Luke 11:21

When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:

When {G3752} a strong man {G2478} armed {G2528} keepeth {G5442} his {G833} palace {G1438}, his {G846} goods {G5224} are {G2076} in {G1722} peace {G1515}:

“When a strong man who is fully equipped for battle guards his own house, his possessions are secure.

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.

When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace:

Luke 11:21 is a crucial part of Jesus's parable of the strong man, illustrating His unique authority over demonic forces. This verse sets the stage by describing the enemy's apparent security before Christ's intervention.

Context

This verse comes directly after Jesus has been accused by some of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils (Luke 11:15). Jesus refutes this illogical accusation by pointing out that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Luke 11:17). He then introduces this parable to explain how His power to cast out demons demonstrates that the kingdom of God has indeed come upon them. Luke 11:21 describes the "strong man" (representing Satan) and his seemingly secure domain, preparing the listener for the arrival of someone even stronger.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Warfare: The verse vividly portrays a spiritual conflict. The "strong man" symbolizes Satan, who attempts to maintain control over individuals and territories, holding them captive in a state of spiritual bondage.
  • Satan's Deceptive Peace: The phrase "his goods are in peace" describes a false sense of security. It's a peace maintained by force, where those under the strong man's influence are not truly free but are held in a state of quiet possession, unaware or unable to break free from his grip.
  • Preparation for Christ's Victory: This verse serves as a setup for the subsequent verse (Luke 11:22), where Jesus reveals Himself as the "stronger man" who can overcome and plunder the strong man's domain, signifying His ultimate triumph over evil.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "strong man" is from the Greek word ischyros, meaning powerful, mighty, or strong. It emphasizes the formidable nature of the spiritual adversary.
  • "Armed" comes from kathoplismenos, indicating someone fully equipped or completely armed for battle, highlighting Satan's preparedness to defend his domain.
  • "Palace" (aule) can refer to a courtyard, a dwelling, or a palace, signifying the strong man's secure and defended territory or sphere of influence.
  • "Goods" (skeuos) refers to possessions, articles, or equipment. In this context, it broadly includes everything the strong man controls, including the souls and lives of those he holds captive.

Practical Application

Luke 11:21 reminds us that humanity lives in a spiritual battleground. Satan seeks to keep people in spiritual darkness and bondage, maintaining a deceptive "peace" through ignorance or suppression. However, this verse, when read in conjunction with the following one, offers immense hope. It underscores that Jesus Christ is infinitely more powerful than any spiritual adversary. Believers can find freedom and deliverance from spiritual strongholds because Christ has already triumphed over principalities and powers. This parable encourages us to recognize the spiritual reality of evil but to always look to Jesus as the ultimate Victor and Deliverer.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Mark 3:27

    No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

  • Matthew 12:29

    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.

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