Jesus was stronger than satan

JESUS WAS STRONGER THAN SATAN
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Luke 11:20 20But if I drive out demons by the finger
of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(20) If I with the finger of God . . .—Note the substitution of this language for
“by the Spirit of God,” in Matthew 12:28, and its connectionwith the use by
the older prophets of “the hand of the Lord,” to indicate the state which
issuedin prophetic inspiration (Ezekiel1:3; Ezekiel37:1), and with “the
finger of God” as writing the Commandments on the tables of stone (Exodus
31:18), and Pharaoh’s confessionthat “the finger of God” was with Moses and
Aaron in the wonders which they wrought (Exodus 8:19). The meaning of this
boldly anthropomorphic language is sufficiently obvious. As the “hand”
denotes powergenerally, so the “finger” symbolises powerin its concentrated
and specially-directedenergy.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
11:14-26 Christ's thus casting out the devils, was really the destroying of their
power. The heart of every unconverted sinner is the devil's palace, where he
dwells, and where he rules. There is a kind of peace in the heart of an
unconverted soul, while the devil, as a strong man armed, keeps it. The sinner

is secure, has no doubt concerning the goodness ofhis state, nor any dread of
the judgment to come. But observe the wonderful change made in conversion.
The conversionof a soul to God, is Christ's victory over the devil and his
powerin that soul, restoring the soul to its liberty, and recovering his own
interest in it and powerover it. All the endowments of mind of body are now
employed for Christ. Here is the condition of a hypocrite. The house is swept
from common sins, by a forced confession, as Pharaoh's;by a feigned
contrition, as Ahab's; or by a partial reformation, as Herod's. The house is
swept, but it is not washed; the heart is not made holy. Sweeping takes offonly
the loose dirt, while the sin that besets the sinner, the beloved sin, is
untouched. The house is garnishedwith common gifts and graces.It is not
furnished with any true grace;it is all paint and varnish, not real nor lasting.
It was never given up to Christ, nor dwelt in by the Spirit. Let us take heed of
resting in that which a man may have, and yet come short of heaven. The
wickedspirits enter in without any difficulty; they are welcomed, and they
dwell there; there they work, there they rule. From such an awful state let all
earnestlypray to be delivered.
Barnes'Notes on the Bible
See this passage explainedin the notes at Matthew 12:22-30.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
20. the finger of God—"the Spirit of God" (Mt 12:28);the former figuratively
denoting the powerof God, the latter the living PersonalAgentin every
exercise ofit.
Matthew Poole's Commentary
See Poole on"Luke 11:18"
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
But if I with the, finger of God,.... The powerof God, referring to Exodus 8:19
and so the Cabalistic Jews (r) explain it,
"the finger is one of the five in the hand, and is that finger which works by the
powerof Elohim;''

it is the same with the Spirit of God; See Gill on Matthew 12:28 which is often
calledthe hand of the Lord, Ezekiel1:3.
(r) R. Moschin Sepher Hashem, apud Cabal. Denudata. T. I. par. l. p. 146.
Geneva Study Bible
But if I with the {d} finger of God castout devils, no doubt the kingdom of
God is come upon you.
(d) That is, by the power of God: so it says in Geneva Ex 8:19.
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Expositor's Greek Testament
Luke 11:20. ἐν δακτύλῳ Θεοῦ:instead of Mt.’s ἐν πνεύματι Θεοῦ, which is
doubtless the original expression, being more appropriate to the connectionof
thought. Lk.’s expressionemphasises the immediateness of the Divine action
through Jesus, in accordancewith his habit of giving prominence to the
miraculousness ofChrist’s healing acts. But the question was not as to the
fact, but as to the moral quality of the miracle. The phrase recalls Exodus
8:9.—ἔφθασεν:φθάνω in classicsmeans to anticipate, in later Greek to reach,
the idea of priority being dropped out.
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
20. with the finger of God] “Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the
finger of God” Exodus 8:19.
is come upon you] The word and tense imply suddenness and surprise.
Bengel's Gnomen
Luke 11:20. Δακτύλῳ, with the finger) by a powermanifestly divine, and
without any difficulty. Comp. Exodus 8:19.
Pulpit Commentary

Verse 20. - But if I with the finger of God castout devils, no doubt the
kingdom of God is come upon you. Here Jesus points to a fact well knownand
thoroughly established. There was no question here; the most obstinate cases
of possessionhad yielded to that "finger" be spoke ofhere; the fiercestof the,
alas!(then) great company of the insane, at the bidding of that quiet, humble
Rabbi, for ever shook offthe spirit of madness, in whatever form of terrible
possessionit had been dwelling in his body. There was no question here; the
only point raised by his enemies how had that quiet Rabbi done these strange,
mighty works - Jesus had answered;and now draws a picture of one of these
acts of his. The "finger of God" in St. Matthew, where the same or a similar
discourse is related, is calledthe "Spirit of God." The expressionis strange,
but is one not unusual in ancient Hebrew phraseology. So the Egyptian
magicians saidto Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19). The ten
commandments are describedas written on the two tables of stone with the
"finger of God." "You have seenby what powerthe devils obey me; yea, the
kingdom of God, for which you are waiting and looking, lo, it is come upon
you."
Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keeps his palace, his goods are in
peace:
COMMENTARIES OF BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(21-23)When a strong man armed keepethhis palace.—See Noteson
Matthew 12:29-30. The only noticeable variations are the use of “palace”for
“house;” of the strong man being “armed;” of the “armour” or “panoply”
(the same word as in Ephesians 6:13)in which he trusted; of the “division of

the spoils.” It is throughout a fuller and more vivid report, but apparently of
the same sayings.
21, 22. strong man—meaning Satan.

armed—pointing to all the subtle and varied methods by which he wields his
dark power overmen.
keepeth—"guardeth."
his palace—manwhetherviewed more largelyor in individual souls—how
significant of what men are to Satan!
in peace—undisturbed, secure in his possession.
When a strong man armed,.... By the strong man, is meant the devil; See Gill
on Matthew 12:29 and who may be said to be "armed", both with his own
temptations, which are as fiery darts, and which are thrown by him thick and
fast, suddenly and swiftly, privily, and with greatart and cunning, and with
greatstrength, and are very injurious; and also with the sins and lusts of men,
which are armour of unrighteousness, and which Satan turns upon them, and
makes use of againstthem, to their greatdetriment; and who
keepethhis palace:which is the corrupt heart of an unregenerate man, where
he dwells as a king, has his throne, keeps his court, and has his courtiers, and
attendants, the lusts of the flesh, and the desires of the will, and the carnal
affections;and which, as filthy a palace as it is, is perfectly agreeable to his
nature; and this is kept by a guard of devils, and worldly lusts, till its strong
holds are demolished by the Gospel, and Christ the King of glory enters in; till
such time,
his goods are in peace:there is no concernin such an heart about sin, no
uneasiness onthat account, no sense ofdanger, nor inquiry after salvation; no
dread upon the mind at the curses of the law, nor fears of hell, and
damnation; but such a man lives in entire security, crying Peace, Peace,to
himself.
Geneva Study Bible

When a strong man armed keepethhis {e} palace, his goods are in peace:
(e) The word properly signifies an open and empty room in front of a house,
and so in translation is taken for noblemen's houses.
Luke 11:21. ὅταν: introducing the parable of the strong man subdued by a
stronger, symbolising the true state of the case as betweenBeelzebuband
Jesus, probably more original in Lk. than in Mt. (Matthew 12:29).—
καθωπλισμένος, fully armed, here only, in N.T.—αὐλήν, court, whose
entrance is guarded, according to some;house, castle, orpalace according to
others (οἰκίανin Mt.).
21. When a strong man armed keepethhis palace]The same metaphor is used
of the Christian opposing Satan, as here of Satanopposing Christ, Ephesians
6:13. The world is here Satan’s palace (John12:31; John 16:11)and men his
possessions(2 Timothy 2:26).
Bengel's Gnomen
Luke 11:21. Ὁ ἰσχυρὸς, a strong man) intrinsically strong. This is the
Subject.—καθωπλισμένος, armed)extrinsically: Armed, i.e. whilst he is
armed, so long as no one strips him of his armour. This is to be joined to the
Predicate.—τὴνἑαυτοῦ, his own) See 2 Peter2:19 [“servants of corruption,”
who constitute Satan’s own palace].—τὰἱπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ, his goods, his
resources)whichare kept safe in his palace.
Pulpit Commentary
Verses 21, 22. - When a strong man armed keepethhis palace, his goods are in
peace:but when a strongerthan he shall come upon him, and overcome him,
he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
The exegesisis easyhere. The strong man is the devil; his palace is the world;
his goods especiallyhere the poor possessed;the strongerthan he is Jesus

himself, who, as he paints this feature in the picture, is thinking of the scenes
of the temptation, when in goodearnesthe overcame his ghostly adversary,
then he took from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and now he, the
Conqueror, divideth his spoils, among which are these unhappy possessed
ones now being rescuedfrom the powerof their tormentor.
Vincent's Word Studies
A strong man (ὁ ἰσχυρὸς)
It has the article: the strong man. So Rev. See on Matthew 12:29.
Armed (καθωπλισμένος)
Fully armed: down (κατά)from head to heel.
His palace (ἑαυτοῦ αὐλήν)
Lit., his own. Ἀυλή is strictly the open court in front of a house:later, the
court round which the house is built, and so applied to the house generally, as
our door or roof. Rev., court; for there, in the open space, commanding the
doors, he would mount guard.
Luke 11:22 But when a strongerthan he shall come on him, and overcome
him, he takes from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divides his
spoils.
BIBLEHUB COMMENTARIES

