Luke 11:19

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast [them] out? therefore shall they be your judges.

And {G1161} if {G1487} I {G1473} by {G1722} Beelzebub {G954} cast out {G1544} devils {G1140}, by {G1722} whom {G5101} do {G1544} your {G5216} sons {G5207} cast them out {G1544}? therefore {G1223}{G5124} shall they {G846} be {G2071} your {G5216} judges {G2923}.

If I drive out demons by Ba‘al-Zibbul, by whom do your people drive them out? So, they will be your judges!

And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will 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.

Commentary

In Luke 11:19, Jesus continues His powerful rebuttal to those who accuse Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the chief of demons. Having just demonstrated His authority by expelling a mute spirit, Jesus faces the absurd charge that His divine power originates from Satan himself. This verse highlights Jesus' sharp intellect and His ability to expose the hypocrisy of His accusers.

Context

This verse is part of a larger discourse where Jesus defends His miraculous work. Following His successful exorcism of a demon that caused muteness (Luke 11:14), some onlookers, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, attributed His power to Beelzebub (Luke 11:15). Jesus first refutes this by explaining that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand (Luke 11:17-18), as Satan would not cast out his own demons. Verse 19 then serves as a direct challenge, turning their accusation back on them.

Key Themes

  • Exposing Hypocrisy: Jesus challenges His critics to apply their own standards to themselves. If His exorcisms are demonic, then what about the exorcisms performed by "their sons" (likely referring to Jewish exorcists of the time)? This accusation against Jesus is logically flawed and reveals their bias.
  • Divine Authority vs. Demonic Power: Jesus asserts that His power comes from God, not from evil forces. The presence of His successful exorcisms is evidence of the kingdom of God having come upon them (Luke 11:20).
  • The Inevitable Judgment: The phrase "therefore shall they be your judges" is a powerful statement. It implies that their own accepted practices and the very people they acknowledge as legitimate exorcists will testify against their false accusations concerning Jesus. Their own logic will condemn them.

Linguistic Insights

The term Beelzebub (Greek: Beelzeboul) is a derogatory name for Satan or a chief demon. It is likely a corruption of "Baal-zebub," meaning "lord of the flies," a Philistine deity mentioned in 2 Kings 1:2. By associating Jesus with this name, His accusers sought to link Him to the darkest, most unclean spiritual forces, thereby discrediting His ministry.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us of the danger of making quick, unfounded judgments, especially when motivated by prejudice or a desire to discredit truth. It encourages us to:

  • Examine Our Own Standards: Are we consistent in how we apply our beliefs and judgments to others versus ourselves?
  • Recognize Divine Work: True spiritual power that brings freedom and healing is from God, not from evil. We should be discerning and not attribute God's work to the enemy.
  • Beware of False Accusations: Spreading slander or baseless accusations not only harms others but ultimately reflects poorly on the accuser, often leading to self-condemnation.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 9:49

    And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

  • Luke 19:22

    And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, [thou] wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

  • Matthew 12:41

    The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas [is] here.

  • Matthew 12:42

    The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon [is] here.

  • Job 15:6

    Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

  • Matthew 12:27

    And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast [them] out? therefore they shall be your judges.

  • Matthew 12:28

    But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
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