Matthew 12:22–30

Jesus and Beelzebul

²²Then they brought to him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see.^{* 23}All the crowds were amazed and were saying, “Can this be the Son of David?”^{* 24}But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this man casts out the demons.”^{* 25}He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.^{* 26}If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand? ²⁷If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists^h cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.^{* 28}But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.^{* 29}Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. ³⁰Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.^*