22. a strongerthan he—Christ: Glorious title, in relation to Satan!
come upon him and overcome him—sublimely expressing the Redeemer's
approach, as the Seedof the woman, to bruise the Serpent's head.
taketh from him all his armour—"his panoply," "his complete armor." Vain
would be the victory, were not the means of regaining his lostpower wrested
from him. It is this that completes the triumph and ensures the final
overthrow of his kingdom. The parable that immediately follows (Lu 11:24-
26) is just the reverse of this. (See on [1636]Mt12:43-45.)In the one case,
Satanis dislodged by Christ, and so finds, in all future assaults, the house
preoccupied;in the other, he merely goes out and comes in again, finding the

house "EMPTY" (Mt 12:44)of any rival, and all ready to welcome him back.
This explains the important saying that comes in betweenthe two parables
(Lu 11:23). Neutrality in religion there is none. The absence of positive
attachment to Christ involves hostility to Him.
But when a strongerthan he,.... By whom is meant Christ, who is the mighty
God, the Almighty; and appears to be so, in the creationof all things, in
upholding them by the word of his power, in the government of the world, and
the works ofprovidence, in the redemption of his people from sin, Satan, and
the law, and in the conversionof them, by the efficacyof his grace, andin the
preservationof them by his power;and who is manifestly strongerthan
Satan; not only by these instances, but by what follows:
shall come upon him; as he did in person, when he dispossessedhim from the
bodies of men; and does by his Spirit in conversion, when he enters into his
palace, the heart of man, binds him, and looses men from him, and turns them
from the powerof Satan, to God, and sets up a throne of grace, where he
himself dwells and reigns: so he comes upon him as an adversary, and often at
an unawares;and always with great powerand strength, and succeeds:Satan
came upon Christ in the wilderness, in the garden, and on the cross, and
attackedhim, but without success;whence it is clear, that he is strongerthan
he:
and overcame him; he overcame him in the wilderness, and obligedhim to
retreat; and on the cross, whenhe obtained a complete victory over him,
destroyedhim, his principalities and powers, and all his works, and led him
captive; and in conversion, so as to deliver his people from him, that were led
captive by him, as that he can never regainhis dominion over them more; and
though he is suffered to tempt them; he cannot destroy them; and the saints
shall overcome him at last, and have him bruised under their feet: and at the
same time,

he taketh from him all his armour, wherein he trusted; as his temptations,
which he himself repelledin the wilderness, and wrenched out of his hands,
and made them useless, andhe gives power to his people to resistthem, and
succours them under them, and delivers them out of them; and also the sins of
men, which he took awayon the cross, whenhe bore them, and the
punishment of them there: and in conversion, he greatlyweakens the powerof
sin, and takes awaythe dominion of it; and though the being of it is not
removed, hence Satanhas something to work upon, yet its poweris so far
gone, that neither that nor Satan, candestroy such who are truly calledby the
grace ofGod:
and divideth his spoils: he spoils his house, the heart of man, from being any
longera palace for him, and his goods, his mind and conscience,which are
enlightened and awakened, and purged: or by his spoils are meant, the souls
of men; which are taken as a prey out of his hands, and become trophies of
victorious grace.
Geneva Study Bible
But when a strongerthan he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he
taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
Luke 11:22. πανοπλίαν, panoply, a Pauline word (Ephesians 6:11; Ephesians
6:13).—διαδίδωσιν, distributes the spoils among his friends with the
generosityand the display of victory, referring probably to the extensive scale
of Christ’s healing ministry among demoniacs.
22. a strongerthan he] Christ, “having spoiled principalities and powers,
made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in His Cross,” Colossians
2:15.

his spoils]The spoils which Satanhad won from the race of man.— Bengel.
Bengel's Gnomen
Luke 11:22. Ἐπελθὼν, having come upon him) unexpectedly.—ἐπεποίθει, he
had been confident) The victory of Christ was the more glorious, after that He
had overcome Satan, who had prevailed mightily, and had been confident, for
so many ages.—σκύλα, spoils)whichSatan had wrestedfrom mankind.—
διαδίδωσι, distributeth) Ephesians 4:8 [When He ascendedonhigh He led
captivity captive, and gave gifts to men].
Vincent's Word Studies
A stronger
Also with the article: the stronger.
All his armor (τὴν πανοπλίαν)
Wrong; for the armor is regardedas a whole - the panoply - which is a
transcript of this word. Rightly, Rev., his whole armor. Tynd., his harness.
Spoils (τὰ σκῦλα)
See on Mark 5:35. Compare on goods, Matthew 12:29.
PRECEPTAUSTIN RESOURCES
BRUCE HURT MD
Luke 11:20 "But if I castout demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom
of God has come upon you.

NET Luke 11:20 But if I castout demons by the finger of God, then the
kingdom of God has already overtakenyou.
GNT Luke 11:20 εἰ δὲ ἐν δακτύλῳ θεοῦ [ἐγὼ] ἐκβάλλω τὰ δαιμόνια, ἄρα
ἔφθασεν ἐφ᾽ ὑμᾶς ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ.
NLT Luke 11:20 But if I am casting out demons by the powerof God, then
the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.
KJV Luke 11:20 But if I with the finger of God castout devils, no doubt the
kingdom of God is come upon you.
ESV Luke 11:20 But if it is by the finger of God that I castout demons, then
the kingdom of God has come upon you.
NIV Luke 11:20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the
kingdom of God has come to you.
ASV Luke 11:20 But if I by the finger of God castout demons, then is the
kingdom of God come upon you.
CSB Luke 11:20 If I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom
of God has come to you.
NKJ Luke 11:20 "But if I castout demons with the finger of God, surely the
kingdom of God has come upon you.
NRS Luke 11:20 But if it is by the finger of God that I castout the demons,
then the kingdom of God has come to you.
YLT Luke 11:20 but if by the finger of God I castforth the demons, then
come unawares upon you did the reign of God.
NAB Luke 11:20 But if it is by the finger of God that (I) drive out demons,
then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
NJB Luke 11:20 But if it is through the finger of God that I drive devils out,
then the kingdom of God has indeed caught you unawares.
GWN Luke 11:20 But if I force out demons with the help of God's power,
then the kingdom of God has come to you.

BBE Luke 11:20 But if I, by the finger of God, send out evil spirits, then the
kingdom of God has overtakenyou.
the finger of God Ex 8:19; Mt 12:28
then the kingdom of God has come upon you Lk 10:9,11;Daniel2:44; Acts
20:25;28:23-28;2 Th 1:5
Luke 11 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries
Luke 11:14-23 The Vilification of Jesus, Part1 - John MacArthur
THE FINGER OF GOD
IS THE POWER OF GOD
But - This contrastis betweentwo "IF'S" - the "IF" of Lk 11:19 and the "IF"
in this passage!And so Jesus introduces another explanation for His ability to
castout demons and it is the antithesis of the accusationmade by the Jews.
If I castout demons by the finger of God - "IF" is not an expressionof doubt,
but a first class conditionalstatement(see Conditional statements)meaning
"Since by the finger of God I castout demons, then the kingdom of God has
come upon you." Jesus having demolished their scandalous charge thatHe
was empoweredby Satan, now gives the true source ofHis power, the finger
of God. The parallelpassage in Matthew 12:28 says "But if I castout demons
by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." From this
we can conclude conclude that the finger of Godis the same as the Spirit of
God. The fact that Jesus was casting outdemons by the Spirit of God was
evidence indeed that the kingdom of God had come upon the people of that
generation. The kingdom had come in the Personof the King Himself. The
very fact that the Lord Jesus was there, performing such miracles, was proof
positive that God's anointed Ruler had appeared upon the stage of history.
We see this same phrase finger of God in Exodus 8:19 where Pharaoh's
magicians even admitted that Mosessigns pointed to the fact that his power
was from God. "Then the magicians saidto Pharaoh, “This is the finger of

God.” But Pharaoh’s heartwas hardened, and he did not listen to them, as the
LORD had said." Compare these other allusions to the finger of God - The
Ten Commandments were inscribed by the “fingerof God” (Ex 31:18; Dt
9:10). Ps 8:3 says the heavens are the work of God’s fingers. In sum, the finger
of God is clearly a reference to God's powerand not to the power of Satanas
assertedby the protagonists. Jesusexorcisedthe demons by the powerof God
and the Spirit of God Who filled Jesus and empoweredHim for ministry (see
Lk 4:2-note and Lk 4:14-note, cf Acts 10:38).
Steven Cole - The term, “finger of God,” goes back to Exodus 8:19, where the
Egyptian magicians recognize God’s powerthrough Moses. Jesus is saying
that if Satanis not behind His power, then clearly, God is. By saying that the
kingdom of God had come upon them, Jesus was referring to the initial phase
of the kingdom as manifested in the presence ofthe King. Jesus’deliverance
of people from Satan’s bondage anticipates the coming day when Jesus will
reign not only in hearts, but on the throne of David, when Satanwill be bound
from his powerful influence on earth. Until His enemies are made His
footstool, Christexercises His rule from the Father’s right hand in the hearts
of all who submit their lives to Him.
Then the kingdom (basileia)of God - One must understand that there are (at
least)two phases to the Kingdom of God. The first phase is the invisible,
internal Kingdom of Godand which He later described as "in your midst”
(Lk 17:21+), the Kingdom in which the King reigns in the heart of the person
who has acceptedJesusas Messiah. To proclaim the Kingdom of God is to
preach the Gospel, to proclaim the goodnews of salvation, explaining how one
can enter the Kingdom of God. (Jn 3:3-16+) When the King returns on "the
day that the Son of Man is revealed(apokalupto)," (Lk 17:30+)the heart of
every person will also be revealedas to whether they sought the kingdom of
"self" or the kingdom of the Savior! The future phase of the Kingdom of God
is known as the MessianicAge or the Millennial Kingdom.(See detailed
explanation of Jesus'meaning of the Kingdom of God in notes on Luke 17:20-
21). Jesus knew the Jews were looking for the future aspectofthe Kingdom of
God, (cf Mt 20:21 and Acts 1:6+) but His preaching and that of His disciples
was to explain how one could enter the invisible aspectof the Kingdom of God
in the present and in that way they would be assuredof experiencing the

visible Kingdom of God in the future. All of this talk about the Kingdom begs
one question dear reader -- Have you entered the Kingdom of God by
believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of that Kingdom? If not today
could be the best day of your life (2 Cor 6:2).
Has come upon you - Has come is the aorist tense, indicative mood which
speaks ofa completedaction, something that has takenplace. Jesus'ability to
castout demons who belong to the kingdom of darkness is clear evidence that
another Kingdom (and King) has arrived! The miracles of Jesus
demonstrated God's victory over the forces of evil, a victory which was
achievedon the Cross and validated by the Resurrection. Christ's Kingdom
will be consummated when He returns and defeats the Antichrist (Rev 19:11-
16+, Rev19:19-21+)and casts Sataninto prison for 1000 years, the
Millennium, (Rev 20:1-3+)and then into the Lake of Fire forever (Rev 20:7-
10+ where He had castthe Antichrist 1000 years prior)! That said, it is should
be emphasized that Satan is presently still powerful, but His poweris limited,
his doom is sealed, and his time is short.
Bock on kingdom of God has come - Jesus says the miracles are evidences of
the arrival of God’s promised, redemptive rule. They are audiovisual
testimony to God’s power and rule....The key term in the verse is ephthasen
(from phthano), “has come.”....The miracles trumpet the arrival of God’s
ruling power in such a way that Satan’s display of poweron earth is
challengedand is in the process ofbeing defeated.To saythe kingdom has
arrived is not to argue that consummation has come, only that its presence has
begun. The process ofestablishing kingdom authority is a long one, as Jesus
will reveal, and it will take his return to bring the full promise of the kingdom
to completion....Godis breaking peacefully into the creationthrough Jesus to
reclaim humanity from Satan’s grip. Jesus overcomesthe presence and power
of evil in the world. His power is greaterthan that of demons. He is stronger
than Satan. His powerand authority reverse the effectof sin. This exercise of
powerthrough Jesus is why Paul cancall the gospel“the powerof God” in
Romans 1:16–17+. The storyof the gospelis the story of how Satan, sin and
the flesh are overcome through Jesus’provisionof the Spirit (1 Th 1:5+). So
Paul calls the kingdom of God a matter of power(1 Cor 4:20) as wellas
justice, peace and joy inspired by the Spirit (Ro 14:17). And Ephesians 1:15–

