Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
22 rAnd the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by sBeelzebul,” and t“by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23 And he called them to him and said to them in uparables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a vstrong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
22 aThen a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were bamazed, and said, c“Can this be the dSon of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, e“It is only by fBeelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a gstrong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Jesus and Beelzebul
14 rNow he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people smarveled. 15 But some of them said, t“He casts out demons by uBeelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the vfinger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a wstrong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 xWhoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
