Matthew 9:34 is a verse in the ninth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. Content In the original Greek according to Westcott-Hort for this verse is: Οἱ δὲ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον, Ἐν τῷ ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων ἐκβάλλει τὰ δαιμόνια. In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads: But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. The New International Version translates the passage as: But the Pharisees said, "It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons." Analysis See Jesus exorcising a mute. Lapide notes that from the Pharisees statement it appears that there are different orders of demons, just as there are ranks in angelic orders. He goes on further to say, "thus even among rebel soldiers there are standard-bearers, colonels, captains. For without these an army cannot be marshalled and governed. Lucifer is the prince of all the devils, as St. Michael is of all the angels." In Matt 12:15 Jesus deals more sharply with the accusation but here he merely answers with more miracles. Commentary from the Church Fathers Chrysostom: " They set Him thus above others, because He not only healed, but with such ease, and quickness; and cured diseases both infinite in number, and in quality incurable. This most grieved the Pharisees, that they set Him before all others, not only those that then lived, but all who had lived before, on which account it follows, But the Pharisees said, He casteth out dæmons through the Prince of dæmons." Saint Remigius: " Thus the Scribes and Pharisees denied such of the Lord’s miracles as they could deny; and such as they could not they explained by an evil interpretation, according to that, In the multitude of thy excellency thy enemies shall lie unto thee. (Ps. 66:3.)" Chrysostom: " What can be more foolish than this speech of theirs? For it cannot be pretended that one dæmon would cast out another; for they are wont to consent to one another’s deeds, and not to be at variance among themselves. But Christ not only cast out dæmons, but healed the lepers, raised the dead, forgave sins, preached the kingdom of God, and brought men to the Father, which a dæmon neither could nor would do." Rabanus Maurus: " Figuratively; As in the two blind men were denoted both nations, Jews and Gentiles, so