2:10 and Eph 6:10–18+referto the battle we have againstthe forces of evil
and note how Jesus has a position of authority over them. These theological
realities are pictured in Jesus’words.” (IVPNTC-Lk)(IN LIGHT OF THESE
TRUTHS - Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able
to resistin the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm." Eph
6:13+)
The NET Note on has come upon you - The phrase is also quite important.
Does it mean merely "approach" oractually "come upon"? The issue here is
like the one in Lk 10:9 (see note there on the phrase "come near"). Is the
arrival of the kingdom in process ormerely anticipated? Two factors favor
arrival. First, the prepositionalphrase "onyou" suggests arrival(Da 4:24, 28
Theodotion). Second, the following illustration in Lk 11:21-23 looksatthe
healing as portraying Satanbeing overrun. So the presence ofGod's authority
has come.
Cornerstone BiblicalCommentary on the Kingdom of God has come - The
exorcisms performed by Jesus provided strong evidence that God’s Kingdom,
long anticipated and hoped for, had at last entered history in a transforming
way. In fact, the words and works of Jesus as a whole revealedthe fact that
the Kingdom of God had actually arrived in the person of Jesus of Nazareth
(cf. Jesus’answerto John the Baptist’s questions in Lk 7:22+;Mt 11:5). Yet,
there was still the future time when the purposes of God would be fully
realized and consummated, and so the disciples were taught to pray, “May
your Kingdom come soon” (Lk 11:2; Matt 6:10). The Kingdom’s nearness and
imminence (Mark 1:14-15+)calledfor repentance in preparation for its final
realization, when the Son of Man would come in power (Mark 14:62;Matt
26:64;cf. Luke 21:36; 22:69). Both the “already” and the “not yet”
dimensions of the Kingdom must be affirmed and kept in carefulbalance to
do justice to the present and future dimensions of the Kingdom theme. For
further discussionsee Beasley-Murray(1986). (Cornerstone Biblical
Commentary – Volume 12: Luke and Acts)
Has come (aoristtense) (5348)(phthano)originally meant to precede someone,
to come before or to anticipate (as in 1Th4:15+). Over time phthano begin to
lose the idea of priority and to mean simply to come to or to arrive at. The

idea is to come to a particular state or to arrive at a goaland so to attain it. In
Mt 12:28+ "“Butif I castout demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom
of God has come upon you." Phthano pictures progress along a road to a
certain point.
Ryle - The kingdom of God is come upon you. The argument here appears to
be this,—“If these miracles which I work are really workedby the finger of
God, and I am clearlyproved by them to be one sent from God, then, whether
you will allow it or not, the times of Messiahhave evidently arrived. The
kingdom of God has come down upon you unawares, and these miracles are
signs that it is so.”—This argumentreduced the enemies of our Lord to a
dilemma. Either they must deny that our Lord castout devils,—this they
could not do;—or else they must admit that their own sons castout devils by
the powerof Beelzebub;—this they would not do.—The nature of the
argument appears to show that when our Lord spake of“your sons casting
out devils,” He could not have meant His own disciples.
Luke 11:21 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his
possessionsare undisturbed.
NET Luke 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his
possessionsare safe.
GNT Luke 11:21 ὅταν ὁ ἰσχυρὸς καθωπλισμένος φυλάσσῃ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ αὐλήν,
ἐν εἰρήνῃ ἐστὶν τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ·
NLT Luke 11:21 For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards
his palace, his possessionsare safe--
KJV Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keepethhis palace, his goods are
in peace:
ESV Luke 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his
goods are safe;
NIV Luke 11:21 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his

ASV Luke 11:21 When the strong man fully armed guardeth his own court,
his goods are in peace:
CSB Luke 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his estate, his
possessionsare secure.
NKJ Luke 11:21 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace,
his goods are in peace.
NRS Luke 11:21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his
property is safe.
YLT Luke 11:21 'When the strong man armed may keephis hall, in peace
are his goods;
NAB Luke 11:21 When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his
NJB Luke 11:21 So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own home,
his goods are undisturbed;
GWN Luke 11:21 "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own
mansion, his property is safe.
BBE Luke 11:21 When the strong man armed keeps watchover his house,
then his goods are safe:
When a strong man, fully armed, Mt 12:29; Mark 3:27
ParallelPassages:
Matthew 12:29+ “Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry
off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will
plunder his house.

Mark 3:27+ “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his
property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his
house.
WAR IN THE
COSMOS
When a strong man - Literally "the strong one." To whom does Jesus refer?
In context strong man refers to Satanthe king of the demons. The demon-
possessedman was an evidence of his power. Jesus explains this is the second
reasonHis opponents were wrong in accusing Him of being empoweredby
Satanin carrying out His exorcisms. The point is that the One who would
attack Satanmust be strongerthan Satan. Jesus is strongerthan Satan, which
was the reasonHe could castout the demon. Ryle comments that "The literal
translation (the strong one) brings out the characterofthe devil, and the
applicability of the whole passage to him with much force."
If you as a believer are fearful of the demonic recallJohn's assuring words...
You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater
is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4+)
Deffinbaugh - In this analogy, Satanis the strong man and his “possessions”
are those who are demon-possessedand Jesus is the One who has greater
powerand is taking awaythose he has possessed. Jesus is saying that He must
overpowerSatanbefore He can deliver those whom he had formerly
possessed. His enemies refusedto acknowledgethat Jesus was Godor that His
powerwas God’s power, and yet logic would once againforce them to this
conclusion. In order to deliver men and womenfrom demon-possessionJesus
had to be greaterthan Satan. To attribute His power to Satanwas foolish. To
think He was not greaterthan Satanwas also folly. If the evidence were
interpreted according to goodlogic, the evidence would point to Jesus as the
Messiah. (Evidence that ProducedVarious Verdicts Luke 11:14-36)
Strong (mighty) (2478)(ischurosfrom ischuo = to be able) is an adjective
which means strong, powerful, mighty (usually referring to inherent physical
strength), able, forcible. Strong, having moral power. Inherently strong.

Ischuros denotes poweror ability and places “stressonthe actualpower that
one possesses ratherthan on the mere principle of power. Luke uses ischuros
in Lk 3:16+, Lk 11:21, 22+, Lk 15:14+.
Fully armed, guards his ownhouse, his possessions(huparcho) are
undisturbed - Fully armed (kathoplizo only here - fully equipped) means
completely armed with weapons and in the perfect tense indicates this is a
permanent state. This armed guard does not let its guard down. Guards is in
the presenttense picturing the strong man continually on guard. House (aule)
describes a building large enoughand elaborate enoughto have an interior
courtyard and pictures not a pauper's shack but a palatial mansion or palace.
His possessions is literally "the things that belong to him." Undisturbed is
literally "in peace"(en eirene). As explained by Steven Cole the strong man's
own house and possessionsare men and women who are not believers and by
default who belong to Satan's kingdom, not in the sense that they are
"possessed"(as in demon possession)but that in the sense that they are
"owned" by Satanand are subjects of his kingdom of darkness.
THOUGHT - When we were born again, we were set free of Satan's power
and control. God "rescued(rhuomai) us from the domain (exousia - the right
and the might of the "strong man") of darkness, and transferred (ONCE
AND FOR ALL TIME) us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we
have redemption (apolutrosis)(JESUS PAID THE "RANSOM"PRICE TO
SET US FREE = THE BLOOD OF JESUS!SEE 1 Pe 1:18-19+), the
forgiveness (aphesis)(SENDING AWAY FOREVER)of sins (PAST,
PRESENT, FUTURE)." (Col1:13-14+)Satancontinues to castaccusations
and charges atbelievers (cf Rev 12:10+, Eph 6:16+)but they won't "stick"
because we have been forever clothed in the righteousness ofChrist (2 Cor
5:21+, 1 Co 1:30, cf Isa 61:3+). John adds "We know that no one who is born
of God sins (habitually); but He who was born of God keeps (present tense =
CONTINUALLY GUARDS) him, and the evil one does not touch him." (1 Jn
5:18+)
Steven Cole has an interesting note on the nature of the strong man's house
and possessions - Jesus further underscores His victory over Satanwith the
parable of disarming the strong man (Lk 11:21-22). Satanis the strong man

armed. He is a powerful spiritual master. His homesteadis the heart of
unbelievers. All of an unbeliever’s powers and faculties are Satan’s
possessions, athis use. Further, these possessions,securelyunder Satan’s rule,
are undisturbed, or “atpeace.” The unbeliever, dead in his sins, under the
swayof the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:1,2+)is unaware of his own
desperate condition. As Matthew Henry describes it "The sinner has a good
opinion of himself, is very secure and merry, has no doubt concerning the
goodness ofhis state nor any dread of the judgment to come; he flatters
himself in his owneyes, and cries peace to himself. Before Christ appeared, all
was quiet, because allwent one way; but the preaching of the Gospel
disturbed the peace of the devil’s palace."
Guards (5442)(phulasso)means to watch, to carry out the function as a
military guard or sentinel (cp Ac 23:35, 28:16), to keepwatch, to have one's
eye upon lestone escape, to guard a person that he might remain safe (from
violence, from another personor thing, from being snatchedaway, from being
lost). The NT uses phulasso figuratively of guarding truth (eg, 1Ti 5:21, 6:20,
2Ti 1:14)
Luke uses phulasso in 14/31 NT uses to describe the shepherds "keeping
watchover their flock by night" (Lk 2:8), of the demon possessedman "kept
under guard" (Lk 8:29), of the blessing on the one who observes ("guards")
the Word of God after hearing it (Lk 11:28, cf "observe" in Acts 16:4), of
Jesus'warning to "be on your guard againstevery form of greed" (Lk 12:15),
of the rich young ruler who said "all these things I have kept from my youth
(Lk 18:21), of Israelwho did not "keep" the law (Acts 7:53, of Paul "keeping
the Law" = Acts 21:24 and "abstain" in Acts 21:25), of James guarded by
Herod's guards (Acts 12:4, cf Paul in Acts 23:35 in Herod's Praetorium and
later in Rome where the soldier"was guarding him" - Acts 28:16), of Saul
"watching out (guarding) for the cloaks"while they were stoning Stephen
(Acts 22:20),
Luke 11:22 But when someone strongerthan he attacks him and overpowers
him, he takes awayfrom him all his armor on which he had relied and
distributes his plunder.

