Matthew 12:27

And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses His accusers in Matthew 12, responding directly to their claim that He casts out demons by Beelzebul. He follows His rhetorical challenge about Satan dividing against himself with a question about the exorcisms performed by their own followers.

The words — ἐκβάλλω (ekballō) translates literally to "cast out" or "drive out," and Βεελζεβοὺλ (Beelzeboul) names the alleged demonic patron. These terms anchor the immediate dispute over the origin and legitimacy of the exorcisms being performed.

The thread — The conflict over unauthorized spiritual activity appears when John reports others casting out demons in Jesus’ name (Mark 9:38; Luke 9:49) and when itinerant Jewish exorcists attempt to invoke Jesus’ name without proper allegiance (Acts 19:13). These passages track the same tension between independent exorcism and divinely authorized ministry.

Why it lands — The passage forces readers to evaluate the source of spiritual authority rather than accepting or rejecting acts based on personal association. It demands a consistent standard for judging exorcism that applies equally to Jesus’ ministry and to that of others.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

Cross-references

Mark 9:38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone else driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”
Acts 19:13 Now there were some itinerant Jewish exorcists who tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those with evil spirits. They would say, “I command you by Jesus, whom Paul proclaims.”
Luke 9:49 “Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”
Luke 11:19 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.
Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.
Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.
Luke 19:22 His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?