† 34. On Collusion with Satan

In this episode, the religious leaders of Judea observe the people starting to believe in Jesus and react by accusing Him of working with Satan. It is their intent to prevent people from listening to Him. And they certainly oppose any notion that He would have a claim to the throne of Israel. But their objection is neatly cloaked in a technicality—they admit He casts out demons, but they claim it's only because He has an agreement with Satan.

We present here the main readings for this episode captured in Matthew and Mark. Scholars provide several additional readings:

Luke 11:14–15
Matthew 9:32–34
Luke 11:17–23

Although the additional readings have many things in common with this episode, they are in fact different incidents. We will here only refer to one item from these readings.

Since both Matthew and Mark mention Beelzebul, we reproduce here a note from earlier on the meaning of the name.

8.17 The Coming Fate and Persecution of the Disciples (Matthew 10:17–25)
As for the word "Beelzebul," it is not Greek, and so it is not translated. However, Beelzebul (also spelled Beelzebub) is named as the god of Ekron in the days of Elijah the prophet. The name is thus Baal-Zebub, or "Baal the Prince," in the Hebrew, according to secular commentators.
2 Kings 1:2–3
Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and lay sick; so he sent messengers, telling them, “Go, inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this sickness.” But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron…?’”

While Baal appears often in the Old Testament, Matthew brings this name up again only once more in his gospel. In chapter 12, the Pharisees claim Jesus casts out demons by Baal-Zebul, not the Holy Spirit of God. The other gospels similarly mention this name only in their parallels to Matthew.

Matthew 12

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
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.
30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

the Son of David

The implications of calling someone the son of David are clear: He could be the next king of Israel.

only by Beelzebul

The religious leaders reacted similarly in 9:34, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

Because they do not like the clear meaning of the works Jesus is doing, the Pharisees attempt to dismiss the works of God as the works of Satan or a demon.

They do not want people to draw the intended conclusion: "The kingdom of God has come upon you."

if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself

The Lord's words are as sober as they are simple. It is absurd to assert that Satan is responsible for undoing the power of Satan.

they will be your judges

The sons of the Pharisees evidently cast out demons, as well. The question Jesus poses is, therefore, quite pointed.

Are the sons of the Pharisees accepted in casting out demons simply on the basis they are the Pharisees' sons? Whose Son is Jesus?

by the Spirit of God

Matthew's account draws attention to the real problem in this episode. Jesus—or the sons of the Pharisees for that matter—must be casting out demons by spiritual means since demons are spiritual forces of evil. In fact, Jesus is casting out demons by the Holy Spirit of God. But the Pharisees are claiming that He is casting out demons by the spirit of Satan. Thus, their claim has the Pharisees blaspheming the Holy Spirit, saying the work the Holy Spirit has done was actually done by Satan.

the kingdom of God has come upon you

By using the term "kingdom," Jesus answers the people's original question, "Can this be the Son of David?" This Jesus is the Son of David, the ancient king.

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

The opposite formulation appears elsewhere in the gospels (Mark 9:38–41; Luke 9:49–50), but it is not related to this episode. In this episode, the focus is on Jesus and those who oppose Him and try to stop others from believing in Him. In the other episodes, where the opposite statement appears, the focus is on the apostles thinking too highly of themselves.

Mark 3

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”
23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.
27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

the scribes

Matthew mentions the Pharisees, and Mark brings up the scribes. Between the two groups, one thought leaders and the other scholars, they represent authority in Judea. Most people did not want to engage in an argument with them, and there may well have been serious consequences for doing so.

he called them to him and said to them

Mark shows us that the primary audience for Jesus's teaching about His authority is the leaders of the people. He shows them He is the real authority not by force or harshness, but by means of sound reasoning from Scripture.

Luke 11

20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

the finger of God

Although we skipped most of the additional readings scholars supply, there is something particularly noteworthy in this verse from Luke.

This phrase quotes Pharaoh's magicians, who eventually had to admit the plagues were indeed of divine origin. Will the Pharisees, too, harden their heart?

Exodus 8:16–19
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

§ 8. Jesus' Ministry in Galilee Continued