NET Luke 11:22 But when a strongerman attacks and conquers him, he
takes awaythe first man's armor on which the man relied and divides up his
plunder.
GNT Luke 11:22 ἐπὰν δὲ ἰσχυρότερος αὐτοῦ ἐπελθὼννικήσῃ αὐτόν, τὴν
πανοπλίαν αὐτοῦ αἴρει ἐφ᾽ ᾗ ἐπεποίθει καὶ τὰ σκῦλα αὐτοῦ διαδίδωσιν.
NLT Luke 11:22 until someone evenstrongerattacks and overpowers him,
strips him of his weapons, andcarries off his belongings.
KJV Luke 11:22 But when a strongerthan he shall come upon him, and
overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and
divideth his spoils.
ESV Luke 11:22 but when one strongerthan he attacks him and overcomes
him, he takes awayhis armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.
NIV Luke 11:22 But when someone strongerattacksand overpowers him, he
takes awaythe armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.
ASV Luke 11:22 but when a strongerthan he shall come upon him, and
overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and
divideth his spoils.
CSB Luke 11:22 But when one strongerthan he attacks and overpowers him,
he takes from him all his weapons he trusted in, and divides up his plunder.
NKJ Luke 11:22 "But when a stronger than he comes upon him and
overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and
divides his spoils.
NRS Luke 11:22 But when one strongerthan he attacks him and overpowers
him, he takes awayhis armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder.
YLT Luke 11:22 but when the strongerthan he, having come upon him, may
overcome him, his whole-armour he doth take away in which he had trusted,
and his spoils he distributeth;
NAB Luke 11:22 But when one strongerthan he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes awaythe armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.

NJB Luke 11:22 but when someone strongerthan himself attacks anddefeats
him, the strongerman takes awayall the weapons he relied on and shares out
his spoil.
GWN Luke 11:22 But a strongerman than he may attack him and defeat
him. Then the strongerman will take awayall the weapons in which the
strong man trusted and will divide the loot.
BBE Luke 11:22 But when one who is strongermakes an attack on him and
overcomes him, he takes awayhis instruments of war, in which he had put his
faith, and makes division of his goods.
Genesis 3:15;Isa 27:1; 49:24,25;53:12;63:1-4; Col2:15; 1 John 3:8; 4:4; Rev
20:1-3
OUR STRONGER
SAVIOR
But - The contrasthere is the strong man of Lk 11:21 and that man is Satan.
This contrastwill show the dramatic difference betweenthe creature Satan
and the CreatorChrist, Who is strongerthan the "strong man" Satan.
When someone stronger(ischuros)than he attacks him and overpowers him -
Literally “the One strongerthan he.” This is clearly an allusion, a prophecy if
you will, by Jesus ofHis soonto be accomplishedvictory over Satan and the
Kingdom of darkness. Everycasting out of a demon was like a "preview" of
the main feature so to speak!Jesus'death was in the eyes of the world His
greatestpoint of weakness, but He was in factat His strongestas He bore the
sin of the world, was buried and rose victorious from the grave crushing the
powerof Satanonce and for all. Hallelujah! John the Baptist referred to our
Lord as "One is coming who is mightier (same word used here ischuros)"
(Mark 1:7+, Luke 3:16+)

THOUGHT - "Notonly during the trials of life but surely also at the
approachof death it is a greatcomfort to know that Christ, symbolized by
“SOMEONE STRONGER" has conqueredSatan. Therefore Ro 8:31–39+
applies." (Hendriksen - BNTC:Lk)
Overpowers (conquer) (3528)(nikao)means to conquer, to be victorious or to
prevail in the face of obstacles. Satan's kingdompresents obstaclessuchas the
scribes who opposedJesus, but Jesus overpowers themwith His pristine
perfect logic. And because He has overcome, all of His brethren are now
overcomers in Him even as He promised the first disciples "You are from
God, little children, and have overcome (nikao)them; because greateris He
Who is in you (CHRIST AND HIS SPIRIT)than he who is in the world
(SATAN AND HIS EMISSARIES)." (1 Jn 4:4+) " For whateveris born of
God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome (nikao)
the world–ourfaith." (1 Jn 5:4+) Now we need to bask in and believe His
Word for He declared"These things I have spokento you, so that (PURPOSE
CLAUSE) in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but
take courage;I have overcome (nikao)the world.” (Jn 16:33) Overcome
describes the quality of a true saint who may stumble and fall but who God
always picks up and he continues onward and upward in the power and
motivation of the victory Christ has won for us on the Cross.
THOUGHT - Paul uses a derivative of nikao in Ro 8:37KJV+ declaring "But
in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer (hupernikao) through Him who
loved us." This is our lot in this life beloved. Are you living in light of this
greattruth? If not confess, repentand be filled with all powerful Spirit Who
Alone can enable this quality of "overcoming life," which is the will of God for
all of His children in Christ!
Severalpassagesdescribe SOMEONESTRONGER overpowering the
STRONG MAN...
Satan's defeatwas prophesied immediately after his greatestvictoryin
deceiving Adam and Eve and resulting in their sin againstGod and mankind's
spiritual death - "And I will put enmity Betweenyouand the woman, And

betweenyour seedand her seed;He (Messiah)shallbruise you (Serpent -
Satan) on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Ge 3:15+)
The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the
beginning. The Son of God (SOMEONE STRONGER)appearedfor this
purpose, to destroy (luo) the works of the devil (THE STRONG MAN). (1
John 3:8+)
Therefore, "since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself (JESUS)
likewise also partook ofthe same, that through death (THE CROSS)He might
render powerless(katargeo)him who had the powerof death, that is, the devil
(diabolos), and might free (apallasso)those who through fear of death were
subject (enochos)to slavery (douleia) all their lives." (Heb 2:14-15+)
"Hallelujah!"
When you were dead in your transgressions andthe uncircumcision of your
flesh, He made you alive togetherwith Him, having forgiven us all our
transgressions, 14 having canceledout the certificate ofdebt consisting of
decrees againstus, which was hostile to us; and He has takenit out of the way,
having nailed it to the cross. 15 WhenHe had disarmed (apekduomai)(CF
"ATTACKS AND OVERPOWERS")the rulers and authorities (THE
"STRONGMAN" - SATAN AND DEMONIC HORDES), He made a public
display of them, having triumphed over (thriambeuo) them through Him.
(Col 2:13-15+)
He takes away(airo) from him all his armor (panoplia) on which he had relied
and distributes his plunder - "Christ is the stronger man who attacks the devil
and overpowers him. As Paul puts it, at the cross Christ “disarmedthe rulers
and authorities” and triumphed over them (Col. 2:15+). What no mere man
could do, Jesus Christ did in His death and resurrection. Satanis now a
defeatedfoe, although he is still allowedto reign until his being bound at the
secondcoming of Christ. This means that Jesus Christ is the only one
powerful enough to save a soul from Satan’s dominion and power. Men
cannot do it by their ownwill power or moral reformation. Even though men
can getfree of problems such as drug and alcoholabuse, or even so-called
“sexualaddiction,” through self-help programs, this is not the same as

salvationfrom sin and Satan. The focus of those programs is never the glory
of God, but rather, the happiness of self. Satan is not unhappy if a drunk
becomes soberand still goes to hell. What that sinner and every sinner needs
is the deliverance that only Jesus Christ can give. As John Calvin put it, “Let
us ... learn that, as we are all subject to the tyranny of Satan, there is no other
way in which [God] commences his reign within us, than when he rescues us,
by the powerful and victorious arm of Christ, from that wretchedand
accursedbondage” (Calvin’s Commentaries [Baker], “Harmony of the
Evangelists,”2:72-73)."(StevenCole)
Bock on plunder (skulonor spoils) - The spoils in these texts are the benefits
of salvationdistributed to those who have been redeemed. (Ibid)
Ryle on plunder (KJV = "divideth the spoils") - He takes possessionofthe
affections and intellectual capacities, overwhich the devil once exercised
dominion, and uses them for His own glory. Ford quotes a saying of Bishop
Reynolds: “Godmaketh use of that art, wealth, power, learning, wisdom,
intellect, which Satanused againstChrist’s kingdom, as instruments and
ornaments unto the Gospel;as, when a magazine in war is taken, the General
makes use of those arms, which were provided againsthim, for his own
service.”
One is reminded of a phrase in Isaiah53:12+ describing one of the effects of
Christ's Crucifixion - "Therefore, Iwill allot Him (MESSIAH) a portion with
the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; BecauseHe poured
out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors;Yet He
Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors." (See also
Isaiah49:25-26).
Distributes (1239)(diadidomifrom dia = transition, dispersion+ didomi = to
give) literally is to deliver through and means to give out, assign, distribute,
dispense, allot, give out especiallyhand to hand in succession, " apportion
among various parties" (BDAG). Used 4x in NT - Lk. 11:22; Lk. 18:22;Jn.
6:11; Acts 4:35
J C Ryle - Let us observe in these verses what a fearful picture our Lord
draws of Satan’s power. There are four points in His description, which are

