Matius 10:25

10:25 It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household!

Matius 11:10

11:10 This is the one about whom it is written:

‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, ¹ 

who will prepare your way before you.’ ² 

Matius 12:43

The Return of the Unclean Spirit

12:43 “When ³  an unclean spirit ⁴  goes out of a person, ⁵  it passes through waterless places ⁶  looking for rest but ⁷  does not find it.

[11:10]  ¹ tn Grk “before your face” (an idiom).

[11:10]  ² sn The quotation is primarily from Mal 3:1 with pronouns from Exod 23:20. Here is the forerunner who points the way to the arrival of God’s salvation. His job is to prepare and guide the people, as the cloud did for Israel in the desert.

[12:43]  ³ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[12:43]  ⁴ sn Unclean spirit refers to an evil spirit.

[12:43]  ⁵ tn Grk “man.” This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both males and females. This same use occurs in v. 45.

[12:43]  ⁶ sn The background for the reference to waterless places is not entirely clear, though some Jewish texts suggest spirits must have a place to dwell, but not with water (Luke 8:29-31; Tob 8:3). Some suggest that the image of the desert or deserted cities as the places demons dwell is where this idea started (Isa 13:21; 34:14).

[12:43]  ⁷ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.