Jesus’ opponents did not challenge his powers of healing
Mark 3:22-27, SV
And the scholars who had come down from Jerusalem would say, “He is under the control of Beelzebul” and “He drives out demons in the name of the head demon!”
And after calling them over, he would speak to them in riddles: “How can Satan drive out Satan? After all, if a government is divided against itself, that government cannot endure. And if a household is divided against itself, that household won’t be able to survive. So if Satan rebels against himself and is divided, he cannot endure but is done for.”
“No one can enter a powerful man’s house to steal his belongings unless he first ties him up. Only then does he loot his house.”
Mark 3:22-27, NRSV
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.”
And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables. “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come.”
“But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.”
Matthew 12:22-29, SV
Then they brought to him a blind and mute person who was demon-possessed, and he cured him so the mute was able both to speak and to see.
And the entire crowd was beside itself and would say, “This fellow can’t be the son of David, can he?”
But when the Pharisees heard of it, they said, “This fellow drives out demons only in the name of Beelzebul, the head demon.”
But he knew how they thought, and said to them: “Every government divided against itself is devastated, and every city or house divided against itself won’t survive. So if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. In that case, how will his domain endure?”
“Even if I drive out demons in Beelzebul’s name, in whose name do your own people drive (them) out? In that case, they will be your judges. But if by God’s spirit I drive out demons, then for you God’s imperial rule has arrived.”
“Or how can someone enter a powerful man’s house and steal his belongings, unless he first ties him up? Only then does he loot his house.”
Matthew 12:22-29, NRSV
Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute; and he cured him, so that the one who had been mute could speak and see.
All the crowds were amazed and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that this fellow casts out demons.”
He knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand?”
“If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom to your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.”
“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”
“Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property, without first tying up the strong man?”
Luke 11:14-23, SV
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had departed the mute man spoke. And the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He drives out demons in the name of Beelzebul, the head demon.”
Others were testing him by demanding a sign from heaven.
But he knew what they were thinking, and said to them: “Every government divided against itself is devastated, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan is divided against himself — since you claim I drive out demons in Beelzebul’s name — how will his domain endure?”
“If I drive out demons in Beelzebul’s name, in whose name do your own people drive (them) out? In that case, they will be your judges. But if by God’s finger I drive out demons, then for you God’s imperial rule has arrived.”
“When a strong man is fully armed and guards his courtyard, his possessions are safe. But when a stronger man attacks and overpowers him, he takes the weapons on which he was relying and divides up his loot.”
“The one who isn’t with me is against me, and the one who doesn’t gather with me scatters.”
Luke 11:14-23, NRSV
Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”
Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven.
But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? — for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul.”
“Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.”
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder.”
“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
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