peculiarly instructive. Christ speaks ofSatan as a “strong man.” The strength
of Satan has been only too well proved by his victories over the souls of men.
He who tempted Adam and Eve to rebel againstGod, and brought sin into the
world,—he who has led captive the vast majority of mankind, and robbed
them of heaven; that evil one is indeed a mighty foe. He who is calledthe
“Prince of this world,” is not an enemy to be despised. The devil is very
strong.
Christ speaksofSatan as a “strong man, armed.” Satanis well supplied with
defensive armor. He is not to be overcome by slight assaults, and feeble
exertions. He that would overcome him must put forth all his strength. “This
kind goethnot out but by prayer and fasting.”—AndSatan is also well
supplied with offensive weapons. He is never at a loss for means to injure the
soul of man. He has snares of every kind, and engines of every description. He
knows exactlyhow every rank, and class, andage, and nation, and people can
be assailedwith most advantage. The devil is wellarmed.
Christ speaksofman’s heart as being Satan’s “palace.”The natural heart is
the favorite abode of the evil one, and all its faculties and powers are his
servants, and do his will. He sits upon the throne which God ought to occupy,
and governs the inward man. The devil is the “spirit that workethin the
children of disobedience.” (Ephes. 2:2.)
Christ speaksofSatan’s “goods being at peace.” So long as a man is dead in
trespassesandsin, so long his heart is at ease aboutspiritual things. He has no
fear about the future. He has no anxiety about his soul. He has no dread of
falling into hell. All this is a false peace no doubt. It is a sleepwhich cannot
last, and from which there must be one day an awful waking. But there is such
a peace beyond question. Thoughtless, stolid, recklessinsensibility about
eternal things is one of the worstsymptoms of the devil reigning overa man’s
soul.
Let us never think lightly of the devil. That common practice of idle jesting
about Satan which we may often mark in the world, is a greatevil. A prisoner
must be a very hardened man who jests about the executionerand the

gallows. The heartmust be in a very bad state, when a man cantalk with
levity about hell and the devil.
Let us thank God that there is One who is strongereven than Satan. That One
is the Friend of sinners, Jesus the Son of God. Mighty as the devil is, he was
overcome by Jesus onthe cross, whenHe triumphed over him openly. Strong
as the devil is, Christ can pluck his captives out of his hands, and break the
chains which bind them. May we never rest till we know that deliverance by
experience, and have been set free by the Son of God!
BARCLAY
A MALICIOUS SLANDER (Luke 11:14-23)
11:14-23 Jesus wascasting outa dumb demon. When the demon came out the
dumb man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, "He casts
out demons by the help of Beelzebul, who is the prince of demons." Others,
trying to put him to the test, sought a sign from heavenfrom him. He knew
what they were thinking. "Every kingdom," he said, "that is divided against
itself is devastated;and every house that is divided againstitself falls; so if
Satanis divided againsthimself how will his kingdom stand? You must
answerthat question because yousay that I castout demons by the help of
Beelzebul. If I castout demons by the power of Beelzebul, by whose powerdo
your sons castthem out? You have become your ownjudges. But if it is by the
finger of God that I castout the demons, then the kingdom of God has come
upon you. When a strong man in full panoply guards his ownhomestead, his
goods are in peace. But when a strongerman than he comes and conquers
him, he will take awaythe armour in which he trusted, and will divide his
spoil. He who is not with me is againstme; and he who does not gather with
me scatters."

When Jesus'enemies were helpless to oppose him by fair means they resorted
to slander. They declaredthat his power over the demons was due to the fact
that he was in league with the prince of demons. They attributed his power
not to God but to the devil. Jesus gave them a double and a crushing answer.
First, he struck them a shrewdblow. There were many exorcists in Jesus'time
in Palestine. Josephus, traces this power back to Solomon. Part of Solomon's
wisdom was that he was skilful with herbs and had invented incantations
which--drove out demons in such a way that they never came back; and
Josephus states thathe had seenSolomon's methods used with successevenin
his ownday. (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews 8:5: 2) So Jesus delivers a
home-thrust. "If I," he said, "castout devils because I am in league with the
prince of devils, what of your own people who do the same thing? If you
condemn me, you are only condemning yourselves."
Second, he used a really unanswerable argument. No kingdom in which there
is a civil war cansurvive. If the prince of devils is lending his power to defeat
his ownemissaries he is finished. There is only one way for a strong man to be
defeatedand that is for a still strongerman to master him. "Therefore," said
Jesus, "ifI castout devils, so far from that proving that I am in league with
the prince of devils, it proves that the devil's citadelis breached, the strong
man of evil is mastered, and the kingdom of God is here."
Out of this passageemerge certainpermanent truths.
(i) It is by no means uncommon for people to resortto slanderwhen honest
opposition is helpless. Gladstone was interestedin the reformation of the
fallen women of the streets of London. His enemies suggestedthat he was
interestedin them for very different and very inferior reasons. There is
nothing so cruel as slander, for it is apt to stick because the human mind
always tends to think the worstand very often the human ear prefers to hear
the derogatoryrather than the complimentary tale. We need not think that we
are free of that particular sin. How often do we tend to think the worstof
other people? How often do we deliberately impute low motives to someone
whom we dislike? How often do we repeatthe slanderous and the malicious

tale and murder reputations over the tea-cups? To think of this will not cause
complacencybut call for self-examination.
(ii) Once againwe must note than Jesus'proof that the kingdom had come
was the fact that sufferers were healed and health walkedwhere disease had
been. Jesus'aim was not only soul salvation;it was also whole salvation.
(iii) Luke finishes this sectionwith the saying of Jesus that he who was not
with him was againsthim and that he who did not help to gather the flock
helped to scatterit abroad. There is no place for neutrality in the Christian
life. The man who stands alooffrom the goodcause automaticallyhelps the
evil one. A man is either on the wayor in the way.
Luke 11:14-32: “Jesus Is AccusedOf Casting Out A Demon By The Ruler Of
The Demons / People MustDecide About Jesus”
By
Jim Bomkamp
Back Bible Studies Home Page
1. INTRO:
1.1. In our last study, we lookedverse 38 of chapter 10 through
verse 13 of chapter 11.
1.1.1. Thatsectionofscripture dealt with the importance of seeking the Lord
and praying, and being persistent in our praying. We lookedat:

1.1.1.1. The story of Mary sitting at the feetof Jesus listening to Him while
her sisterMartha was busy preparing a meal for Him.
1.1.1.1.1. Martha was an example to us of someone who always tried to
do her best for Jesus. It is sad but while Martha in her life is seeking to
always give Jesus her very best in her service to Him and demonstrating this
by preparing Him a wonderful meal, most of us who take the name of
Christian are content to give Jesus the leftovers of our life. However, Martha
errored by placing service aheadof worship and seeking the Lord.
1.1.1.1.2. Mary on the other hand knew what was really important in
life. Though we all have many things in our life that we think are so
important to do, Mary realized the one thing that was most important and
that was sitting at Jesus’feetadoring Him and learning from Him.
1.1.1.2. Jesus teaching His disciples a model prayer after they come to Him
asking Him how they are supposedto pray.
1.1.1.3. Jesus using an illustration of a man going in the middle of the night
to a friend in order to borrow loaves of bread in order to demonstrate the
point that His disciples are to be persistentin their praying to the Lord
1.1.1.4. Jesus using the example of evil fathers to give goodthings to their
children in order to demonstrate to His disciples their Heavenly Father’s
desire to give goodthings to them when they pray.

1.2. In our study today, we are going to look at chapter 11 verses
14-32.
1.2.1. Jesus willcasta demon out of a man healing him from being mute,
howeverthere is a variety of responses amongstthe people observing Jesus.
Some want to see a further sign from Jesus and some saythat Jesus must have
done this through the power of the ruler of the demons.
1.2.2. The verses we will considermake the point that seeing and hearing
Jesus cause people to have to make a decisionabout Him.
2. VS 11:14-22 - “14 And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute;
when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke;and the crowds were
amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the
ruler of the demons.” 16 Others, to testHim, were demanding of Him a sign
from heaven. 17 But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Any kingdom
divided againstitself is laid waste;and a house divided againstitself falls. 18
“If Satan also is divided againsthimself, how will his kingdom stand? Foryou
say that I castout demons by Beelzebul. 19 “And if I by Beelzebul castout
demons, by whom do your sons castthem out? So they will be your judges. 20
“But if I castout demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of Godhas
come upon you. 21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house,
his possessions are undisturbed. 22 “But when someone strongerthan he
attacks him and overpowers him, he takes awayfrom him all his armor on
which he had relied and distributes his plunder.” - Jesus casts a demon out of
a man who had been mute and when the man is healed and begins to speak
some in the crowdsay that Jesus castoutthis demon by Beelzebul, the ruler of
the demons

2.1. The name ‘Beelzebul’ used here is a derivative of the name
“Beelzebub” which means “Lord of the Flies.” This was a term by which
Satan, the Devil, was referred to.
2.2. In Matthew’s accountof this miracle, Matt. 12:22-24,
Matthew tells us that this man was both blind and mute and that when the
demon was castout that the man was now able to both speak and hear. This
man had then been under a severe demonic influence and then Jesus
performed a wonderful and complete healing of him.
2.3. We see here in this story that Luke in his writing is making
another point in demonstrating who Jesus is to his readers by explaining how
that the miraculous works that Jesus performedcould not be denied by those
who witnessedthem. Even those not disposedto Jesus or His teaching were
found in the position of not being able to deny the incredible wonders that He
performed. Now, they must explain them. Thus, Luke is indicating that
people are forced to make a decisionfor or againstJesus becauseofthe great
works that He performs. Even today, everyone who hears the gospelof the
goodnews of Jesus is likewise forcedto make a choice aboutwho Jesus is.
2.4. Darrell Bock has written to the effectthat in this spiritual war
that we as people are in on this earth there is no Switzerland ( known for
being a neutral country in all wars ), but rather everyone must choose sides,
choose to acceptJesus orchoose to rejectHim and align themselves with
God’s enemies who are destined for eternal destruction.
2.5. When a man who is both deaf and dumb is made to hear and
speak by the mere word of Jesus, the people on this day have no other
observationthat they canmake but that a tremendous miracle has occurred

in their presence. Theyare now left with the question of what they shall do
with Jesus.
2.6. We see here that there were a variety of responses by the
people who had heard and seenthis incredible and undeniable miracle
performed by Jesus on this day.
2.6.1. Some mayhave come to believe in Jesus and place their faith in Him,
howeverwe aren’t told that this was the case.
2.6.2. Some surelywere undecided about Jesus but curious, and I would call
them “seekers.”
2.6.3. Some refusedto acceptthat Jesus and His ministry might be from
heaven and they were saying that Jesus surelyperformed this miracle by the
powerof the ruler of the demons.
2.6.3.1. This accusationofa demonic source of Jesus’miracles has been
made on at leasttwo other occasionsin the gospelaccounts (see Matt. 9:32-34
and 12:22-37).
2.6.4. Others saw the miracle performed right before their eyes but they want
Jesus to show them some sign in the heavens that they might believe in Him.
2.6.4.1. What further sign could they need than this miracle? These ones
were putting the Lord to the test by demanding a sign in order to believe.

