But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. But if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if I by God’s finger cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come to you.
“When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe. But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armor in which he trusted, and divides his plunder.
“He that is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv17, 18, 20, 21, 23 The true way to know the true Christ, from…
The true way to know the true Christ, from the false, is this, that the true Christ hath no accord or agreement with Satan: And it remaineth that after we know him, we acknowledge him.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv17, 18, 19, 21 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them,…
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
Ver. 17. See Mat 12:38; Mat 16:1; Mar 3:24.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v21 Our Saviour having sufficiently shown that he did not…
Our Saviour having sufficiently shown that he did not work his miracles by the power of the devil, he next informs the Pharisees from whence he had that power, even from God himself; accordingly he compares Satan to a strong man armed with weapons to defend his house; and himself clothed with divine power, he compares to one that is stronger than the strong man. So that the argument runs thus: the devil is very strong and powerful, and there is no power but only God’s that is stronger than his: if, then says Christ, I were not assisted with a divine power, I could never cast out this strong man, who reigns in the bodies and souls of men, as in his house; for it must be a stronger than the strong man that shall bind Satan; and who is he but the God of strength?
Learn thence, that only Christ’s divine power is superior to Satan’s strength: he only can vanquish and overrule him at his pleasure, and drive him out of that possession, which he holds either in the bodies or souls of men: The strong man armed keeps the house, till a stronger than he comes upon him, and overcomes him. When the unclean spirit goeth out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
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Note here,
1. That Satan is an unclean spirit, he hath lost his original purity, his holy nature in which he was created, and is by sin become universally sinful and impure; no means being allowed by God, for the purging of his filthy and impure nature; yea, he is a perfect enemy to purity and holiness; maligning all that love it, and would promote it.
2. That Satan is a restless and unquiet spirit; being cast out of heaven, he can rest no where; when he is either gone out of a man by policy, or cast out by power, he has no content or satisfaction, until he returns into a filthy heart, where he delights to be, as the swine in miry places.
3. That wicked and profane sinners have this unclean spirit dwelling in them: their hearts are Satan’s house and habitation, and the lusts of pride and unbelief, malice and revenge, envy and hypocrisy, these are the garnishings and furniture of Satan’s house. Man’s heart was God’s house by creation, it is now Satan’s by usurpation and judiciary tradition.
4. That Satan by the preaching of the gospel, may seem to go out of persons, and they become sober and civilized; yet may he return again to his old habitation, and the latter end of that man be worse than the beginning.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv17–23 And if Satan also be divided against himself, how…
And if Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?.... This is the accommodation of the above parables, or proverbial sentences; suggesting, that Satan must be against himself, if what the Pharisees said was true; and consequently, his kingdom and government, could not long subsist:
because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub; which is all one as to say, that Satan is divided against himself, which is not reasonable to suppose; See Gill on Mat 12:26 and See Gill on Mar 3:26.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv17, 20, 21 A house - That is, a family.
A house - That is, a family.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv19–20 Verse 19. Beelzebub] See Clarke on Mt 10:25.
Verse 19. Beelzebub] See Clarke on Mt 10:25.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv17, 19 And house upon house shall fall. He speaks of…
And house upon house shall fall. He speaks of a house or family divided, which thereby shall fall to ruin. (Witham)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv20–23 the finger of God--"the Spirit of God" (Mat 12:28);…
the finger of God--"the Spirit of God" (Mat 12:28); the former figuratively denoting the power of God, the latter the living Personal Agent in every exercise of it.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 17. their thoughts] Rather, their machinations.
17. their thoughts] Rather, their machinations.
Every kingdom divided against itself &c.] More briefly and graphically in St Mark “How can Satan cast out Satan?”
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and a house divided against a house falletli] The words may also be rendered ‘and (in that case) house falleth against house.’
