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.

28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever ^wblasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

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.