When the scribes and the Pharisees heard this, they said:
This man casts out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons.
Others tried to get Jesus to perform a heavenly sign to show that the Pharisees were mistaken.
Jesus, understanding everything they were thinking, called them together and told this parable:
How can Satan cast out Satan? A city or a house divided against itself cannot stand. A kingdom that is divided against itself cannot stand.
If Satan is divided against himself, then how will his kingdom stand? And if Satan has risen up against himself, he cannot stand but will come to an end.
If I am casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, then by whose power are your disciples casting demons out? They will be your judge.
But if, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man who is fully armed guards his home and belongings, his home is safe. But if a stronger man comes and defeats him, he takes away the armor that he was trusting in, steals his goods and wrecks his home.
This can only happen if the strong man is bound and defeated.
He who is not with me is against me, and the person who is not gathering with me is scattering.
The truth you need to understand is this: Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven. But the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone that speaks a word against the Son of man can be forgiven.
But anyone that blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven and has committed an eternal sin. This is a sin that will not be forgiven in this world or in the world to come.
This was Jesus’ response to those who said he had an unclean spirit.
Jesus continued:
Be honest, say that the tree is good and produces good fruit or say that the tree is corrupt and produces corrupt fruit.
You children of snakes: how can you, being evil, speak good things. For out of the abundance of your heart your mouth speaks.
The good man, out of the good stored in him, produces good things. The evil man, out of the evil stored in him, produces evil things.
I tell you this, every careless word that a man speaks, he will give an account for it on the day of judgment. Your words will either justify you or they will condemn you.