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv17, 20, 21 (17-23) But he, knowing their thoughts.—St. Luke seems here…
(17-23) But he, knowing their thoughts.—St. Luke seems here to bring together into one narrative two incidents which in St. Matt. (Mat_9:32; Mat_12:22) appear as separated. The points of resemblance, the dumbness in both cases, both followed by the whisper that Jesus cast out devils by Beelzebub, may have easily led one who collected the facts some years after they occurred to regard the two as identical. On the general tenor of the passage, see Notes on Mat_12:24-30.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv18, 19, 20, 21, 23 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall…
If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. Throughout this argument Jesus assumes the existence of a kingdom of evil, all armed and thoroughly organized to carry out its dread purposes. He concedes, too, in language which admits of no questioning, the existence of a chief of this evil confederacy. Throughout his reply, the Master, while carefully bearing in mind the ability and skill of his enemies who had suggested this questioning to the people, addresses himself to the common sense of the mixed multitude who were present on this occasion. The argument is perfectly simple. It is not thinkable that the prince of evil would fight against himself, which he would be doing if he put such mighty weapons into Jesus" hands.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv17, 21, 23 Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation
Luk_11:17-20
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation
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The power of the King over the arch-enemy
I.
THE CONDITION OF THE SINNER. What a condition it is! It is summed up in that twenty-first verse, When the strong man armed keepeth his palace his goods are in peace. I will ask you to notice the five particulars here specified in that proud usurpers dominion--First, his personality; second, his power; third, his panoply; fourth, his palace; fifth, his peace.
II. THE POWER OF THE SAVIOUR. Satan is strong, but the Divine Master is stronger. Upon that citadel the Lord Christ does not hesitate to advance. Man-soul is summoned. He effects an entrance, and more than that, He achieves the victory. He shall not only come upon him, but overcome him. And then a mighty transformation takes place in the soul of the believer. He divides the spoil. The faculties of the man are not to be destroyed; they are to be altered. What shall we say to it? Whatever it is, it teaches us that the whole powers of the restored man are to be laid at the feet of this Saviour. Mark what is said concerning Satan: that he keeps his gates in peace. Blessed be God, when the transformation is effected, a greater, stronger one than he is also able to keep His gates in peace.
III. I close with one word of WARNING. You know that warning word. He goes on immediately to say, He that is not with Me is against Me, and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad. He is saying to us, Beware of compromise; beware of half-and-half work in this matter of full surrender of your being to Him. What does He mean? I will endeavour by a story to illustrate what He says. Some years ago there was a rich man who possessed the whole of the town in which he lived, with the exception of one poor, small, and dirty hovel. He was greatly minded to possess the whole. He asked the price. The poor man, miserly and cunning, probably asked an exorbitant sum. It is too much, said the would-be purchaser; but I will tell you what I will do--I will cover this table with sovereigns. No, said the other; no, I must have them on end! It is too much, said the purchaser. No, said the other, I must have them on end; and so the bargaining went on, until the would-be purchaser gave up the business. As he left the room, the miser, looking at him with a leer on his face, said, Remember I the town belongs to thee and me. My dear brethren, Satan, if I may so express it, made a harder bargain with the Captain of our salvation than did that miser. We are redeemed, not with corruptible things as silver and gold, but with the blood of Christ. Shall it ever be that that cruel enemy shall come up to our Lord, and, pointing to the citadel of your or my heart, shall say, Remember, the town belongs to me and Thee. But is there no lesson in that passage which follows? When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, but findeth none, and if he can find in you and me a foothold he will use it. It is my house, he says, and he comes back again; he comes seeking admission, and if he finds a place in our citadel he occupies it. He may be cast out as an unclean spirit, but he may return transformed as an angel of light, but an unclean spirit still. Is there no danger of this? I believe there is. Take heed that ye be not deceived. What is the remedy? I only know of one. It is to be God-possessed. It is to let that flag of Calvary float from roof to turret. It is to let God be in possession. Light expels darkness, health expels disease, God turns out Satan. (E. W. Moore.)
The personality and power of the devil
I. SATAN IS A PERSON. See how he is described. He is a man, active, intelligent, resolute, understanding his position, prepared to hold his own against all comers, to maintain his place at all hazards. Could there be anything more exactly in harmony with the purposes and designs of the arch-adversary than that he should circulate a report that he does not exist? I remember years ago the late Rev-Canon Conway saying that, if a gang of housebreakers came into a neighbourhood, could there be any possible report more suited to their purposes than an announcement, which was generally believed, that there were no such persons as burglars, that if robberies occurred, or lives were lost, it was due exclusively to the folly and misguided character of the inmates of the houses, but that no blame could be attributed to housebreakers, for no such persons existed?