2.7. We see four things being pointed out by Jesus in His defense
of Himself to those who were thinking and saying that He must be casting out
demons by the powerof the ruler of the demons:
2.7.1. Firstof all, in Jesus’defense ofHimself to these people we see that for
those who are seeking a signin the heavens from Him, He instead gives them a
sign of His omniscience and wisdom for it says that He knew their thoughts
and spoke to their thoughts.
2.7.1.1. We tend not to focus too much on this aspectofJesus’revelationof
Himself to mankind in the gospels, but Jesus was constantlyrevealing His
omniscience by knowing the thoughts of the people around Him.
2.7.1.2. Whenever the gospels state that Jesus knew people’s thoughts,
controversyensues.
2.7.2. Secondly, Jesus explains to the people that if He did these exorcisms by
the powerof the ruler of the demons, then so must their sons do these same
things by this power.
2.7.2.1. This is to say that if the people are to condemn His exorcismas
demonic in origin then so must every other exorcism performed by the
people’s sons be viewed. The problem howeverin interpretation here is
explaining who Jesus is referring to as their sons, and the two most common
views for this are:
2.7.2.1.1. Jesus is referring to the Jewishexorcists in His day as their
sons.

2.7.2.1.1.1. This may be the reference the problem with Jesus making
this meaning is then that the people might assume that Jesus is stating the
legitimacy of the Jewishexorcisms, and Jesus wouldn’t want this assumption
to be made.
2.7.2.1.2. Jesus is referring to His disciples as their sons for His disciples
had through His authority also castout demons.
2.7.2.1.2.1. This view is probably correct. Jesus wouldthen be
arguing by placing the Jews in the position of declaring all of the miraculous
works currently being performed by Jesus’disciples as being demonic in
origin. The Jews perhaps did not want to speak againstall of Jesus’disciples
because ofthe popularity among the masses ofJesus’many followers.
2.7.3. Secondly, in defense of Himself, Jesus tells the people how that it is
illogicalto considerthat Jesus’wonderful miracles which He performed were
accomplishedthrough the power of Satan.
2.7.3.1. First though, let me point out that the people’s assertionimplies
that the Jews realizedthat there is a spiritual warthat is being fought upon
the earth. There is a God and there is a fallen creature in rebellion againstthe
Lord, namely, Satan.
2.7.3.2. Secondly, in the people’s assertionit is also implied that the people
believed that Satanwas a fallen creature who was bent upon the destruction
and misery of mankind and that he also was an agentin bringing about death
and disease onthe earth. It therefore though is illogicalfor them to consider

the wonderful miracles of healing and restorationof life performed by Jesus
to have come about by the powerof Satan.
2.7.3.2.1. By the way, many people who have rejectedthe Lord in the
their life find themselves going through all kinds of difficulties and tragedies,
and they need to realize the sobertruth that if a person refuses to submit their
lives in obedience to Jesus that they will eventually find themselves dealing
with the Devil and the calamity that he seeks to bring in their life. If you are
in Christ you are under God’s protectionand Satan has no poweror authority
over your life but those things that the Lord allows him to have.
2.7.3.3. Jesus’argument is that if He is casting out demons by the powerof
the ruler of the demons then Satan’s kingdom is a divided kingdom. This does
not pass the test of logic from the scriptures for if Satan’s kingdom were
divided in this way then the work of Godupon the earth would not be
hindered in the greatway that it always is. Satanmust rule with complete
authority over the demonic realm.
2.7.4. Third, Jesus tells the people that He casts out the demons because He is
the ‘strongman’ and binds the ruler of the demons, Satan. This speaks ofthe
fact that Satanis really a defeatedfoe and that Jesus is always able to
overpowerhim.
3. VS 11:23 - “23 “He who is not with Me is againstMe; and he who does
not gatherwith Me, scatters.” - Jesus tells the people that the person who is
not with Him is againstHim
3.1. As was mentioned, when we hear the gospeland learn about
the things that Jesus saidand did, we have to make a decisionregarding Him,

whether we will believe in Him or not. To not choose to believe in and accept
Jesus is to be againstHim, there is no neutral ground you can take.
3.2. For a personto attribute the incredible works that He
performed to anything but God is to blasphemy the Holy Spirit, and Jesus
taught in Mark 3:27-28 that all manner of sins might be forgiven people with
the exceptionof blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
3.3. Have you made a decisionto place your faith in Jesus as the
only begottenSon of God? Today, you too are forced to make a decision
regarding Jesus, andto not make a decisionto receive Him is to make a
decisionto rejectHim.
4. VS 11:24-26 - “24 “Whenthe unclean spirit goes outof a man, it passes
through waterless placesseeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will
return to my house from which I came.’25 “And when it comes, it finds it
sweptand put in order. 26 “Then it goes and takes along sevenotherspirits
more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that
man becomes worse thanthe first.”” - Jesus tells the people that when an
unclean spirit goes out of a man that it will return and when it returns it will
bring along sevenother spirits more evil than itself
4.1. This story taught by Jesus brings before our minds a person
out of whom Jesus had castan evil spirit. However, after the spirit had left
the personthe personhad not embracedthe Lord, the One who had castout
the spirit. Instead of gathering with Jesus the person tried to remain neutral
towards Jesus. Then, a while later the spirit returns to the person however
because the Lord does not dwell in this person’s life now the unclean spirit is
able to enter back in. However, this time the spirit brings with him seven
more spirits who are more evil than himself, and the end result for the man is
that he is now in a much worse state ofdemonization than he was before.

4.2. Rejecting Jesus has huge and tragic consequences. The sad
reality is that whenever a person chooses notto make a decisionfor Jesus he
experiences a hardening of his heart towards the Lord. This hardening of the
heart makes the person even harder to reachfor the Lord..
4.3. The number ‘seven’ designating the number of demons may
symbolize completenessofpossession.
5. VS 11:27-28 - “27 While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women
in the crowdraised her voice and said to Him, “Blessedis the womb that bore
You and the breasts at which You nursed.” 28 But He said, “On the contrary,
blessedare those who hear the word of God and observe it.”” - A woman in
the crowdcries out that Jesus’mother is blessedbut Jesus rebuffs her telling
her that the person who is blessedis the one who hears God’s word and
observes orobeys it
5.1. This is a very unusual occurrence that happens to Jesus on
this day. In Jewishculture, women were not to speak out in this waybut
rather hold their peace. However, we se here that this woman is so moved
emotionally that she cannot contain herself, and thus she speaksout in this
way. With her emotions at a fever pitch this woman cries out that the womb
which bore Jesus and the breasts which nursed Him were blessed.
5.2. To make a point about what constitutes true blessing, Jesus
says to this woman that it is rather the case thatthose who hear God’s word
and observe it are blessed. You see, Jesus says this because He was concerned
more than anything that people would come to have faith in Him.

5.3. These verses bring out on interesting point. Many people
have had an emotional experience with the Lord. However, it is not an
emotional experience with Jesus that in the end makes any real difference in a
person’s life. What does make a difference is when a person makes a
commitment of his life to Jesus and commits himself to love, obey, and serve
the Lord with all of his heart, and, most importantly when he then follows
through with that commitment. Jesus brought this truth out very clearly in
Matt. 7:20-23, “20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 “Not
everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Manywill
say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in
Your name castout demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’23
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you
who practice lawlessness.’”
5.4. Those in the church who would elevate Mary to a status not
deserving of humankind, such as sinlessness,have a problem with these verses
because whenopportunity presented itself Jesus chose notto speak a blessing
upon His mother on this occasion.
6. VS 11:29-32 - “29 As the crowds were increasing, He beganto say, “This
generationis a wickedgeneration;it seeksfora sign, and yet no sign will be
given to it but the sign of Jonah. 30 “Forjust as Jonah became a signto the
Ninevites, so will the Sonof Man be to this generation. 31 “The Queenof the
South will rise up with the men of this generationat the judgment and
condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the
wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something greaterthan Solomonis here. 32
“The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generationat the judgment and
condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah;and behold,
something greaterthan Jonah is here.” - Jesus begins to pronounce

condemnation upon the generationofpeople in His day for having rejected
Him
6.1. Jesus was not impressedwith greatcrowds of people who
were thronging around Him (though His disciples were impressed) because
He knew what was in the heart of all men. He knew that the masses ofpeople
loved the darkness more than the light and thus they rejectedHim and
refused to have Him rule over their lives. This is what the apostle John wrote
in his gospel, John3:19-21, about why people in his day rejectedJesus, “19
“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved
the darkness ratherthan the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “Foreveryone
who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his
deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light,
so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.””
6.2. The people in Jesus’day saw Him do incredible miraculous
works of the type that had never before been done by any mortal, and yet
many in response askedHim to show them some sortof a signthat they might
believe in Him. They had seenall the proof that they could have needed to
have genuine saving faith in Him and really there was no sign that Jesus could
have performed that would have causedthem to believe.
6.3. Jesus tells the people that it is wickednessand a wickedpeople
that asks fora sign. When people ask a sign from the Lord that they might
believe in Him, having rejectedthe testimony of His works found in the
scriptures, then they are really putting the Lord to the test.
6.4. Intrestingly, Jesus does promise a sign to anyone who is
willing to investigate. He calls this the sign of Jonah. This sign is not
explained her but elsewhere inthe gospels we see that Jesus explains this sing

