Luke 11:17-23 17But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a house against house falls. 18But if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20But if by the finger of God I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21When a strong man who is fully armed guards his own palace, his properties are at peace; 22but when one stronger than he attacks overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he has depended and divides his spoil. 23The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.
Jesus turns to logical argumentation to silence his critics who wanted proof of his identity. The phrase knowing their thoughts implies special ability and is a strategic statement in the context of the doubters of Jesus’ divinity. Jesus’ mind reading was more than when we say we know what someone is thinking by their physical mannerisms or the implied meaning of their speech. Luke has made Jesus’ divinity clear from the very beginning of his account. The passage alternates between illustrations and application to Jesus’ ministry.
The opening illustration is about a divided kingdom that cannot stand. History has shown that civil or social war makes a nation or family weak and vulnerable to attack by outsiders. Unity brings strength. Jesus takes that logical truth and applies it to Satan. Since division brings weakness and destruction, no leader would intentionally fight internally. Since that is true, then Satan would never fight against his own forces of evil. If Jesus were operating by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of darkness, Satan, then it would be self-defeating and illogical. Jesus tucks in a stinging rebuke to his critics verse 19. Casting out demons was a practice of certain Jews. Sons refers to the followers of scribes and Pharisees who think they have power over evil. They would know how difficult it was to cast out a demon and that it could only happen by the power of God.
The critics and those watching Jesus had to make a choice. The choice is made clear in verse 20: they could believe Jesus cast out demons by Satan or by the finger of God, referring to God’s power. The evidence should speak for itself. It was obvious that God’s power was at work in Jesus. Only those stuck in their own worlds with hardened hearts and closed minds could miss the obvious.
To make his point clear, Jesus offers another illustration to show his power. The image is of another battle with a strong man guarding his palace. We can imagine a hulking soldier king who had won in many battles facing an enemy at the gates of the palace. He appears to be unstoppable. Satan appears like that, especially to those trapped by him. But along comes an even more powerful king who easily defeats the one who thought he was strong. Jesus does not specifically apply this to Satan and himself, but the meaning is obvious. Jesus is the most powerful king of all and easily defeats Satan. No demon can stand in his presence. Demons know his identity as the Son of God.
Verse 23 ends with a combination of two images from battle and farming. The critical decision we must make is which side we are on. Those who accept Jesus are on the winning side. Not accepting his sovereignty as King and Master means being against him. The choice is for or against. There is no middle ground. One cannot be neutral or sit on the fence. Jesus rejects lukewarm people (Revelation 3:16). Not only does Jesus silence his critics in this passage, but he also indicates the cost of not following him.
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