Matthew 12:22-32 - A House Divided Cannot Stand
22 At that time some people brought to Him a man under the power of demons, who was blind and dumb, and He cured him, so that the dumb man could talk and see. 23 And all the crowds of people were dumbfounded, and began to say, "He is by no means the Son of David, is He?"
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man is not driving out demons except by the help of Beelzebub, the prince of the demons."
25 But because He knew their thoughts, He said to them, "Any kingdom that is not united is in the process of destruction, and any city or family that is not united cannot last. 26 Now if Satan is driving out Satan, he has become disunited; how then can his kingdom last? 27 And if I am driving out demons by the help of Beelzebub, by whose help are your sons driving them out? So they must be your judges. 28 But if I by the Spirit of God am driving the demons out, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 29 Or, how can anyone get into a giant's house and carry off his goods, unless he first binds the giant? After that he can make a clean sweep of his house. 30 Whoever is not in partnership with me is against me, and whoever does not gather in partnership with me scatters. 31 So I tell you, every sin and all abusive speech will be forgiven men, but abuse against the Spirit cannot be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven for it, but whoever speaks abusively against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven for it, either in this world or in the world to come.
20 And again the crowds gathered so that it was not possible for them even to take their meals. 21 His kinsmen heard of it and came over to get hold of Him, for they kept saying, "He has gone crazy."
22 And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem kept saying, "He is under the spell of Beelzebub and by the help of the prince of the demons He drives out the demons."
23 So He called them to Him, and continued speaking to them in short stories, as follows: "How can Satan drive out Satan? 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 made an insurrection against himself and become disunited, he cannot last but is surely coming to an end.
27 But no one can get into a giant's house and carry off his goods, unless he first binds the giant; after that he can make a clean sweep of his house. 28 I solemnly say to you, men will be forgiven for all their sins and all the abusive things they say. 29 But whoever speaks abusively against the Holy Spirit can never get forgiveness, but is guilty of a sin that has no end." 30 He said so, because they kept saying, "He is under the spell of a foul spirit."
14 Now He was driving a dumb demon out of a man, and when the demon went out of him, the dumb man spoke. The crowds were astonished. 15 But some of them said, "It is with the help of Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that He is driving the demons out." 16 But others, to test Him, were demanding from Him a spectacular sign from heaven.
17 But He knew what they were thinking, and so said to them, "Any kingdom that is not united is in the process of destruction, and one house falls after another. 18 And if Satan is really disunited, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say that I am driving the demons out with Beelzebub's help. 19 Now if I with Beelzebub's help am driving the demons out, with whose help do your sons drive them out? 20 But if I by the finger of God am driving the demons out, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 21 When a strong man well armed keeps guard over his dwelling, his property is secure. 22 But when a man stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he strips him of all his arms on which he relied, and distributes his goods as spoils. 23 Whoever is not in partnership with me is against me, and whoever does not gather in partnership with me, scatters.