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 Pharisees' hypocrisy: if casting out demons proves a connection to Satan, then their own disciples who also cast out demons would then be judged by the same standard. This highlights how their accusations against Jesus were driven by malice rather than sound logic, as they were unwilling to apply the same rule to their own people.
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 healed a man possessed by a demon, who was blind and mute. The religious leaders, instead of acknowledging God's power, accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus points out the absurdity of this charge, asking by what power their own followers cast out demons, implying they would be hypocritical to condemn Him for something similar they permitted in their own circles.
Jesus turns the Pharisees' accusation back on them, using their own practices against their logic. It's a brilliant rhetorical move that exposes their double standard.
Jesus points out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They are accusing Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan. But Jesus asks, 'By whom do your own disciples (or followers) cast them out?' The implication is clear: the Pharisees don't accuse their own disciples of working with Satan when they perform exorcisms. They likely believe their disciples are acting by God's power.
Jesus' argument is essentially: if casting out demons is evidence of demonic power (as they claim about Him), then their own disciples who do the same thing must also be working with Satan. This creates an absurd situation for them. They must either condemn their own followers or admit their accusation against Jesus is baseless and driven by malice, not logic.
Why would the Pharisees accuse Jesus of something they wouldn't dare accuse their own people of? Jesus exposes the real issue: not logic, but a hardened heart.
The core of Jesus' argument in this verse is about fairness and consistency. He's not just making a logical point; he's revealing the malice behind the Pharisees' accusation. They are selectively applying their rules.
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Jesus highlights this glaring contradiction: 'Therefore they will be your judges.' The actions of their own followers, whom they likely respected, serve as undeniable witnesses against the Pharisees' prejudiced judgment of Jesus. Their refusal to apply the same grace and logic to Jesus as they do to their own reveals that their hearts are closed off to recognizing God's work when it's done by Him.
Understand the original words
daimonion · Greek Noun
Beings in rebellion against God who serve Satan, often causing physical or mental affliction and spiritual oppression in humanity.
Beelzeboul · Greek Noun
A name associated with the prince of demons, historically linked to Baal-Zebub; it functions as an epithet for Satan in the Gospels to signify his rule over the demonic realm.
Jesus masterfully turns the Pharisees' own practices and logic against them, highlighting their unfairness and blindness. Their accusation against Him reveals more about their hardened hearts than about Jesus' true identity.
c. 1st century AD
Jewish Exorcists Practice
There were individuals in Jewish society, often associated with the Pharisees or their disciples, who claimed the ability to cast out demons. These exorcists likely employed various methods, including incantations, prayer, and invoking divine names.
c. 1st century AD
Pharisaic Scrutiny of Jesus' Miracles
The Pharisees and religious leaders closely observed Jesus' ministry, including his miraculous healings. They were deeply unsettled by his authority and popularity, leading them to seek explanations that would discredit him.
c. 1st century AD— this verse
Accusation of Beelzebub
Faced with Jesus' undeniable power in healing a man possessed by a demon, the religious leaders accused him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This was a grave accusation, intended to portray Jesus as an agent of evil.
c. 1st century AD
Jesus' Counter-Argument on Exorcism
In response, Jesus used a powerful rhetorical question, pointing out the hypocrisy of their accusation. He asked by whose power their own disciples cast out demons, implying that if his power came from Satan, then their disciples' power must as well.
c. 1st century AD
The Logic of a Divided Kingdom
Jesus further argued that if he were casting out demons by Satan's power, then Satan's kingdom would be divided against itself and could not stand. This logical inconsistency exposed the weakness of their accusation.
c. 1st century AD
The Spirit of God as the Source of Power
Jesus concluded by asserting that his power to cast out demons came from the Spirit of God, which signified the arrival of God's kingdom. This directly contrasted with their accusation of demonic influence.
This passage shows Jewish exorcists attempting to cast out demons using Jesus' name, highlighting that such practices were known among the Jews, just as Jesus points out to the Pharisees that their own followers or associates were also involved in exorcism.
1 Samuel 16:14This verse describes an evil spirit troubling King Saul, illustrating the reality of demonic influence that the Pharisees were directly confronting in Jesus' ministry, and that their own contemporaries also recognized.
Mark 9:38John's question about someone casting out demons in Jesus' name but not following them, and Jesus' response that 'whoever is not against us is for us,' parallels Matthew 12:27 by showing that perceived 'outsiders' were also involved in or claiming authority over spiritual matters, raising questions about judgment and belonging.
Luke 11:19Jesus directly asks a similar question: 'If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out?' This is a clear parallel that reinforces the argument Jesus is making about the inconsistency and malice of the Pharisees' accusation.
Deuteronomy 18:20This Old Testament passage speaks of a prophet speaking in the Lord's name being the only true authority, and warns against any who claim to speak in another's name; it provides a backdrop for discerning true divine power versus false claims, which is central to Jesus' argument against the Pharisees' judgmental accusations.
barnesMatthew 12:27: "And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges."
By whom do your children cast them out? - Your disciples; your followers. See the notes at Matthew 1:1. Christ was not satisfied by showing them the intrinsic absurdity of their argument. He showed them that it might as well be applied to them as to him. your disciples, taught by you and encouraged by you, pretend to cast out devils. If your argument be true that…
meyerMatthew 12:27: "And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges."
Matthew 12:27 . A second way of rebutting the charge. Notice the emphatic antithesis: ἐγώ and οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν . The latter ( people of your own school; see, in general, note on Matthew 8:12 ) are exorcists who have even pretended actually to cast out demons ( Acts 19:13 ; Josephus, Antt. viii. 2. 5, Bell. vii. 6. 3; Justin, c. Tryph. p. 311), who have emanated from t…
Jesus points out the Pharisees' hypocrisy: if casting out demons proves a connection to Satan, then their own disciples who also cast out demons would then be judged by the same standard. This highlights how their accusations against Jesus were driven by malice rather than sound logic, as they were unwilling to apply the same rule to their own people.
Jesus has just healed a man possessed by a demon, who was blind and mute. The religious leaders, instead of acknowledging God's power, accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus points out the absurdity of this charge, asking by what power their own followers cast out demons, implying they would be hypocritical to condemn Him for something similar they permitted in their own circles.
Jesus has just healed a man possessed by a demon, who was blind and mute. The religious leaders, instead of acknowledging God's power, accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus points out the absurdity of this charge, asking by what power their own followers cast out demons, implying they would be hypocritical to condemn Him for something similar they permitted in their own circles.
"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 Pharisees' hypocrisy: if casting out demons proves a connection to Satan, then their own disciples who also cast out demons would then be judged by the same standard. This highli…
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Last reviewed October 2026