17
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and {a divided household} falls.
18
So if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say [that] I expel demons by Beelzebul.
19
But if I expel demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons expel [them]? For this [reason] they will be your judges!
20
But if I expel demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you!
21
When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are {safe}.
22
But when a stronger man attacks him [and] conquers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder.
23
The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.
An Unclean Spirit Returns
24 "Whenever an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it travels through waterless places searching for rest, and does not find [it]. It says, 'I will return to my house from which I came out.'
25
And [when it] arrives it finds [the house] swept and put in order.
26
Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and [they] go in [and] live there. And the last [state] of that person becomes worse than the first!"
27
Now it happened that as he said these [things], a certain woman from the crowd raised [her] voice [and] said to him, "Blessed [is] the womb that bore you, and [the] breasts [at] which you nursed!"