But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of 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.
- BSB But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that He drives out demons.”
- ESV But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of 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.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”
- Mark 3:22The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”
- Matt 12:23–24All the multitudes were amazed, and said, “Can this be the son of David?”
- John 3:20For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would 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.'
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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