Luke 11:14 – 26 Power

Luke 11:14 – 26 Power

He was driving out a demon (that was) mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons." Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that (I) drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. "When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, 'I shall return to my home from which I came.' But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first."

Jesus follows with a few short parables. The first of these is about people questioning the source of his power. Some said, “Only by the power of the Prince of Demons is Jesus able to cast out demons.” Jesus refutes with logic by saying “a house divided against itself will surely fail”. He and the miracles he performs “by the finger of God” are evidence that the kingdom of God is present among them. This is the proof that people were asking for. He cautions his listeners to be wary of the (destructive) power lack of faith and doubt can have in our lives. There is evil in the world. The very person Jesus just cast the devils out of is vulnerable to their return. Those devils are looking for a new home, maybe back with that same individual. We all have our weaknesses. They are hard to overcome and still harder to permanently defeat. Jesus understands our human nature very well. He knows how hard it is to overcome temptation – because he is beset by it himself. Be wary he seems to be saying. Trust in him and he will see us safe.