Luke 11:20 kjv
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Luke 11:20 nkjv
But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Luke 11:20 niv
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Luke 11:20 esv
But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Luke 11:20 nlt
But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.
Luke 11 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Finger/Spirit of God - Divine Power & Agency | ||
| Exod 8:19 | Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God."... | Egyptian magicians acknowledge divine power. |
| Exod 31:18 | ...He gave Moses the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. | God's direct act of writing the Law. |
| Deut 9:10 | ...the two tablets of stone written with the finger of God; and on them were all the words... | Reiterates God's direct writing of commandments. |
| Mt 12:28 | But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. | Parallel verse, "Spirit of God" equivalent to "Finger of God." |
| Gen 1:2 | The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. | Spirit as the divine creative force. |
| Lk 4:18 | "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel..." | Jesus' ministry empowered by the Spirit. |
| Kingdom of God - Its Arrival and Nature | ||
| Mk 1:15 | "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." | Kingdom's immediate nearness at Jesus' advent. |
| Lk 10:9 | "...'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'" | Kingdom announced as drawing near. |
| Lk 17:20-21 | Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come... "Indeed, the kingdom of God is within you [or among you]." | Kingdom as a present reality, not just future event. |
| Dan 2:44 | And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed... | Prophetic future Kingdom breaking worldly kingdoms. |
| Col 1:13 | He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love... | Believers transferred to God's active reign. |
| Rev 11:15 | Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ..." | Future culmination of God's victorious Kingdom. |
| Christ's Authority Over Demons & Satan | ||
| Lk 4:36 | Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." | Jesus' unique authority over unclean spirits. |
| Lk 10:18 | And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." | Satan's defeat linked to apostolic power. |
| Lk 10:19 | "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy..." | Believers share in Christ's authority over evil. |
| Mt 12:29 | "Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house." | Parable illustrating Jesus overpowering Satan. |
| Heb 2:14 | ...that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil... | Christ's ultimate victory over the devil through His death. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. | Jesus' purpose is to dismantle demonic works. |
| Rom 16:20 | And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. | God's ultimate defeat of Satan for believers. |
| Confrontation & Accusation against Jesus | ||
| Lk 11:15 | But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons." | The direct accusation Jesus is refuting. |
| Mk 3:22 | And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons." | Parallel accusation from another Gospel. |
| Jn 8:48 | Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" | Example of false accusations against Jesus. |
Luke 11 verses
Luke 11 20 Meaning
Luke 11:20 conveys Jesus' profound argument against the accusation that He casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul. He declares that if His exorcisms are accomplished by the direct, irresistible power of God, then it undeniably signifies the immediate and present breaking in of God's sovereign rule – His Kingdom – among them. This verse establishes that the miraculous liberation from demonic oppression is a clear and undeniable sign that God's Kingdom is not merely a future hope, but an active, confronting reality manifested through Jesus' ministry, overthrowing the dominion of darkness.
Luke 11 20 Context
Luke 11:20 is situated within a larger discourse where Jesus has just cast out a mute demon (Lk 11:14). This powerful act prompts varied reactions: some marvel, while others accuse Him of expelling demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Lk 11:15). To counter this blasphemous charge, Jesus employs several lines of reasoning. He first exposes the illogic of their accusation, noting that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Lk 11:17-18). He then challenges them, asking by whom their "sons" (Jewish exorcists) cast out demons (Lk 11:19), implying a hypocrisy if His actions are deemed demonic while theirs are not. Verse 20 forms the apex of His rebuttal: rather than by Satan, His power stems from God, thus proving God's active Kingdom has arrived. He further reinforces this by depicting Himself as the "stronger man" who has bound the "strong man" (Satan) and plundered his possessions (Lk 11:21-22). The historical and cultural context includes a prevailing Jewish expectation of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God, along with common practices of exorcism. Jesus' ministry, with its authoritative exorcisms, represented a direct confrontation with the existing spiritual powers and the entrenched religious leadership, many of whom failed to recognize divine activity.
Luke 11 20 Word analysis
- But if (εἰ δὲ - ei de): "If indeed"; Introduces a direct, contrasting conditional statement. It presents the counter-argument, highlighting the stark choice for the audience to consider the true source of His power.
- I (ἐγὼ - egō): Emphatic pronoun; Jesus Himself, acting directly and personally. The focus is on His specific actions as undeniable evidence.
