But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' response doesn't just counter the accusation; it highlights the intent behind their thoughts. He uses the idea of a divided kingdom or household to expose their own malicious purpose in accusing Him, implying their thinking itself was the source of this destructive division.
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just cast out a demon from a man, restoring his speech, and the crowds are amazed. However, the Pharisees, deeply threatened by Jesus' power, accuse him of working through Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus, knowing their malicious thoughts and the logical fallacy of their accusation, uses a proverb to expose the absurdity of their claim.
Ever feel like someone just gets what you're thinking, even before you say it? Jesus did, and He used it to challenge His critics.
The passage opens with a powerful statement: 'But he, knowing their thoughts...' This wasn't just a lucky guess; it points to Jesus' divine insight. The original Greek word for 'thoughts' here, 'dianoemata,' can imply not just mere ideas, but their underlying intentions and schemes.
This divine perception allowed Jesus to cut through the Pharisees' accusations. They were accusing Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan, a wicked scheme. Jesus, seeing their malicious intent, responded not with anger, but with irrefutable logic.
Why is division so dangerous? Jesus uses simple, yet profound, analogies to show how internal conflict leads to ruin.
Jesus' response to the Pharisees' accusation is framed by two powerful analogies:
Jesus applies this logic to the spiritual realm. Their accusation implied that Satan's kingdom was divided. But Jesus' work was actually dismantling Satan's power. A kingdom or household at war with itself cannot endure; it is destined to fall apart.
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Understand the original words
basileia · Greek Noun
The ruling authority, realm, or reign of a king. Biblically, it describes the sphere of God's sovereign rule or, in the case of evil powers, the domain of darkness.
The Pharisees' accusation that Jesus worked with Satan to cast out demons was a serious charge that threatened to undermine his ministry. Jesus' response, using the principle that a divided kingdom or household cannot stand, highlights the inherent contradiction in their accusation and serves as a powerful defense.
c. 27 AD
Jesus begins public ministry
Jesus of Nazareth begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples throughout Galilee and Judea.
c. 28 AD— this verse
Jesus casts out a demon
Jesus casts a demon out of a man who was mute, leading to astonishment among the crowds but also accusations from the Pharisees.
c. 28 AD
Pharisees accuse Jesus of using Beelzebul
The religious leaders, the Pharisees, witness Jesus' powerful works and, unable to deny them, accuse him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.
c. 28 AD
Jesus speaks parables about divided kingdoms
In response to the accusations, Jesus uses the analogy of a kingdom or household divided against itself to demonstrate the illogic of their claims.
Jesus directly uses this same proverb, 'Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand,' in response to a similar accusation, highlighting the common theological reasoning against such a charge.
Mark 3:24Mark's Gospel presents this proverb in conjunction with the question, 'How can Satan cast out Satan?', emphasizing the absurdity of the accusation by showing how it would imply Satan's self-destruction.
John 12:25Jesus speaks about losing one's life for His sake being the way to keep it, illustrating a principle where division or self-preservation leads to ruin, while surrender leads to life, mirroring the consequence of internal division.
1 Corinthians 1:10Paul urges the Corinthian church to be perfectly united in mind and judgment, warning against divisions, which directly relates to Jesus' point that internal strife ultimately leads to a crumbling foundation.
Galatians 5:15Paul admonishes believers not to bite and devour one another, lest they be consumed by one another, offering a vivid, practical example of how internal conflict within the 'household' of faith leads to mutual destruction.
gillLuke 11:17: "But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth."
But he knowing their thoughts,.... Being God omniscient, said unto them; the following parables, as they are called in Mark 3:23 or proverbial expressions, very pertinent to the purpose, and sufficient to set aside the base calumnies of the Pharisees: every kingdom divided against itself, is brought to desolation; in process of…
ellicottLuke 11:17: "But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth."
(17-23) But he, knowing their thoughts. —St. Luke seems here to bring together into one narrative two incidents which in St. Matt. ( Matthew 9:32 ; Matthew 12:22 ) appear as separated. The points of resemblance, the dumbness in both cases, both followed by the whisper that Jesus cast out devils by Beelzebub, may have easily led…
Jesus' response doesn't just counter the accusation; it highlights the intent behind their thoughts. He uses the idea of a divided kingdom or household to expose their own malicious purpose in accusing Him, implying their thinking itself was the source of this destructive division.
Jesus has just cast out a demon from a man, restoring his speech, and the crowds are amazed. However, the Pharisees, deeply threatened by Jesus' power, accuse him of working through Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus, knowing their malicious thoughts and the logical fallacy of their accusation, uses a proverb to expose the absurdity of their claim.
Jesus has just cast out a demon from a man, restoring his speech, and the crowds are amazed. However, the Pharisees, deeply threatened by Jesus' power, accuse him of working through Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus, knowing their malicious thoughts and the logical fallacy of their accusation, uses a proverb to expose the absurdity of their claim.
"But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls." — Jesus' response doesn't just counter the accusation; it highlights the intent behind their thoughts. He uses the idea of a divided kingdom or household to expose their own malicious purpose in accu…
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Last reviewed October 2026