April 16, 2013.
“How can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?” (Matt. 12:29). In the context, the strong man is Satan, the house is his sphere of influence (compare Matt. 4:8,9) and the one who plunders the house is Jesus. Casting out demons, as He had just done, is an example of the plundering. In order to plunder Satan’s house, Jesus first binds the strong man. Jesus was right then in the business of “binding” Satan.
“Bind” here is precisely the same English (and Greek) word used in Rev. 20:2! Thus, the concept of binding Satan is not new to Revelation. The binding of Satan need not be relegated to our future. Even before Calvary and the open tomb, the powerful Word of Life was walking this planet, placing limitations upon Satan–“binding” him.
Mark 3:27 reads basically the same as Matt. 12:29. In Luke’s parallel text, Jesus’ words are stated differently: “When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he takes from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divides his spoils” (11: 21-22). Jesus says He is “stronger than” Satan, that Satan is no longer “in peace,” and that Jesus “overcame him.” Jesus “takes from him all his armor wherein he trusted.” Jesus “divides his spoils.” The Word in flesh was overpowering Satan!
The problem with many believers is that they only think of the “binding of Satan” in connection with Revelation 20. They overlook the “binding of Satan” in the Gospels. The book of Revelation is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1). This Jesus Christ is the same Jesus Christ who spoke of binding Satan 65 years earlier in the presence of the same John who wrote Revelation. Matthew 12, Mark 3, Luke 11 and Revelation 20 cannot be isolated from one another. Jesus overcame and bound Satan the first time He came to earth!
[This excerpt is taken from an in-depth study: Insight #117: Satan Bound.]