Luke 11 18

Luke 11:18 kjv

If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

Luke 11:18 nkjv

If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.

Luke 11:18 niv

If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.

Luke 11:18 esv

And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

Luke 11:18 nlt

You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive?

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 18 Meaning

Luke 11:18 presents Jesus' logical refutation to the accusation that He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus argues that if Satan were to empower Him to expel other demons, it would mean Satan is divided against himself. A kingdom fractured by internal conflict cannot endure, indicating that such an action would inevitably lead to Satan's own destruction. Therefore, His ability to cast out demons cannot come from Satan but must come from an opposing, superior power—that of God.

Luke 11 18 Context

Luke 11:18 is part of a larger section (Luke 11:14-23) where Jesus confronts the skepticism and outright hostility of some of His hearers. After Jesus miraculously casts out a demon from a mute man, the crowd marvels, but some religious leaders (mentioned as "some of them" in v. 15, and later specified as "scribes and Pharisees" in parallel accounts) accuse Him of exorcising demons by the power of Beelzebul. This accusation attributes Jesus' divine power to the chief of demons.

The broader context of Luke Chapter 11 begins with Jesus teaching His disciples to pray (the Lord's Prayer) and then continues with a parable on persistent prayer. This highlights God's willingness to give good things to those who ask. The controversy over Beelzebul directly follows, creating a stark contrast: from God's benevolence and power (prayer) to the malicious opposition to His divine work through Jesus. This accusation represents a severe spiritual misunderstanding and a hardening of hearts against the clear evidence of God's power at work. Jesus’ response not only logically dismantles their flawed reasoning but also reveals their spiritual blindness to the dawning of God's Kingdom.

Luke 11 18 Word analysis

• If (Εἰ – Ei): A conditional particle introducing a logical premise. It sets up a hypothetical situation ("if this were true") to then show its absurdity.
• Satan (Σατανᾶς – Satanas): From the Hebrew "Satan" (śāṭān), meaning "adversary" or "accuser." It refers to the chief adversary of God and humanity, the leader of the demonic realm, here associated with Beelzebul.
• also (καί – kai): Emphasizes that even Satan, the master of chaos and opposition, is not exempt from the universal principle of self-preservation, which necessitates unity.
• is divided (μεμέρισται – memeristai): Perfect passive indicative of "merizō," meaning "to divide," "to split." The perfect tense signifies a completed action with enduring consequences, highlighting a state of irreparable internal fragmentation.
• against himself (ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτόν – eph’ heauton): Literally "upon himself." This phrase stresses the self-destructive nature of the division; it's an internal conflict that would lead to self-implosion.
• how will his kingdom stand? (πῶς σταθήσεται αὐτοῦ ἡ βασιλεία; – pōs stathēsetai autou hē basileia?): A rhetorical question, expecting a firm negative answer. "Stand" (histēmi) implies stability, endurance, or successful maintenance. It underscores the universal truth that disunity destroys any realm.
• For (Ὅτι – Hoti): A causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "since." It introduces the basis for Jesus' logical argument, which is the specific accusation His opponents made.
• you say (λέγετε – legete): Present active indicative, directly addressing the accusers. It states their exact claim that Jesus is now refuting.
• that I cast out (ἐκβάλλειν με – ekballein me): "Cast out" (ekballein) means "to drive out" or "to expel forcefully." It describes the direct and powerful expulsion of evil spirits.
• demons (τὰ δαιμόνια – ta daimonia): Referring to the evil spirits, fallen angels, or malevolent entities that afflict people, acting under Satan's authority.
• by Beelzebul (ἐν Βεελζεβοὺλ – en Beelzeboul): Beelzebul was a derogatory name for Baal-zebub (2 Kings 1:2), an ancient Philistine deity. It was used in Jewish tradition to refer to a chief demon, effectively a title for Satan. The preposition "en" here denotes the instrument or means by which the action is done.

Words-group analysis:

• "If Satan also is divided against himself": This phrase highlights the profound absurdity of the accusers' premise. It argues that even Satan, who seeks to oppose God and destroy humanity, would not actively sabotage his own power structure by helping his opponents. His aim is conquest and oppression, which requires a degree of internal cohesion.
• "how will his kingdom stand?": This is the core logical implication of the hypothetical division. It invokes a universally understood principle: disunity leads to collapse. Jesus applies this undeniable truth to Satan's dominion, thereby exposing the irrationality of the accusation against Him. Satan's kingdom, despite being evil, operates on a hierarchical structure to achieve its wicked aims, and internal conflict would dismantle its effectiveness.
• "For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul": This concisely states the accusation Jesus is directly addressing. It attributes the power source of Jesus' miraculous exorcisms to Beelzebul, portraying Jesus as an agent of the very evil He is expelling. This false attribution of divine power to Satan is at the heart of the Beelzebul controversy.

Luke 11 18 Bonus section

The Beelzebul controversy, of which Luke 11:18 is a central part, serves as a crucial point of distinction in Jesus' ministry. It demonstrates not only His unparalleled authority over evil spirits but also exposes the spiritual opposition and misjudgment from the religious elite of His day. Their accusation, attributing divine power to demonic influence, underscored their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, who was foretold to bind the strong man (Satan) and plunder his house (deliver those held captive by sin and demons). This very challenge also foreshadows the graver warning in the Synoptic Gospels regarding the unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which implicitly involves attributing the undeniable work of God's Spirit to Satan. The unified nature of Satan's kingdom, even for its evil purposes, is ironically a testament to the fact that even darkness understands the necessity of cohesion for its operation, making the accusers' charge against Jesus profoundly illogical.

Luke 11 18 Commentary

In Luke 11:18, Jesus presents an unassailable logical argument that simultaneously defends His divine authority and exposes the profound spiritual blindness of His accusers. When challenged about the source of His power, Jesus does not merely deny the accusation but turns the accusers' premise against them. He highlights that a kingdom divided cannot stand; this principle applies to earthly kingdoms, houses, and even the spiritual kingdom of Satan. If Jesus, by casting out demons, was supposedly acting under Satan's authority, then Satan would be actively undermining his own dominion. Such a scenario is self-contradictory and illogical, as Satan’s primary goal is to oppose God and hold humanity captive, not to liberate it.

This argument firmly establishes Jesus as being fundamentally opposed to Satan, rather than aligned with him. It implies that Jesus’ power to dislodge evil spirits originates from a source unequivocally stronger and against Satan. While not explicitly stated in this verse, the subsequent verse (Lk 11:20) clarifies this source as "the finger of God." Thus, Jesus’ miraculous power serves as a sign that the Kingdom of God has indeed arrived and is directly confronting and overcoming the kingdom of darkness. This encounter is not merely a theological debate but a crucial engagement in spiritual warfare, where the light of Christ invades and conquers the realm of evil. The accusers, by refusing to acknowledge the divine power manifested in Jesus, reveal their hardened hearts and perilous closeness to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.