this verb (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1212)
even in Plato. "Smoking flax" (\linon tuphomenon\). The wick of a
lamp, smoking and flickering and going out. Only here in N.T.
Flax in Ex 9:31. Vivid images that picture Jesus in the same
strain as his own great words in Mt 11:28-30.
12:23 {Is this the Son of David?} (\m•ti houtos estin ho huios
Daueid?\). The form of the question expects the answer "no," but
they put it so because of the Pharisaic hostility towards Jesus.
The multitudes "were amazed" or "stood out of themselves"
(\existanto\), imperfect tense, vividly portraying the situation.
They were almost beside themselves with excitement.
12:24 {The Pharisees} (\hoi de Pharisaioi\). Already (Mt
9:32-34) we have had in Matthew the charge that Jesus is in
league with the prince of demons, though the incident may be
later than this one. See on ¯10:25 about "Beelzebub." The
Pharisees feel that the excited condition of the crowds and the
manifest disposition to believe that Jesus is the Messiah (the
Son of David) demand strenuous action on their part. They cannot
deny the fact of the miracles for the blind and dumb men both saw
and spoke (12:22). So in desperation they suggest that Jesus
works by the power of Beelzebub the prince of the demons.
12:25 {Knowing their thoughts} (\eid•s de tas enthum•seis
aut•n\). What they were revolving in their minds. They now find
out what a powerful opponent Jesus is. By parables, by a series
of conditions (first class), by sarcasm, by rhetorical question,
by merciless logic, he lays bare their hollow insincerity and the
futility of their arguments. Satan does not cast out Satan. Note
timeless aorist passive \emeristh•\ in 26, \ephthasen\ in 28
(simple sense of arriving as in Php 3:16 from \phthan•\).
Christ is engaged in deathless conflict with Satan the strong man
(29). "Goods" (\skeu•\) means house-gear, house furniture, or
equipment as in Lu 17:36 and Ac 27:17, the tackling of the
ship.
12:30 {He that is not with me} (\ho m• •n met' emou\). With these
solemn words Jesus draws the line of cleavage between himself and
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