- cast out (ἐκβάλλω - ekballō): "To throw out," "drive out," "expel forcibly." Signifies a definitive and powerful expulsion, not a gentle coaxing. This verb emphasizes the decisive victory over demonic presence.
- demons (δαιμόνια - daimonia): Evil, malevolent spirits under Satan's dominion, causing oppression and affliction. Their expulsion demonstrates God's victory over the forces of evil.
- by the finger (ἐν δακτύλῳ - en daktylō): "By means of the finger"; A vivid anthropomorphism for the direct, unmistakable, and irresistible power of God. It signifies a distinct, specific action from God, contrasting with human or even demonic power. It recalls instances like the Exodus plagues (Exod 8:19) where Egyptian magicians recognized an act of God's unique power beyond their capabilities, and the Ten Commandments written by God (Exod 31:18; Deut 9:10).
- of God (Θεοῦ - Theou): Identifies the ultimate divine source of the power. It points to God's own direct intervention, distinguishing Jesus' authority from any other form of power or magic.
- then (ἄρα - ara): "Therefore," "consequently," "it follows inevitably." Introduces a logical and undeniable conclusion from the premise.
- the kingdom of God (ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ Θεοῦ - hē basileia tou Theou): God's sovereign, active, and redemptive rule breaking into human history. It refers to God's kingship establishing itself through Christ's works, especially His victory over evil, not merely a future hope.
- has come upon (ἔφθασεν ἐφ’ - ephthasen eph'): "Has arrived already," "has reached," "has overtaken." The verb phthanō denotes an arrival that is unexpected, immediate, and impactful. It signifies the present reality of God's Kingdom confronting and engaging the people, not just approaching in the future. The Kingdom is not merely preached but demonstrated as a present reality.
- you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): Plural; refers to the audience, the Jewish people and specifically those accusing Jesus. The Kingdom's arrival is a direct challenge and opportunity for them to recognize God's hand at work.
- "if I cast out demons by the finger of God": This phrase directly asserts the divine origin of Jesus' power. It stands as a profound antithesis to the accusation of working by Beelzebul. The "finger of God" implies not just divine assistance, but a direct, unmediated act of God Himself. It emphasizes the undeniable presence of God's own power operating through Jesus, far beyond what any human or demonic force could muster.
- "then the kingdom of God has come upon you": This declares the profound consequence and meaning of Jesus' exorcisms. The successful expulsion of demons, orchestrated by divine power, is irrefutable proof that God's Kingdom is no longer merely anticipated but is actively and powerfully manifesting in their midst. It signifies the direct invasion of God's reign into Satan's domain, bringing divine liberation and judgment upon evil. It demands a response, a recognition of God's work.
Luke 11 20 Bonus section
The juxtaposition of "finger of God" (Luke) and "Spirit of God" (Matthew 12:28) for the same event indicates the interchangeability of these expressions in describing the divine agent. Both convey the absolute certainty that Jesus' power to cast out demons is directly from God. This also highlights a core theological point: Jesus' ministry is saturated with the Spirit, and where the Spirit of God operates, the Kingdom of God is undeniably present and active. The refusal of the Jewish leaders to acknowledge this, attributing divine power to demonic sources, bordered on the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit (Lk 12:10). Their spiritual blindness meant they were not merely mistaken, but actively opposing God's demonstrated power. This verse therefore also serves as a sharp indictment, challenging their perception and demanding a recognition of God's work among them.
Luke 11 20 Commentary
Luke 11:20 is Jesus' climactic refutation of the blasphemous charge that His power is demonic. By asserting His exorcisms are by "the finger of God"—a direct reference to God's personal, undeniable power reminiscent of the Exodus plagues and the Law given at Sinai—Jesus presents a powerful, unassailable truth. The expulsion of demons is not mere magic or a lesser power; it is the physical manifestation of God's sovereign rule breaking into the world. The phrase "has come upon you" (ἔφθασεν ἐφ’ ὑμᾶς) emphasizes the immediate and active arrival of this divine Kingdom, making it a present reality confronting His audience. The conflict described here is not just between Jesus and individual demons, but a cosmic battle between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan, with Jesus clearly victorious. His acts are irrefutable signs that the era of God's full rule has dawned, and His very presence inaugurates this divine reign, disarming the forces of evil. It is a call to recognize the true source of His authority and the dawning of God's promised deliverance.