Matthew 12:29

A strong man's house— The house of the strong one. See Isaiah 49:24. The strong one is the same as the evil one, and the prince of this world. The argument supposes, that the strong one is actually present to guard his house; and indeed the case in question proves the presence of Satan. The house of the strong one, into which Christ entered, was the world, fitly called Beelzebub's house or palace, because there he is served by luxury, lust, covetousness, pride, anger, and other evil passions of men. The goods or vessels belonging to this strong one, which Christ spoiled, are the wicked, called Beelzebub's vessels metaphorically; as St. Paul is called by Christ his chosen vessel, Acts 9:15. Or, if we choose to pursue the allegory more closely, by the vessels or furniture of Beelzebub's house we may understand the lusts and passions of men's hearts, the instruments by which he keeps possession of them. See Heylin, Macknight, and Chemnitz.