Luke 11:20 (WEB)
But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you.
Catechism · 1
“"It is by the finger of God that [Jesus] cast out demons."” — Catechism footnote: Lk 11:20.
Fathers and councils · 33
Augustine of Hippo
“Our Lord, when answering those who accused Him of casting out devils in the name of Beelzebub, saith, “If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God;” and another Evangelist, in relating the same saying, saith, “If I with the finger of God cast out devils.”” — editor's note: Luke xi. 20.
Read the whole comment“And the circumstance that Luke here designates the Spirit of God as the finger of God, does not betray any departure from a genuine identity in sense; but it rather teaches us an additional lesson, giving us to know in what manner we are to interpret the phrase “the finger of God” wherever it occurs in the Scriptures.” — editor's note: Luke xi. 14–26.
Read the whole comment“These words are recorded also by Luke in this connection, although in a somewhat different order.” — editor's note: Luke xi. 16–37.
Read the whole commentChapter LXII.—Of the Harmony Subsisting Between Matthew and Mark in the Accounts Which They Offer of the Time When He Was Asked Whether It Was Lawful to Put Away One’s Wife, and Especially in Regard to the Specific…
Read the whole comment“…was completed, and then they received the law written by the finger of God, under which phrase we have already stated that the Holy Spirit is signified.” — editor's note: Luke xi. 20
Read the whole comment“…was given there, is said to have been written upon tables of stone with the finger of God, by which name we know the Holy Spirit to be signified in the Gospel.” — editor's note: Luke xi. 20
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John Chrysostom
“Now Matthew indeed saith, “If I by the Spirit of God cast out”; but Luke, “If I by the finger of God cast out the devils:”implying that to cast out devils is a work of the greatest power, and not of any ordinary grace.” — editor's note: Luke xi. 20.
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Catena Aurea on Mark
- JeromeCatena Aurea on Mark
“And the fingers which are put into the ears are the words and the gifts of the Holy Ghost, of whom it is said, “This is the finger of God.” [Ex 8:19; Luke 11:20]” — the author cites it
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Basil the Great
“But the Holy Ghost is the finger of God, as it is said “if I by the finger of God cast out devils,” of which the version in another Gospel is “if I by the Spirit of God cast out devils.”” — editor's note: Luke xi. 20.
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Ambrose of Milan
“Thy Right Hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy;” so the Holy Spirit is called the Finger of God, as the Lord Himself says: “But if I by the Finger of God cast out devils.”” — editor's note: S. Luke xi. 20.
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John Cassian
“Again: Who made Him also to be feared by the devils: ‘For I,’ He says, ‘by the Spirit of God cast out devils.’” — editor's note: S. Luke xi. 20.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“How many there are daily who do not repent nor make confession of the consciousness of their crime, who are filled with unclean spirits!” — editor's note: [Luke xi. 20. The whole of scriptural teachings concerning these, requires renewed study. Consult Tillotson, Works, ii. 508, ed. 1722.]
Read the whole comment“That Christ is the Hand and Arm of God.” — editor's note: [Hence the Spirit, “the finger of God.” Luke xi. 20.]
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Tertullian
“So that it was not by Beelzebub that even they were casting out demons, but (as we have said) by the power of the Creator; and that He might make this understood, He adds: “But if I with the finger of God cast out demons, is not the kingdom of God come near unto you?”” — editor's note: Luke xi. 20.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
The suspicion of the Pharisees being utterly without reason, they dared not divulge it for fear of the multitude, but pondered it in their minds. Hence it is said, But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them,…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
He answered not their words but their thoughts, that so at least they might be compelled to believe in His power, who saw into the secrets of the heart.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
He did not answer them from the Scriptures, since they gave no heed to them, explaining them away falsely; but he answers them from things of every day occurrence. For a house and a city if it be divided is quickly…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Herein also He shews His own kingdom to be undivided and everlasting. Those then who possess no hope in Christ, but think that He casts out devils through the chief of the devils, their kingdom, He says, is not…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
The kingdom also of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is not divided, because it is sealed with an eternal stability. Let then the Arians cease to say that the Son is inferior to the Father, but the Holy Spirit…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
This then is the first answer; the second which relates to His disciples He gives as follows, And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? He says not, “My disciples,” but your sons,…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
For the disciples of Christ were Jews, and sprung from Jews according to the flesh, and they had obtained from Christ power over unclean spirits, and delivered those who were oppressed by them in Christ’s name.…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
For since they who come forth from you are obedient unto Me, it is plain that they will condemn those who do the contrary.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else, By the sons of the Jews He means the exorcists of that nation, who cast out devils by the invocation of God. As if He says, If the casting out of devils by your sons is ascribed to God, not to devils, why in…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Since then what you say bears upon it the mark of calumny, it is plain that by the Spirit of God I cast out devils. Hence He adds, But if I by the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
That Luke speaks of the finger of God, where Matthew has said, the Spirit, does not take away from their agreement in sense, but it rather teaches us a lesson, that we may know what meaning to give to the finger of…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Now the Holy Spirit is called the finger of God, because of the distribution of gifts which are given through Him, to every one his own gift, whether he be of men or angels. For in none of our members is division…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Or the Holy Spirit is called the finger of God for this reason. The Son was said to be the hand and arm of the Father, (Ps. 98:1.) for the Father worketh all things by Him. As then the finger is not separate from the…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Nor would you think in the compacting together of our limbs any division of power to be made, for there can be no division in an undivided thing. And therefore the appellation of finger must be referred to the form…
Read the whole comment - Athanasius of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
But at this time our Lord does not hesitate because of His humanity to speak of Himself as inferior to the Holy Spirit, saying, that He cast out devils by Him, as though the human nature was not sufficient for the…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
And therefore it is justly said, The kingdom of God is come upon you, that is, “If I as a man cast out devils by the Spirit of God, human nature is enriched through Me, and the kingdom of God is come.”
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
But it is said, upon you, that He might draw them to Him; as if He said, If prosperity comes to you, why do you despise your good things?
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
At the same time He shews that it is a regal power which the Holy Spirit possesses, in whom is the kingdom of God, and that we in whom the Spirit dwells are a royal house.
Read the whole comment - Titus of BostraCatena Aurea on Luke
Or He says, The kingdom of God is come upon you, signifying, “is come against you, not for you.” For dreadful is the second coming of Christ to faithless Christians.
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Cross-references · 27
Cited together in On the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius VII.17.
Cited together in On the Catechising of the Uninstructed Chapter 23.
Cited together in On the Catechising of the Uninstructed Chapter 23.
Cited together in On the Catechising of the Uninstructed Chapter 23.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.3.
Cited together in On the Catechising of the Uninstructed Chapter 23.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.3.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.3.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.3.
Cited together in Catechism §700 and 1 other place.
Cited together in On the Catechising of the Uninstructed Chapter 23.
Cited together in Jerome on Mark 7:31–37 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.3.
Cited together in Catechism §700.
Cited together in On the Catechising of the Uninstructed Chapter 23.
Cited together in Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 11:17–20 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in On the Catechising of the Uninstructed Chapter 23.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.3.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.3.
Cited together in On the Catechising of the Uninstructed Chapter 23.
Cited together in Jerome on Mark 7:31–37 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Mark 7:31–37 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Mark 7:31–37 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Mark 7:31–37 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Mark 7:31–37 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Mark 7:31–37 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Mark 7:31–37 (3) (Catena Aurea).
