67. The Blasphemy of the Pharisees on Account of This and Their Refutation. Mt. 12:24–30; Lk. 3:22–27

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said: “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebul, the prince of demons.” And the scribes who came from Jerusalem said that He had Beelzebul in Him and that He casts out demons by the power of the prince of demons.

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, called them to Him and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Any kingdom that is divided against itself is laid waste and cannot endure; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand.”

And if Satan rises up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. So his kingdom cannot endure, but is coming to an end.

If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Or how can anyone enter the house of a strong man and plunder his property, without first binding the strong man? And then indeed the house can be plundered. No one can enter the house of a strong man and take his goods unless he first binds the strong man. Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.