II. But we will pass on to notice from his personality, his POWER. He is not only a man, but he is a strong man. My brethren, no good soldier despises his enemy. Satan is not a hobgoblin of the nursery, as some one has said--an easy name that we can utter in jest. Satan is a terrible being. Have you not experienced his power? I doubt not that I speak to hundreds who have. If you let him alone, it is most probable he will let you alone too. If you be in the attitude of hostility to him you will soon find out his power. In the fifth chapter of Marks Gospel you will see the power of the demoniac, and the power which held that man. His power is backed by his panoply. You have it here; he is not only strong, but he is a strong man armed. He is not content with his own strength, so to speak, for the defence of his citadel, but he arms the poor citadel with defensive armour--the helmet of presumption, and the breastplate of pride, and the net-work shield of unbelief, and the coated mail of secret sin, and the fiery darts of venom and spite, and envy, and lust, and greed, which he hurls against all intruders. A palace is a dwelling-place for kings. Whose is this palace? What is this dwelling? My brethren, have we fully realized that you and I were intended to be nothing else than residences of Deity? Have we fully grasped the great thought that this is the culmination of Gods dealing with us? Does God now till His peoples hearts with joy and the Holy Ghost? Satan can fill the heart of Ananias to lie to the Holy Ghost. The parallel is complete. Do you believe in haunted houses, ghost stories, and spectres with clanking chains? They may be fables, but there is terrible and solemn truth behind them. Has it ever occurred to you and me that unless thin night we are possessed of God, as we sit in this room we are haunted houses--h-uses in which the devils live. It is one of the most startling descriptions that Scripture gives of the condition of the sinner, that Satan is not merely near him; Satan is in him. What an awful word is that in Luk_22:3, where we read that Satan entered into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. What is this, a human being the house of an evil one? Every man can do what he will in his own house. An Englishmans house is his castle. What is this description that is given? Why, that Satan reigns and rules in the human heart of his slaves; that he goes in and out; that he opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens. What an awful description! and the most remarkable thing about it all is the particulars with which it closes. While the strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace. What peace? Peace, yes there is peace. It is the peace of death! Is that the peace that you and I desire? Only some half-hour ago, I heard a lady who had been travelling in the Riviera, the scene of the late earthquakes, say that before the rumble which brought the terrible disaster she felt that there was a stillness, a solemn stillness. It seemed as if nature held its breath; it seemed unnatural; it was unnatural; it was a presage of the coming storm. And this deadly slumber in which souls are left by the prince of darkness--slumber indeed, and peace-like it is--is a presage of the terrible awakening of the storm that shall burst some day upon a guilty world. (E. W. Moore.)
Jesus refutes the Pharisees
How concisely and forcibly does He express His argument! It is impossible to exhibit it in a rare striking manner. But, though it cannot be improved, it may, however, be otherwise stated. Thus, it presupposes absolute impossibilities in the character of Satan:
1. In the motives which influence him. For he is supposed, first, to wish to extend his power, and then to undermine it.
2. In the means which he employs, which are thereby calculated for accomplishing opposite purposes.
3. In the objects which he has in view, which presuppose a desire to do good and to do evil at the same time. These contradictions are happily expressed by our Saviour when He represents Satan casting out Satan, and divided against himself: in other words, as possessing two opposite characters, or forming two persons with contrary qualities. (J. Thomson, D. D.)
Divided against itself
If two ships at sea, being of one and the same squadron, shall be scattered by storm from each other, how shall they come to the relief of each other? If, again, they clash together and fall foul, how shall the one endanger the other and herself too? It was, of old, the Dutch device of two earthen pots swimming upon the water, with this motto, If we knock together, we sink together. And most true it is, that if spleen or discontent set us too far one from another, or choler or anger bring us too near, it cannot but that intendment or design, whatsoever it be, like Jonahs gourd, shall perish in a moment, especially if the viperous and hateful worm of dissension do but smite it. (Spencer.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On v17 Christ’s defense:
Christ’s defense:
v. 17. But He, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against Itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
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v. 18. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? Because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
v. 19. But if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore shall they be your judges.
v. 20. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
v. 21. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace;
v. 22. but when a stronger than he shall come upon him and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
v. 23. He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth.
