Jesus and Beelzebul

12:25–29pp—Mk 3:23–27; Lk 11:17–22

22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.q 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”r

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,s the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”t

25 Jesus knew their thoughtsu and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satanv drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul,w by whom do your peoplex drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of Gody has come upon you.

29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.