Matthew 12:22-32 - A House Divided Cannot Stand
22 Then they brought to him a blind and deaf demoniac; and he healed him, so that the dumb both spoke and saw. 23 And all the crowds were amazed, and he began to say, "Can this be the Son of David?"
24 When the Pharisees heard it they said, "It is only by the aid of Beelzebub, the Prince of the demons, that this fellow is driving out demons."
25 Because Jesus knew what was in their minds, he said to them. "Any kingdom divided against itself will become desolate; and any city or household divided against himself will not stand. 26 "So if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 "And if I am casting out demons in the power of Beelzebub, in whose power do your sons cast them out? So they themselves shall be your judges. 28 "But if it is in the power of the Spirit of God is already upon you. 29 "Or how can any one enter the strong man's house and carry off his goods without first binding the strong man? Then he can rob his house. 30 "He who is not with me is against me; and he who is not gathering with me, scatters. 31 "Therefore I tell you that every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men; but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 "And if any man say a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in that which is to come.
20 Then he went into a house, but again such a multitude assembled that they could not get their food. 21 When his relatives heard of it, they came to take possession of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
22 The Scribes also who had come down from Jerusalem, said, "He is Beelzebub," and, "He casts out demons by the power of the Prince of the demons."
23 So when he had called them to him he spoke to them in parables. "How," said he, "can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand; 25 if a household be divided against itself, that household cannot stand; 26 and if Satan has revolted against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand. Nay, he meets his end!
27 "Indeed, no one can enter the strong man's house and carry off his property without first binding the strong man; then he can plunder his house. 28 In solemn truth I tell you that the sons of men shall be forgiven all their sins and all the blasphemies they may utter, 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit is never forgiven. Nay, he is in the grasp of an eternal sin." 30 Because they kept saying, "He has an unclean spirit."
14 Once he was casting out a dumb demon, and when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people wondered. 15 But some of them said, "It is by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that he cast out demons." 16 Others, tempting him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven.
17 He knew their intentions and said to them. "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste and house falls upon house. 18 "And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? 19 "Do you say that I am casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub? If I then am casting out demons by Beelzebub, by whom are your sons casting them out? They therefore shall be your judges. 20 "But if it is by the finger of God that I am casting out demons, then the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21 "When the strong man fully aroused keeps guard over his homestead, his property is undisturbed; 22 "but when the stronger man attacks him, he takes away from the strong armor in which he was trusting and divides up the spoil. 23 "He who is not for me is against me, and he who is not gathering with me is scattering.