Jesus and Beelzebub
14 Jesus was driving out a demon. The man who had the demon could not speak. When the demon left, the man began to speak. The crowd was amazed.
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But some of them said, "Jesus is driving out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons."
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Others put Jesus to the test by asking for a miraculous sign from heaven.
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Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, "Any kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed. A family that is divided against itself will fall.
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If Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom stand? "I say this because of what you claim. You say I drive out demons by the power of Beelzebub.
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Suppose I do drive out demons with Beelzebub's help. With whose help do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
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But suppose I drive out demons with the help of God's powerful finger. Then God's kingdom has come to you.
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"When a strong man is completely armed and guards his house, what he owns is safe.
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But when someone stronger attacks, he is overpowered. The attacker takes away the armor the man had trusted in. Then he divides up what he has stolen.
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"Anyone who is not with me is against me. Anyone who does not gather sheep with me scatters them.
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"What happens when an evil spirit comes out of a man? It goes through dry areas looking for a place to rest. But it doesn't find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'
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When it arrives there, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
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Then the evil spirit goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. That man is worse off than before."
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As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out. She shouted, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
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He replied, "Instead, blessed are those who hear God's word and obey it."