being that just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days so the Son of
Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days before rising from the
dead.
6.5. Many have said that it takes “blind faith” in order to become
a Christian, howeverthe factis that this is completely untrue. The word of
God is a testimony to the greatthings that the Lord has done and when a
person choosesto become a Christian he/she is placing his/her faith in that
record of God’s incredible works which is containedin the Bible. The Bible
doesn’t tell us everything that God has done in history, nor all of the things
that Jesus did in His life, howeverit contains more than enough evidence to
elicit genuine saving faith in people. After His resurrection, Jesus beganto
appear to His disciples, and on one occasionHe came to them and yet
doubting Thomas was not with them. Then, when Jesus appearedthe next
time Thomas was with them and Jesus allowedThomas to see and feel His
crucifixion wounds. Finally, in John 20:29-33 Jesussaidthe following words
to Thomas followedby John’s commentary that what he (John) had written in
his gospelwas writtenin order that people might by reading his gospelcome
to have faith in Jesus, “29Jesus saidto him, “Because youhave seenMe, have
you believed? Blessedare they who did not see, andyet believed.” 30
Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence ofthe
disciples, which are not written in this book;31 but these have been written so
that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Sonof God; and that
believing you may have life in His name.”
6.6. Jesus uses the example of two different Gentile groups here,
the people of Ninevah and the Queenof Sheba, to shame the Jews in His day.
Through the ministry of God’s people both of these Gentile groups had
followedthe Lord and actedin obedience to the Lord. However, in contrast
the people (in particular Jews)of Jesus’generationhad had a greater

opportunity to know God’s ways because ofhaving seenand heard Jesus, and
yet they had rejectedthe Lord.
6.6.1. Ninevites.
6.6.1.1. Jesus says here that Jonahwas a sign to the Ninevites and it is not
completely clearwhat is meant by this. It could be that Jonahwas a sign
because he had been swallowedby the whale and told his story to the people
as he preachedto them to repent. However, more than likely Jesus is
referring to the preaching of Jonahto the people to repent as the sign for he
told them that God’s judgment was soonto fall upon them if they did not
repent.
6.6.1.2. What is important here is that at the preaching of Jonah the people
of Ninevah repented. The people of Jesus’day had all kinds of opportunity to
hear and see Him, or leastto hear about Him from others, and yet with such
greatopportunity they chose to rejectHim. Therefore, they shall suffer great
punishment for eternity because theirsin of rejecting Jesus was made with a
greatamount of light.
6.6.1.3. Note that it is implied both with this story of Jonahand the
Ninevites as wellas the Queen of Sheba that the saints will take a part in the
GreatWhite Throne Judgment of the Lord againstnon-believers. The saints
will testify of the culpability of those who are being judged before the throne
of Jesus. All those who appear before this Great White Throne Judgment
Seatof Jesus are unbelievers and they will spend eternity in hell (see Rev.
chapter 20).

6.6.1.4. The thought that Jesus brings out that believing Gentiles will judge
unbelieving Jews in the coming judgment must have been unpalatable to the
Jews listening to Jesus on this day.
6.6.2. QueenofSheba.
6.6.2.1. In 1 Kings chapter 10 we read the story of the Queenof Sheba,
which Jesus refers to here. She was a queen from perhaps Ethopia or Egypt
and after hearing of the wisdom of Solomonshe traveled perhaps 1,600 miles
or more by camelto hear Solomon speak.
6.6.2.2. The people of Jesus’day didn’t have to travel across the earth by
camelto hear or see Jesus, He was living right among them. Some sincerely
sought Jesus outand as a result came to have faith in Him, howevermost did
not care to know whether or not Jesus’ministry was from God or not and
thus did not take advantage of their opportunity to seek Jesus out. Many who
sought Jesus outdid not come with honestand sincere hearts but instead came
with their own preconceptions and preferences. Seeing andhearing Jesus did
not bring about the result the Lord desired in their life, for they did not come
to have faith in Him.
7. CONCLUSIONS:
7.1. As we considerthe events of this story, we remember that
seeing and hearing Jesus, as wellas reading the scripture accounts ofHim,
bring people to have to make a decisionabout Jesus. Willthey place their
faith in Him and choose to obey Him, or will they reject Him. There is no
neutral ground, and a decisionnot to acceptJesus is a decisionto rejectHim.

7.1.1. Have you decided for Jesus? Have you surrendered your life to do His
will? Have you placedyour faith in Him as your Lord and Savior? If not, I
encourage youtoday to surrender your life to Jesus.
7.1.2. If you surrendered your life to the Lord in the past but have wandered
awayfrom Him and from walking in obedience to His will and
commandments for your life, I encourage youtoday to surrender your life
afreshto Jesus in faith.
GENE BROOKS
Luke 11:14-28 - Jesus on Unclean Spirits
Jesus heals a mute man
Have you ever wishedyou could pull back the curtain of reality and see the
goings on in the spiritual world? Like that time a vehicle swervedat you with
a driver’s face filled with terror and did what was impossible, it missed you.
You wonder what really happened and how. Was an angel there protecting
you? Or just your imagination?
If we could see things in the spirit world, we would probably be amazed and
terrified at the same time. Like when you are unable to make certain self-
destructive thoughts stop in your mind and you can’t understand why they

keepcoming at you. Or you try to understand spiritual truth and feel blocked,
like you are pounding on a glass. Or those shameful images that keepplaying
relentlesslyover and overin your head. Or an unpleasant encounter with a
person that gives you the heebie-jeebies,orthat nagging feeling that you just
got manipulated, or slimed, or defiled to the point that you’d like to take a
shower. These are spiritual battles that rage around us constantly. The
Apostle Paul says that our struggle is not againstflesh and blood, but against
a host of spiritual forces in the spirit realm (Eph 6:12).
Jesus’presence then and now stirs up and upsets our demonic foes. Preaching
straight through every verse of a book of the Bible causesus to deal with
passagesand issue we don’t ordinarily talk about but sometimes wonder
about. In this sermon we see Jesus minister to a man with a demonic spirit
which causedhim to be mute, and from that encounter, Jesus teachesus a
number of strategies to deal with the enemy of our souls.
Key Truth: Luke wrote Luke 11:14-28 to teach believers that in regard to
dealing with unclean spirits, we are calledto operate under the authority of
Jesus and in allegiance, faith, and obedience to Jesus.
Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about how
to deal with unclean spirits.
Pray and Read: Luke 11:14-28
Sermon Points:
1. Operate in the Authority of Jesus (Luke 11:14-20)
2. Operate in Allegiance to Jesus (Luke 11:21-23)
3. Operate in Faith in Jesus (Luke 11:24-26)
4. Operate in Obedience to Jesus (Luke 11:27-28)

Contextual Notes:
Let’s set out a few basics ofwhat the Bible teaches aboutthe spirit realm.
First, the ultimate authority is the Living God. Satan, the Devil is not equal
with God, but is only an angelwho fell from his lofty position through
rebellion in which he led a number of other angels to rebel. Those otherfallen
angels are calleddemons. They were castout of heaven. God createdAdam
and Eve as the crown of His Creation, to be made in His image, to have a
relationship with God, and to have authority over the earth. With no
authority on earth, the devil pursued a successfulstrategyof deceiving the
first two humans into disobeying their Creator. He knew that if they would
sin, he could usurp some of their authority for his own, and most importantly,
break their relationship with a holy God, destroy those who are most
important to God, and thereby hurt God in the process.
Demonic strategysince the time of Adam and Eve has been to deceive the
crownof God’s creation, human beings, in order to gain more authority and
to defile and destroy God’s treasured creationby forcing them to worship and
serve him instead of the Creator. Once the devil was defeatedat the Cross, the
devil now has a strategyto drag as many people down with him as he can. He
attacks and destroys lives, sabotages the church and undermines its witness
through sin. He blinds the minds of unbelievers to the GoodNews.
But he doesn’t do so wellup againstJesus. Whenthe devil or his demonic
forces encounterJesus, they immediately submit to his overwhelming
authority. The simple presence of Jesus makes demons tremble and flee.
The sectionfrom Luke 11:14-17:11 is calledthe PereanDiscourses,during a
time of ministry in Perea from about September of 28 to April of 29 when he
returned to Jerusalemfor his last week ofministry. Luke is the only recordof
these days and teachings with the exceptionof Matthew 12:22-45 and a few
incidents in John 10:22-42;11:1-45;11:46-54. Luke records parables and
discourses, but not many incidents, possibly because it was winter. The
beginning of Jesus’ministry in Galilee was markedwith parables and

sermons, too. Thus, Jesus resumes and repeats with more fullness some of the
teaching he had given in Galilee.
In chapter ten we saw seventy spokesmen, one Samaritan, and two sisters. In
chapter 11, Jesus instructs his friends on prayer (Luke 11:1-13)and then
indicts his foes (Luke 11:14-54)in a series ofcontroversies climaxing at Luke
11:54.
Exposition: Note well,
1. OPERATE IN THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS (Luke 11:14-20)
a. (|| Mark 3:22-27;Matt 12:22-30). The first controversyis the result of
Jesus’driving out a demon from a mute man. The demon was not mute, but
the effectof on the man was being unable to speak.
b. APPLICATION: Demons are not all-powerful, but they would love for
you to think they are. The truth is that they MUST obey the authority of
Christ (Luke 10:17;1 John 4:4).
c. Luke 11:16: Isaiah35:6 tells us that the healing of the mute is a sign of
God’s end-time salvation. Here is a sign. They ask for a sign, but they do not
recognize the signs they want to see.
d. Jesus has his armchair quarterbacks, the cynics who won’t do anything
themselves, won’t make any commitments themselves, but their ignorant
mouths have plenty to contribute. Jesus’opponents accuse him of casting out
the demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. Who is
Beelzebub? The text says he is the prince of demons. Some interpret that as
Satanhimself. [1] Others attribute the name to another powerful demon
serving the Devil himself. The NIV, KJV, and Latin supply “Beel-zebub” from
2 Kings 1:2, 3, 6. The beel comes from the Canaanite godBaal, meaning lord.
Zebub means flies, thus Baal-Zebub means “lord of flies.” The Greek text

