Who is the "strong man" in Matthew 12:29?

Question

In Matthew 12:29 we read, "Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house."


**Scripture is from the King James Bible.

Answer 1

Very good question. "A strong man" here is a metaphor for Satan.

.

Answer 2

It is no one in particular. It is basically like a parable stating you would not go into a person's house, a person that is big and strong, and just walk in and take their stuff, the big, strong person wouldn't let you. You first have to tie up the big strong man and then you would be able to take what he has. You really need to read the scriptures before and after that one to grasp at what is being said. But he is not talking about any strong person in particular.

Answer 3

The Bible doesn't name who the strong man is.

Answer 4

Hust a part of the story, no one important. He used this man for a illustration.

Answer 5

Jesus was talking about any healthy man! A man isn't going to sit by and watch someone steal his things.... check out www.3abn.org

Answer 6

I know nothing much about the bible...My guess is Samson.

Answer 7

In context, he is referring to Satan. Jesus was refuting the Pharisees comment that Jesus cast out demon by Satan's power.

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Matthew 12:24-29

Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, Jesus continued, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder the house. Could not the Pharisees see that everything Jesus said and did was opposed to Satan? Jesus healed sickness and disease, which were brought upon mankind by sin, which, in turn, was brought and promoted by Satan. Jesus raised people from death, which was also a consequence of sin and indirectly the work of Satan (cf. Heb. 2:14-17). Jesus cast out demons, which, as He had just pointed out, was in obvious opposition to Satan. He even forgave sins—something Satan neither would nor could do—and verified His authority to forgive sins by His power to perform miracles (Matt. 9:5-6). Every detail of what He taught and did corresponded to the teaching of Old Testament Scripture. And although the scribes and Pharisees often charged Jesus with opposing and violating their man-made traditions, they could never convict Him of committing sin or of teaching falsehood (John 8:46).

Jesus used the figure of a thief who planned to rob a strong man’s house while the strong man was there. The thief knows that unless he first binds the strong man he has no chance of being successful and, in fact, risks being arrested and seriously beaten in the process.

Jesus’ point was this: "Haven’t I demonstrated before you and all of Israel My power over Satan and his kingdom of evil, darkness, and destruction? Haven’t I demonstrated beyond all doubt that My authority is higher than Satan’s? Haven’t I cleansed people of every kind of disease and freed them from every kind of demonic control and oppression? Haven’t I demonstrated My authority over both sin and death? Haven’t I rescued souls from hell? Who could have such power and authority but God Himself? Who but God could enter the very house of Satan and successfully bind him and carry off his property? I have shown you that I can defeat Satan and a legion of his demonic hosts at will. How could I be any other than your divine Messiah?"

The death blow to Satan was inflicted at the cross and will be actualized in the future; but even before that ultimate victory Christ repeatedly demonstrated His unlimited and unhindered power to thwart and bind Satan. Christ also committed that power to His disciples, and when the seventy returned from their mission, Jesus "said to them, I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning’" (Luke 10:18). Satan is presently still powerful, but His power is limited, his doom is sealed, and his time is short.

Answer 8

Unnamed......

Just someone who is big and strong I suppose. It fits the story there don't you think?

Answer 9

any one who would be willing to fight of intruders. would you alow chilfren to steal from you openly.

Answer 10

satan