Luke 11:14-28
Jesus and Beelzebub
He was casting out a
demon, and it was mute. It happened, when the demon had gone out, the mute
man spoke; and the multitudes marveled. But some of them said, "He
casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons." Others, testing him, sought from
him a sign from heaven. But he, knowing their thoughts,
said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself
is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against
himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by
Beelzebul. But if I cast
out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore
will they be your judges. But if I by the finger of God
cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come to you.
"When the strong man, fully
armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. But when someone stronger
attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which
he trusted, and divides his spoils.
"He that is not with me is
against me. He who doesn't gather with me scatters. The unclean spirit, when he has
gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding
none, he says, 'I will turn back to my house from which I came out.'
When he returns, he
finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes, and takes seven
other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there.
The last state of that man becomes worse than the first."
It came to pass, as
he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her
voice, and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the
breasts which nursed you!"
But he said, "On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of
God, and keep it."