Matthew 12:22-32 - A House Divided Cannot Stand
22 Then some people brought to Jesus a possessed man, who was blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the man who had been dumb both talked and saw. 23 At this all the people were astounded. "Is it possible that this is the son of David?" they exclaimed.
24 But the Pharisees heard of it and said: "He drives out demons only by the help of Baal-zebub the chief of the demons."
25 Jesus, however, was aware of what was passing in their minds, and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself becomes a desolation, and any town or household divided against itself will not last. 26 So, if Satan drives Satan out, he must be divided against himself; and how, then, can his kingdom last? 27 And, if it is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges. 28 But, if it is by the help of the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God must already be upon you. 29 How, again, can any one get into a strong man's house and carry off his goods, without first securing him? And not till then will he plunder his house. 30 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not help me to gather is scattering. 31 Therefore, I tell you, men will be forgiven every sin and slander; but slander against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Whoever speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in the present age, or in the age to come.
20 Jesus went into a house; and again a crowd collected, so that they were not able even to eat their food. 21 When his relations heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind.
22 And the Teachers of the Law, who had come down from Jerusalem, said: "He has Baal-zebub in him, and he drives the demons out by the help of Baal-zebub, their chief."
23 So Jesus called them to him, and answered them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 When a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot last; 25 And when a household is divided against itself, it will not be able to last. 26 So, if Satan is in revolt against himself and is divided, he cannot last--his end has come!
27 No man who has got into a strong man's house can carry off his goods, without first securing him; and not till then will he plunder his house. 28 I tell you that men will be forgiven everything--their sins, and all the slanders that they utter; 29 but whoever slanders the Holy Spirit remains unforgiven to the end; he has to answer for an enduring sin." 30 This was said in reply to the charge that he had a foul spirit in him.
14 Once Jesus was driving out a dumb demon, and, when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke. The people were amazed at this; 15 But some of them said: "He drives out demons by the help of Baal-zebub, the chief of the demons"; 16 While others, to test him, asked him for some sign from the heavens.
17 Jesus himself, however, was aware of what they were thinking, and said to them: "Any kingdom wholly divided against itself becomes a desolation; and a divided house falls. 18 So, too, if Satan is wholly divided against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say that I drive out demons by the help of Baal-zebub. 19 But, if it is by Baal-zebub's help that I drive out demons, by whose help is it that your own sons drive them out? Therefore they shall themselves be your judges. 20 But, if it is by the hand of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God must already be upon you. 21 When a strong man is keeping guard, fully armed, over his own mansion, his property is in safety; 22 But, when one still stronger has attacked and overpowered him, he takes away all the weapons on which the other had relied, and divides his spoil. 23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not help me to gather is scattering.