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.

And {G2532} if {G1487} I {G1473} by {G1722} Beelzebub {G954} cast out {G1544} devils {G1140}, by {G1722} whom {G5101} do your {G5216} children {G5207} cast them out {G1544}? therefore {G5124}{G1223} they {G846} shall be {G2071} your {G5216} judges {G2923}.

Besides, 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 Matthew 12:27, Jesus continues His powerful rebuttal to the Pharisees, who had just accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of devils. This verse serves as a rhetorical question, turning their own practices and beliefs back upon them, exposing their hypocrisy and flawed reasoning.

Context

This verse is part of a larger discourse where Jesus confronts the religious leaders of His day. After Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute (Matthew 12:22), the crowds are amazed, wondering if He might be the promised Son of David. However, the Pharisees, driven by envy and unbelief, immediately accuse Him: "This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils" (Matthew 12:24). Jesus responds by first showing the absurdity of Satan fighting himself (Matthew 12:26) and then, in this verse, challenges them on their own terms regarding Jewish exorcists.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority vs. Demonic Power: Jesus highlights the illogical nature of the Pharisees' accusation. If He casts out demons by evil power, how do they explain the exorcisms performed by their own people? This implies that either all exorcisms are demonic (which would condemn their "children"), or that their judgment of Jesus is biased and unfounded. Jesus' power is clearly from God, not from Satan.
  • Hypocrisy of Religious Leaders: The verse exposes the profound hypocrisy and spiritual blindness of the Pharisees. They were quick to condemn Jesus, attributing His good works to evil, while apparently accepting similar acts when performed by others within their own tradition. Their prejudice prevented them from recognizing the true source of Jesus' authority and the presence of God's Kingdom.
  • The Kingdom of God: Implicit in Jesus' argument is the truth that His power to cast out demons is a sign of the Kingdom of God breaking into the world. He states this explicitly in the subsequent verse: "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you."

Linguistic Insights

  • "Beelzebub": This term (also rendered Beelzebul) is likely a derogatory Jewish alteration of Baal-Zebub, a Philistine deity worshipped at Ekron (see 2 Kings 1:2), meaning "lord of the flies." In the New Testament, it became a common designation for the chief demon or Satan himself.
  • "Your children": This phrase refers to other Jewish exorcists of the time, perhaps disciples of the Pharisees or other practitioners who claimed to cast out demons using various incantations, rituals, or the name of God. Jesus uses their accepted practices to challenge their condemnation of Him.
  • "They shall be your judges": This means that the actions of these Jewish exorcists, whom the Pharisees did not accuse of demonic power, would serve as a witness against the Pharisees' inconsistent and prejudiced judgment of Jesus. Their own standards would condemn them.

Practical Application

This passage offers several timeless lessons. It urges us to be discerning, judging actions by their fruit and source, rather than by prejudice or preconceived notions. It reminds us that good works, especially those that bring freedom and healing, are often signs of God's presence, even if they challenge our established traditions. Furthermore, it highlights the ongoing spiritual battle and the ultimate victory of Christ over all demonic powers, encouraging believers to stand firm against the schemes of the devil, empowered by God's Spirit.

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

  • Mark 9:38

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

  • Mark 9:39

    But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

  • Acts 19:13

    ¶ Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

  • Acts 19:16

    And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

  • 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.

  • 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 9:50

    And Jesus said unto him, Forbid [him] not: for he that is not against us is for us.
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