22Then a man under the power of a demon was brought to him, blind and mute, and he healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. [12:23] And all the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" [12:24] But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons." [12:25] Knowing their inner thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. [12:26] And if the adversary casts out the adversary, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? [12:27] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [12:28] But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has already come upon you. [12:29] Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. [12:30] Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."
MAT 12:22-30
A House Divided
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, demon possession was understood as a tangible reality, often attributed to malevolent spirits or divine forces. The term (being demonized) conveyed active oppression or control by a , a spirit that could disrupt physical and mental faculties. Healing such afflictions was seen as a sign of divine authority, often associated with prophetic or messianic figures. The Pharisees' accusation that Jesus cast out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, reflects a common tactic of discrediting rivals by attributing their power to malevolent sources. Jesus' response about a divided kingdom or house draws on a well-known principle of political and social stability: internal division leads to collapse. This metaphor would resonate in a culture where household unity and societal cohesion were paramount. The mention of Satan aligns with Jewish apocalyptic thought, where Satan is the ultimate adversary of God's kingdom.
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How other translations render this
MAT 12:22
- KJV
- Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
- BSB
- Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed the man so that he could speak and see.
- Koinōnos
- Then a man under the power of a demon was brought to him, blind and mute, and he healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw.
MAT 12:23
- KJV
- And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
- BSB
- The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”
- Koinōnos
- And all the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this be the Son of David?
MAT 12:24
- KJV
- But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
- BSB
- But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “Only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, does this man drive out demons.”
- Koinōnos
- But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.
MAT 12:25
- KJV
- And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
- BSB
- Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
- Koinōnos
- Knowing their inner thoughts, Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
MAT 12:26
- KJV
- And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
- BSB
- If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
- Koinōnos
- And if the adversary casts out the adversary, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
MAT 12:27
- KJV
- And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
- BSB
- And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
- Koinōnos
- And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
MAT 12:28
- KJV
- But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
- BSB
- But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
- Koinōnos
- But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has already come upon you.
MAT 12:29
- KJV
- Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
- BSB
- Or again, how can anyone enter a strong manʼs house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.
- Koinōnos
- Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
MAT 12:30
- KJV
- He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
- BSB
- He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
- Koinōnos
- Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 12:22
- [one] being demonised:The word translated 'being demonised' describes someone under the direct, active influence or control of a demonic spirit, not merely someone suffering from a mental or physical illness.
MAT 12:24
- demons:The term translated 'demons' in this context refers to malevolent spiritual beings, distinct from the more neutral or even positive sense of 'divine power' or 'spirit' that the word could sometimes carry in other ancient Greek literature.
MAT 12:25
- Jesus:The word translated 'Jesus' here is actually a term referring to deep thought or reflection, indicating that Jesus knew their inner reasonings or intentions, not just their spoken words.
MAT 12:28
- has come:The word translated 'has come' carries a sense of having arrived ahead of time or unexpectedly, emphasizing that the kingdom of God has already broken into the present reality.