But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
Parallel translations
- WEB But the Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”
- BSB But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
- 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, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
- Mark 3:22And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
- Matt 12:23–24And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
- John 3:20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
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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.'
How Matthew 9:34 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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