Luke 11: 14-28

 

14: He was driving out a demon which was dumb; and when the demon had come out, the dumb man began to speak. The people were astonished,

15: but some of them said, “it is by Beelzebul prince of demons that He drives the demons out.”

16: Others by way of a test, demanded from Him, a sign from heaven.

17: But He knew what was in their minds, and said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.

18: And if satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand- since as you claim, I drive out the demons by Beelzebul?

19: If it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons, by whom do your own people drive them out? If this is you argument, they themselves will refute you.

20: But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out the demons, then be sure the kingdom of God has already come upon you.

21: “When a strong man fully armed is on guard over his palace, his processions are safe.

22: But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he carries off the arms and armour on which the man had relied and distributes the spoil.

23: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.

24: ‘When an unclean spirit comes out of someone it wanders over the desert sands seeking a resting-place; and if it finds none, it says, “So I will go back to the home I left.”

25: So it returns and finds the house swept clean and tidy.

26: It goes off and collects seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they all come in and settle there; and in the end that person’s plight is worse than before.’

27: While He was speaking thus, a woman in the crowd called out, “Happy the womb that carried you and the breasts that suckled you!”

28: He rejoined, “No, happy are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”