But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”
- KJV But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
- NKJV But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”
- NASB But the Pharisees were saying, “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”
- NLT But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Pharisees claim Jesus casts out demons by the prince of demons. Their hardened hostility twists his works of mercy into accusation.
Overview
Unable to deny the miracle, the Pharisees attribute it to Satan rather than God, a slanderous charge revealing their deepening opposition. Their blindness contrasts sharply with the crowds' wonder. This response foreshadows the rising conflict that will culminate in the cross, exposing hearts that reject the light even when it shines plainly.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Luke 11:15but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.”
- Mark 3:22And the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons He drives out demons.”
- Matt 12:23–24The crowds were astounded and asked, “Could this be the Son of David?”
- John 3:20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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