Luke 11:14–26

A House Divided

¹⁴Now ^sHe was driving out a demon ^tthat was mute. ^uvWhen the demon came out, the man who had been mute, spoke, and the crowds were amazed. ¹⁵But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, ^wthe ruler ^xof the demons!” ^y16And others, as a test, ^zwere demanding of Him a sign ^afrom heaven.

¹⁷Knowing their thoughts, ^bHe told them: “Every kingdom divided ^cagainst itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls. ¹⁸If Satan ^dalso is divided against himself, how will his kingdom ^estand? For you say I drive out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons ^fgdrive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges. ²⁰If I drive out demons by the finger of God, ^hthen the kingdom of God ⁱhas come to you. ²¹When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his possessions are secure. ^j22But when one stronger than he attacks and overpowers ^khim, he takes from him all his weapons ^lmhe trusted ⁿin, and divides up his plunder. ^o23Anyone who is not with Me is against Me, ^pand anyone who does not gather with Me scatters.

An Unclean Spirit’s Return

²⁴“When ^qan ^•unclean spirit ^rcomes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest, ^sand not finding rest, it then ^tsays, ‘I’ll go back to my house where I came from.’ ²⁵And returning, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶Then it goes and brings seven other spirits ^umore evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man’s last condition is worse than the first.” ^v