^23 (A)So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan?

^17 (A)But ^(B)He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. ¹⁸ If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. ¹⁹ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I cast out demons ^(C)with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. ^21 (D)When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. ²² But ^(E)when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his ^[a]spoils. ^23 (F)He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Prophecy and the Parables

^34 (A)All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them,

²⁵ But Jesus ^(A)knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. ²⁸ But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, ^(B)surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. ^29 (C)Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. ³⁰ He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

² Then He taught them many things by parables, ^(A)and said to them in His teaching:

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, ^[a]“Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ^(A)‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”