Luke 11:14-26

Applebury's Comments

Casting Out Demons by Beelzebub
Scripture

Luke 11:14-26 And he was casting out a demon that was dumb. And it came to pass, when the demon was gone out, the dumb man spake; and the multitudes marveled. 15 But some of them said, By Beelzebub the prince of the demons casteth he out demons. 16 And others, trying him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your Judges 20:1-48 But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. 21 When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: 22 but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 24 The unclean spirit when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and finding none, he saith, I will turn back unto my house whence I came out. 25 And when he is come, he findeth it swept and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more evil than himself; and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first.

Comment

a demon that was dumb.Demon possession in this case caused the man to lose his ability to speak. When it was gone, the dumb man spoke and the crowds marveled.

By Beelzebub.He is the prince of demons or Satan (Luke 11:18), Demons were under the control of the devil. Some were attempting to suggest that Jesus was in league with the devil because He cast out the demon. Others were demanding a sign from heaven. The fact that the dumb man spoke was not enough for them, for they had no intention of believing anything that proved Him to be the Son of God. There will still be unbelievers when the Son of Man comes in His glory with the angels of heaven, but it will be too late to change the inevitable result of willful unbelief in this life.

But he, knowing their thoughts.Recognizing their insincerity, Jesus proceeded to answer their false charge with a three-fold argument.

(1) The divided kingdom. A divided kingdom cannot stand. If Jesus was casting out demons by Beelzebub, then Satan was working against himself and his kingdom could not stand.

(2) Their sons. If Jesus-' workHe had demonstrated his power to cast out the dumb demonwas accomplished by Satan's power, by whose power did the Jewish exorcists pretend to cast out demons? For proof that they did not really cast out demons see Luke's account of the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:14-18). If they claimed that it was by divine power, they were making God inferior to Satan. Their charge was absurd. Let them be your judges, said Jesus, for they would have to admit the superiority of His work. Jesus added, If I by the finger of Godthat is, the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28)cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you, The genuine miracle of Jesus proved that the Father was working through Him. This was evidence of God's rule over them which meant judgment to those who rejected it.

(3) The strong man's house. The one who overcomes a strong manJesus did not question the strength of Satanand destroys his goods must be stronger than the one he overcomes. Jesus, the Son of God, is stronger than Satan. He proved it by casting out the demon that was controlled by Beelzebub.

He that is not with me is against me.Jesus demanded open allegiance to Him. To reject His miracles and demand signs from heaven was to be against Him. There is no neutral position.

The unclean spirit.After passing through waterless places where nothing could rest, the unclean spirit came back to the house which it had left and found it empty. Taking seven other spirits more evil than himself, he entered the house and dwelt there. This seems to explain the state of those who are against Jesus, for He said, He that gathereth not with me scattereth.

Could this refer to the man from whom Jesus had just cast out the demon? Those possessed with demons were never charged with responsibility for their plight. According to Matthew 12:44-45, Jesus applied it to that evil generation that refused to believe in Him. They were then planning to crucify Him, and for that awful deed they would suffer the most terrible destruction ever to be brought on a city (Matthew 24:21).