{The Pharisees} (hoi de Pharisaioi). Already ( Mt
9:32-34 ) we have had in Matthew the charge that Jesus is in
league with the prince of demons, though the incident may be
later than this one. See on 气0:25| about "Beelzebub." The
Pharisees feel that the excited condition of the crowds and the
manifest disposition to believe that Jesus is the Messiah (the
Son of David) demand strenuous action on their part. They cannot
deny the fact of the miracles for the blind and dumb men both saw
and spoke ( 12:22 ). So in desperation they suggest that Jesus
works by the power of Beelzebub the prince of the demons.