Matthew 12:22-32 - A House Divided Cannot Stand

Matthew 12:22-32

22 At that time some people brought to him a man blind and dumb, who was possessed by a demon, and he cured him, so that the dumb man could speak and see. 23 And all the crowds of people were astounded, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"

24 But when the Pharisees heard of it they said, "This man cannot drive out demons except by the aid of Beelzebub, the prince of the demons."

25 But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to them, "Any kingdom that is disunited is on the way to destruction, and any city or household that is disunited cannot last. 26 If Satan is driving Satan out, he is disunited, and so how can his kingdom last? 27 And if I am driving the demons out by Beelzebub's aid, by whose aid do your sons drive them out? Therefore let them be your judges. 28 But if I am driving the demons out by the aid of God's Spirit, then the Kingdom of God has overtaken you. 29 How can anyone get into a strong man's house and carry off his property unless he first binds the strong man? After that he can plunder his house. 30 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not join me in gathering, scatters. 31 Therefore, I tell you, men will be forgiven for any sin or abusive speech, but abusive speech about the Spirit cannot be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven for it, but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit cannot be forgiven for it, either in this world or in the world to come.

Mark 3:20-30

20 And again the crowd gathered in such numbers that there was no chance for them even to have their meals. 21 His relatives heard of it and came over to stop him, for they said that he was out of his mind.

22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem said that he was possessed by Beelzebub and drove out demons by the help of the prince of demons.

23 So he called them to him and spoke to them in figures, saying, "How can Satan drive Satan out? 24 If a kingdom is disunited, that kingdom cannot last. 25 And if a household is disunited, that household cannot last. 26 And if Satan has rebelled against himself and become disunited, he cannot last but is coming to his end.

27 But no one can go into a strong man's house and carry off his property unless he first binds the strong man; after that he can plunder his house. 28 I tell you, men will be forgiven for everything, for all their sins and all the abusive things they say. 29 But whoever reviles the holy Spirit can never be forgiven, but is guilty of an unending sin." 30 This was because they said, "He is possessed by a foul spirit."

Luke 11:14-23

14 Once he was driving out a dumb demon, and when the demon was gone the dumb man spoke. And the people were amazed. 15 But some of them said, "It is with the aid of Beelzebub, the prince of the demons, that he drives the demons out." 16 Others to test him asked him for a sign from heaven.

17 But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to them, "Any kingdom that is disunited is on the way to destruction, and one house falls after another. 18 And if Satan is disunited, how can his kingdom last? Because you say that I drive out demons with Beelzebub's aid. 19 But if it is with his aid that I drive out demons, by whose do your sons drive them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges. 20 But if it is with the finger of God that I am driving the demons out, then the Kingdom of God has overtaken you. 21 When a strong man fully armed guards his own dwelling, his property is undisturbed. 22 But when somebody stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he strips him of the arms that he relied on, and divides up the spoils. 23 Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not join me in gathering, scatters.