Christ prophetically likened the city in its downfall to the desolateness of death and
'Hades.'
30. Fasting 'in sackcloth and ashes' was the practice in public humiliations (Taan. ii. 1).
31. The R.V., following what are regarded as some of the best MSS., renders it
interrogatively: 'Shalt thou be exalted,' &c.? But such a question is not only without
precedent, but really yields no meaning. We have, therefore, adopted the reading of
Alford, Meyer, &c., which only differs in tense from the A.V.
33. Canon Tristram.
34. Menach. 85 a; comp.
32. See Book III. ch. xxxi.
Neubauer, p. 220.
Whether or not the Seventy actually returned to Jesus before the Feast of
Tabernacles,35 it is convenient to consider in this connection the result of their Mission.
It had filled them with the 'joy' of assurance; nay, the result had exceeded their
expectations, just as their faith had gone beyond the mere letter unto the spirit of His
Words. As they reported it to Him, even the demons had been subject to them through
His Name. In this they had exceeded the letter of Christ's commission; but as they made
experiment of it, their faith had grown, and they had applied His command to 'heal the
sick' to the worst of all sufferers, those grievously vexed by demons. And, as always,
their faith was not disappointed. Nor could it be otherwise. The great contest had been
long decided; it only remained for the faith of the Church to gather the fruits of that
victory. The Prince of Light and Life had vanquished the Prince of Darkness and Death.
The Prince of this world must be cast out.36 In spirit, Christ gazed on 'Satan fallen as
lightning from heaven.' As one has aptly paraphrased it:37 'While you cast out his
subjects, I saw the prince himself fall.' It has been asked, whether the words of Christ
referred to any particular event, such as His Victory in the Temptation.38 But any such
limitation would imply grievous misunderstanding of the whole. So to speak, the fall of
Satan is to the bottomless pit; ever going on to the final triumph of Christ. As the Lord
beholds him, he is fallen from heaven - from the seat of power and of worship; for, his
mastery is broken by the Stronger than he. And he is fallen like lightning, in its rapidity,
dazzling splendour, and destructiveness.39 Yet as we perceive it, it is only demons cast
out in His Name. For still is this fight and sight continued, and to all ages of the present
dispensation. Each time the faith of the Church casts out demons - whether as formerly,
or as they presently vex men, whether in the lighter combat about possession of the
body, or in the sorer fight about possession of the soul - as Christ beholds it, it is ever
Satan falle n. For, he sees of the travail of His soul, and is satisfied. And so also is there
joy in heaven over every sinner that repenteth.
35. Godet infers this from the use of the word 'returned,' St. Luke x. 17.
37. Godet, ad loc.
36. St. John xii. 31.
38. So far from seeing here, with Wünsche (ad loc.), Jewish notions about Satan, I hold
that in the Satanology of the New Testament, perhaps more than anywhere else, do we
mark not only difference, but contrast, to Jewish views.
39. Rev. xii. 7-12.