And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus points out the hypocrisy of the accusers by referencing their own people who also practiced exorcism. If these "sons of theirs" could cast out demons without being accused of serving the devil, then the accusers had no logical basis to condemn Jesus for the same thing. Their own practices would serve as the evidence of their flawed judgment.
And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just cast out a demon, and the crowd is amazed, but the religious leaders accuse him of using the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus counters their accusation by pointing out that if he were working with Satan, then their own Jewish exorcists—whom he calls "your sons"—would also have to be working with Satan. Therefore, these exorcists, who are part of their own community, should serve as witnesses against the accusers' illogical and malicious claim.
When Jesus is accused of casting out demons by the power of Satan, He doesn't just deny it. He turns the accusation back on His accusers with a clever question. What does this reveal about His strategy and their own practices?
Jesus faces a serious accusation: that He performs miracles through demonic power, specifically 'Beelzebul,' a name often associated with Satan. Instead of getting defensive, Jesus employs a rhetorical strategy that exposes the inconsistency of their accusation.
A Logical Stumper
He asks, 'If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out?' (Luke 11:19). The 'sons' here likely refer to Jewish exorcists or perhaps disciples within their own circles who were known to perform exorcisms. Jesus is essentially saying: 'You acknowledge that your own people can cast out demons. If my power is from Satan, then wouldn't the power used by your sons also have to be from Satan? And if so, wouldn't they be guilty of the same thing you accuse me of?'
Self-Condemnation
By posing this question, Jesus forces them to confront a logical dilemma. If they condemn Him for using demonic power, they must also condemn their own 'sons' or fellow countrymen who engage in similar practices. The implication is that they cannot condemn Jesus without also condemning themselves and their own traditions. Therefore, these exorcists, who are part of their own community, would serve as 'judges' against the accusers, proving the illogical nature of their charge.
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Jesus' miracles weren't just impressive feats; they were signs pointing to something profound. His response to the accusation reveals where His power truly came from.
The accusation that Jesus casts out demons by Beelzebul is a profound misunderstanding of His identity and mission. Jesus' counter-question isn't just a clever debate tactic; it’s a profound theological statement.
Divine Power, Not Demonic
When Jesus performs an exorcism, it's not a sign of His alliance with Satan, but a demonstration of God's kingdom breaking into the world. Casting out demons signifies the defeat of evil and the restoration of God's order. His power is not derived from the kingdom of darkness, but from the very source of light and life – God Himself.
The Kingdom Divided?
Jesus’ argument implies that if Satan were casting out his own forces, his kingdom would be in chaos and self-destruction. This is illogical. Therefore, the power Jesus wields must be something distinct from and superior to demonic power. It is the power of God, actively liberating people from bondage and ushering in His reign.
This verse is set against the backdrop of common Jewish practices of exorcism. Jesus uses the existence of these Jewish exorcists to highlight the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who accused Him of demonic power while likely not condemning their own people for similar claims.
c. 1st century AD
Prevalence of Jewish Exorcism
During Jesus' time, Jewish exorcists, sometimes called 'sons of the wise' or associated with rabbinical schools, claimed to cast out demons. They used various methods, including invoking names like Abraham or Solomon, and reciting incantations.
c. 1st century AD
Jesus' Ministry of Exorcism
Jesus himself performed numerous exorcisms, demonstrating a divine authority over demonic forces that amazed onlookers and challenged the religious establishment.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Pharisaic Accusation of Beelzebul
The Pharisees, witnessing Jesus' power over demons, accused Him of working through Beelzebul, the prince of demons, rather than by the power of God.
c. 1st century AD
Jesus' Defense and Argument
Jesus responded to the accusation by pointing out the illogical nature of Satan casting out his own. He challenged them to consider their own 'sons' who performed exorcisms, asking by whom they did their work.
This passage presents the same argument Jesus makes in Luke, directly challenging the accusers by asking who their own exorcists credit for their successes.
Acts 19:13This shows that there were indeed Jewish exorcists who attempted to cast out demons, lending credence to Jesus' rhetorical question about 'your sons' casting out spirits.
1 Samuel 16:14This passage illustrates how an evil spirit could torment individuals, providing a backdrop for the reality of demonic possession that Jesus was addressing.
Mark 9:38-40This shows a similar situation where Jesus defends those who were casting out demons in his name but were not part of his immediate group, highlighting a consistent principle of not hindering those doing good work.
clarkeLuke 11:19: "And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges."
Beelzebub - See on Matthew 10:25 (note).
pulpitLuke 11:19: "And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges."
Verse 19. - By whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. But he goes further in his skillful line of argument. "I am not the only one," said Jesus, "who claims to cast out devils. There are those in the midst of you, your sons, who make a similar assertion. Have they too entered into a league with this evil angel?" A question has been raised r…
Jesus points out the hypocrisy of the accusers by referencing their own people who also practiced exorcism. If these "sons of theirs" could cast out demons without being accused of serving the devil, then the accusers had no logical basis to condemn Jesus for the same thing. Their own practices would serve as the evidence of their flawed judgment.
Jesus has just cast out a demon, and the crowd is amazed, but the religious leaders accuse him of using the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus counters their accusation by pointing out that if he were working with Satan, then their own Jewish exorcists—whom he calls "your sons"—would also have to be working with Satan. Therefore, these exorcists, who are part of their own community, should serve as witnesses against the accusers' illogical and malicious claim.
Jesus has just cast out a demon, and the crowd is amazed, but the religious leaders accuse him of using the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus counters their accusation by pointing out that if he were working with Satan, then their own Jewish exorcists—whom he calls "your sons"—would also have to be working with Satan. Therefore, these exorcists, who are part of their own community, should serve as witnesses against the accusers' illogical and malicious claim.
"And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges." — Jesus points out the hypocrisy of the accusers by referencing their own people who also practiced exorcism. If these "sons of theirs" could cast out demons without being accused of serving the devil,…
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Last reviewed October 2026