Luke 11:14–23

Jesus Is Accused of Working with Beelzebul—Matthew 12:22–32, 43–45; Mark 3:20–30

¹⁴Jesus was forcing a demon out of a man. The demon had made the man unable to talk. When the demon had gone out, the man began to talk. 

The people were amazed. ¹⁵But some of them said, “He can force demons out of people only with the help of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.” ¹⁶Others wanted to test Jesus and demanded that he show them some miraculous sign from heaven. 

¹⁷Since Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined. A house divided against itself falls. ¹⁸Now, if Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? I say this because you say Beelzebul helps me force demons out of people. ¹⁹If I force demons out with the help of Beelzebul, who helps your followers force them out? That’s why they will be your judges. ²⁰But if I force out demons with the help of God’s power, then God’s kingdom has come to you. 

²¹“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own mansion, his property is safe. ²²But a stronger man than he may attack him and defeat him. Then the stronger man will take away all the weapons in which the strong man trusted and will divide the loot. 

²³“Whoever isn’t with me is against me. Whoever doesn’t gather with me scatters.