See Mat 12:25-30; Mar 3:23-27. Jesus, by His divine omniscience, knew the thoughts of His enemies, even though He did not hear them, and proceeds to give them a line of argument that leaves them and their slanderous blasphemy in well-deserved disgrace. Every kingdom that is divided against itself is destroyed: the natural result of revolution is dissolution. And, under those circumstances, one house will fall against the next, one tumbling house knocking down its neighbor, and so everything be drawn into the general desolation. This fact being universally acknowledged as in harmony with the experience of mankind, the application to the present situation is easily made. If Jesus be in league with the prince of the devils, and yet cast out devils to their own harm and disgrace, then it follows that there is a division in the kingdom of the devil, and how will his kingdom then stand? Then there is another argument. If that accusation were true and the power of Jesus over the demons were derived from Satan, how were they going to explain the fact that their own sons, their disciples, were acting as exorcists, going about through the country and attempting to cast out devils? See Act 19:13-14. By insisting upon their explanation of Christ’s ability, they were condemning themselves, their own disciples becoming their judges. But, on the other hand, if the miracles of casting out devils which Jesus performed were due to the finger of God, the power of God which was necessary in true exorcising, it was an incontrovertible proof that in and with Christ, the Prophet of Nazareth, the kingdom of God had reached them, come upon them. In His person and in His message they had the means of obtaining everlasting life if they would but accept the grace of God. In a kindly, but comprehensive way Jesus now tries to show His audience what His coming into the world signified and included, so far as the rule of Satan was concerned. The latter, indeed, was a strong and mighty spirit, and was at all times fully armed, guarding his court, his palace, his castle, with all his power. For he is the prince of this world and has his work in the children of unbelief. And up till now he had held his own in peace, without any trouble to speak of; all his subjects had been willing and obedient. But now the Stronger one had come, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the promised Messiah. He came upon the devil and vanquished him. And not only that, but He reduced him to utter subjection and helplessness by taking from him his panoply, his armor, his practically unlimited power in which he placed his trust, and dividing the spoils among His own followers, Col 2:15. But these spoils, victory over death and the devil, belong only to such as have chosen this Champion as their own Lord; for those that are not with Christ, on His side, taking His part at all times, are against Him and must be reckoned with His enemies; and he that is not working with Him in every respect must be considered as belonging to those that disperse and scatter the fruit of His ministry and labor.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv18, 21 If Satan is divided against himself
If Satan is divided against himself
"Satan" here is referring to the demons who follow Satan as well as to Satan himself. AT: "If Satan and members of his kingdom are fighting among themselves" (See: Metonymy)
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If Satan ... how will his kingdom stand?
Jesus uses a question to teach the people. This can be translated as a statement. AT: "If Satan ... his kingdom will not last." or "If Satan ... his kingdom will fall apart." (See: Rhetorical Question)
For you say I cast out demons by Beelzebul
"For you say that it is by the power of Beelzebul that I make demons leave people." The next part of his argument can be stated explicitly: AT: "For you say that it is by the power of Beelzebul that I make demons leave people. That would mean that Satan is divided against himself" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
If I ... by whom do your followers drive them out?
"If I ... by whose power do your followers force demons to leave people?" Jesus uses a question to teach the people. The meaning of Jesus' question can be made explicit. AT: "If I ... then we must agree that your followers also drive out demons by Beelzebul's power. But you do not believe that it is true." (See: Rhetorical Question and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
they will be your judges
"your followers who cast out demons by God's power will judge you for saying that I cast out demons by Beelzebul's power"
by the finger of God
The "finger of God" refers to God's power. (See: Metonymy)
then the kingdom of God has come to you
"this shows that God's kingdom has come to you"
translationWords
Satan
kingdom
judge, judges
God
kingdom of God
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv17, 20, 21, 23 11:17 He knew their thoughts: See 5:22; 7:40; 9:47.…
11:17 He knew their thoughts: See 5:22; 7:40; 9:47. • Any kingdom divided by civil war: Jesus’ first response to the accusation was that he could not be working for Satan; he was tearing down Satan’s kingdom by casting out demons.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.