And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
And if I by Beelzebub send evil spirits out of men, by whom do your sons send them out? So let them be your judges.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your children expel them? therefore they shall be your judges.
If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
By whom do your children cast them out? - Children, or sons of the prophets, means the disciples of the prophets; and children or sons of the Pharisees, disciples of the Pharisees. From Acts 19:13, Acts 19:14, it is evident there were exorcists among the Jews, and, from our Lord's saying here, it is also evident that the disciples of the Pharisees did east out demons, or, at least, those who educated them wished to have it believed that they had such a power. Our Lord's argument here is extremely conclusive: If the man who casts out demons proves himself thereby to be in league with and influenced by Satan, then your disciples, and you who taught them, are all of you in league with the devil: ye must either give up your assertion, that I cast out demons by Beelzebul, or else admit this conclusion, in its fullest force and latitude, that ye are all children of the devil, and leagued with him against God.
Envy causes persons often to condemn in one, what they approve in another.
By whom do your children cast them out? - Your disciples; your followers.
See the notes at Matthew 1:1. Christ was not satisfied by showing them the intrinsic absurdity of their argument. He showed them that it might as well be applied to them as to him. your disciples, taught by you and encouraged by you, pretend to cast out devils. If your argument be true that a man who casts out devils must be in league with the devil, then "your disciples" have made a covenant with him also. You must therefore either give up this argument, or admit that the working of miracles is proof of the assistance of God.
Therefore they shall be your judges - They condemn you and your argument. They are conclusive witnesses against the force of your reasoning.
12:27 By whom do your children - That is, disciples, cast them out - It seems, some of them really did this; although the sons of Sceva could not. Therefore shall they be your judge - Ask them, if Satan will cast out Satan: let even them be judges in this matter.And they shall convict you of obstinacy and partiality, who impute that in me to Beelzebub, which in them you impute to God.Beside, how can I rob him of his subjects, till I have conquered him? The kingdom of God is come upon you - Unawares; before you expected: so the word implies.