Listen carefully to the following two statements Jesus made, and then I’m going to quote historian and biblical scholar William Barclay. He gives us an excellent insight into what Jesus was saying.
First Luke 11:20 — “If I with the finger of God cast out devils, there’s no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.”
Now Matthew 12:28 — “If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
William Barclay writes, “For Jesus the Spirit of God and the vivid phrase the finger of God meant the same thing. It is of the utmost significance to note that this phrase the finger of God occurs in the Old Testament in three connections. It occurs in connection with the creating work of God. The heavens are the works of God’s fingers (Psalm 8:3). It occurs in connection with the revealing work of God. The tables of the 10 Commandments are written by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18, Deuteronomy 9:10). It occurs in connection with the demonstration of the power of God for the deliverance of his people. The reaction of the Egyptian magicians to the wonders which preceded the exodus is “this is the finger of God.” Exodus 8:19.
When Jesus speaks of the finger of God — the Spirit of God, acting through him — it means that in him there came to its consummation the creating, the revealing, and the redeeming power of God.”
