²³ And he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?^(A)

¹⁷ But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.^{(A) 18} If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?—for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists^[a] cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.^{(B) 21} When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. ²² But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. ²³ Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.^(C)

The Use of Parables

³⁴ Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing.^(A)

²⁵ 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.^{(A) 26} If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists^[a] cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.^{(B) 28} But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.^{(C) 29} Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man? Then indeed the house can be plundered. ³⁰ Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.^(D)

² He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:^(A)

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,