actually reads “Beelzeboul,”[2]meaning lord of the temple. The Israelites,
mocking the name, liked the Aramaic meaning of Beelzeboul:“lord of dung”
(Judges 10:6; 2 Kings 1:2, 3, 6, 16). In other words, whoeverit is, this filthy
spirit produces only one thing with the authority it has usurped through sin.
e. The way the Jews did exorcisminvolved hours-long incantations meant to
torture a demon resident in a person. The person’s dignity was marred, and
the demon usually would not leave. The Jewishexorcists hadto result to old-
fashionedwitchcraft to do their work successfully.[3]They had to callon
strongerdemons with more authority than the demon the person had in order
to drive out the lesserdemon. The result was that the person was in worse
shape after the exorcism. Jesus with ultimate authority drove out the demons
with a word, preserving the victim’s human dignity. Jesus’powers were so
overwhelming that the Pharisees decidedthere could be only one explanation:
Jesus must be channeling the prince of all demons himself.
f. Jesus points out two flaws in their argument: (1) It would be foolish for
Satanto castout his own demonic forces, since a house or kingdom divided
againstitself cannotstand (Luke 11:17-18), and (2) He notes that they are
accusing their own followers who claim to drive out demons (Luke 11:19).
g. Jesus’point is that instead, the defeatof demons is the work of God and
not Satan, and it reveals the presence and powerof God’s kingdom (Luke
11:20). Luke is referring back to Exodus 8:19 where Pharaoh’s magicians
recognize the “finger of God” in Moses’miracles. The TenCommandments
were inscribed by the “finger of God” (Exod 31:18;Deut 9:10). Psalm 8:3 says
the heavens are the work of God’s fingers. It is important that Jesus compares
himself to the story of Moses andPharaoh’s magicians, becauseMoses was
demonstrating that his power came from the one true God.
2. OPERATE IN ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS (Luke 11:21-26)
a. Jesus says that Satanis like a strong man whose strongholdis being
disarmed and overpoweredby Jesus, the strongerMan (Luke 11:20-23). In a
parallel passage, Mark presents a householdrobbery (Mark 3:27), but Luke
presents a picture of warfare from Isaiah49:25, with two powers battling over
a stronghold. Through his ministry of deliverance, Jesus is disarming Satan

and taking the spoils (the precious people bound by him) awayfrom him.
Dividing the spoils is a reference to Isaiah53:12 and the Suffering Servant’s
ultimate victory at the End.
b. Luke 11:23 – Jesus says that in this warfare, no one can be neutral.
Everyone must choose a side. He also uses a shepherding image to saythat
whoeverdoes not gatherwith him is scattering. Those who argue that this
verse is a contradiction of Luke 9:50b (“He who is not againstyou is for you”)
have not read the verses in context. In both statements Jesus teaches the
impossibility of neutrality in regard to Jesus. One commentatorgives “an
admirable principle of judgment: ‘Am I on Christ’s side actively and
positively?” No? Then I am againsthim. . . . But my brother? Is he working
againstChrist? No? Then he is to be welcomedas for him.’ Tolerancetoward
others; strictness towardoneself.”[4]
3. OPERATE IN FAITH IN JESUS (Luke 11:24-26)
a. Jesus then warns of the danger of spiritual cleaning without the inward
spiritual renewalthat comes with the kingdom of God (Luke 11:24-26). Jesus
with ingenious brevity subverts their argument and turns it back on them,
showing them to be guilty. He says that not he, but they are servants of Satan.
He castdemons out, but they invite them back in greaternumbers as a nation.
b. Luke 11:26 – Seven other spirits: The number sevenemphasizes a greater
control over the man, in parallel to the seven-foldspirit of God (Rev 1:4; 3:1;
4:5; 5:6). Jesus reveals how he viewed the nation of Israel as an unclean
nation. John had calledthem to repentance, and they were sweptclean, but
they have rejectedJesus and their condition at the end would be worse than
before.
c. APPLICATION: It is not enough just to ask forgiveness forsin. We must
submit our lives to Jesus’authority in faith.
4. SPIRITUAL LIVING (Luke 11:27-28)
a. Jesus’teaching on dealing with demons is interrupted by a woman in the
crowdwho shouts out praise for the woman who bore Jesus, literally, “Blessed

is the womb that bore you and breasts at which you nursed” (Luke 1:42).
Praising the mother was a common way of giving accolades to a child.
b. Jesus, however, points her back to what is most important – obedience to
the Word of God (Luke 11:28)
Invitation:
Sources:
F.F. Bruce, gen. ed. The International Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1986), 1207.
Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah(Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson, 1993), 610-5.
S. MacLeanGilmour, “Luke.” George Arthur Buttrick, gen. ed., The
Interpreter’s Bible. Vol. 8 (Nashville:Abingdon, 1952), 8:205-11.
Craig Keener, The IVP Bible BackgroundCommentary: New Testament
(Downers Grove:Intervarsity, 1993), 220.
Dwight J. Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ(Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1981), 305-7.
Lawrence O. Richards, The Victor Bible BackgroundCommentary: New
Testament(Wheaton:Victor, 1994), 236.
Lawrence O. Richards, The Bible Reader’s Companion (Wheaton:Victor,
1991), 662.
David W. Pao and EckhardJ. Schnabel, “Luke,” G.K. Beale and D.A. Carson,
gen. eds., Commentary on the New TestamentUse of the Old Testament
(Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007), 323-4.
Strauss, Mark. “Luke.” Vol. 1. Clinton E. Arnold, gen. ed. Zondervan
Illustratied Bible Backgrounds Commentary(Grand Rapids: Zondervan,
2002), 1:420-2.

Swindoll, Charles R. and Bryce Klabunde, The DeclarationofSomething
Mysterious:A Study of Luke 10:38-16:18 (Anaheim, CA: Insight for Living,
1995), 17-24.
Van der Toorn, Karel, BobBecking, and PeterW. van der Horst, eds.,
Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (Boston:Brill, 1999), 154-5.
Wilmington, Harold L. The Outline Bible (Nashville: Tyndale House, 199),
536-8.
STEVEN COLE
The Heavenly War (Luke 11:14-28)
RelatedMedia
00:00

00:00
In 1938, OrsonWelles terrified millions of Americans with his radio narration
of H. G. Wells’War of the Worlds. The drama was so realistic that many
thought that aliens were actually invading our planet, intent on destroying the
human race. It was only fiction; no one should have believed such a far-
fetched tale. But they did.
The Bible clearly affirms that we are engagedin combat with an unseen
enemy that is intent on destroying the human race:“Forour struggle is not
againstflesh and blood, but againstthe rulers, againstthe powers, againstthe

world forces of this darkness, againstthe spiritual forces of wickednessin the
heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). It is a frightening truth which no one should
doubt or ignore. But many do doubt it and live as if it is not true.
The apostle John affirms that “the Son of God appearedfor this purpose, that
He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Luke is showing that
Jesus’miracles establishHis legitimate authority as the Messiah, the Son of
God, sentto deliver us from the power of Satan. But Jesus’authority put Him
into conflict with the Jewishreligious authorities, who did not want to yield to
Him. Luke 11:14-54 shows the mounting tension betweenJesus and these
religious leaders. Ratherthan approaching Jesus with teachable hearts and
open minds, they accusedHim of casting out demons by the power of Satan
and they challengedHim by demanding some sign from heaven. As such, they
were reissuing the third temptation that Satanhad put before Jesus, to use
His powerfor show by casting Himself off the Temple pinnacle. Jesus soundly
refuted their demands by giving this extensive teaching on spiritual conflict,
the heavenly war. We learn that …
Since Jesus’miracles authenticate His victory over Satan, we must decisively
follow Him.
In other words, this isn’t just a subject to banter about in an interesting
discussion. Lives and eternal destinies are at stake. People cannotignore
Jesus. Theymust decide for Him or they are againstHim. Neutrality is
impossible. We either follow Christ into battle on His side, or we oppose Him
and remain on Satan’s side. These are the crucialissues behind this sectionof
Luke’s Gospel.
1. There is a spiritual battle raging with two and only two sides.
Scripture clearly teaches that Satanis a real spiritual being, not just an
impersonal force for evil. He was an angel who rebelled againstGodand who
commands a host of other evil spirits (called demons) who also rebelled
againstGod. He is here calledBeelzebul, a popular name for the prince of the
demons. The derivation of the name is debated, but it probably went back to
Baalworship and meant, “lord of the temple.” In 2 Kings 1:2, the king of
Israelwas injured and wantedto inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron,

whether he would recover. This was probably a derisive Hebrew pun, which
meant, “lord of the flies.” At any rate, Luke was not concernedabout the
word’s origin or meaning, but only used it as a popular name for Satan.
Satanand his demonic forces are committed to the ultimate harm and
destruction of the human race. To rewrite the Four Spiritual Laws, “Satan
hates you and has a terrible plan for your life!” Since God’s purpose is to be
glorified through the human race, createdin His image, Satan’s purpose is to
defile and degrade people so that their lives do not bring glory to God. Some
of Satan’s demons are more evil than others (11:26), but they all have the
same evil purpose. Since the fall of the human race into sin, every person is
born under Satan’s domain and power(1 John 5:19; Eph. 2:2). Jesus called
him “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31;14:30; 16:11)and Paul calledhim
“the god of this world [who] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving” (2 Cor.
4:4).
In this case, the demon causedthe man to be dumb, or unable to speak (Matt.
12:22 reports that the demon also had blinded the man). We have already
encounteredLegion, who showedus the hideous harm that demons can inflict
on people. While we may not encounter such extreme cases veryoften, we
should not be lulled into thinking that Satanis not alive and wellon planet
earth in our day. As J. C. Ryle puts it (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels
[Baker], 3:17, on Luke 11:14-20),
Do we suppose, because bodily possessionby Satanis not so glaringly manifest
as it once was, that the greatenemy is less active in doing mischief than he
used to be? If we think so we have much to learn. Do we suppose that there is
no such thing as the influence of a “dumb” devil in the present day? If we do,
we had better think again. What shall we sayof those who never speak to
God, who never use their tongues in prayer and praise, …? What shall we say,
in a word, of those who can speak to every one but God? What canwe saybut
that Satanhas despoiled them of the truest use of a tongue?
Sometimes we look at nice, decent, law-abiding people and assume that they
are not in Satan’s domain, as if there is some large, neutral zone between
God’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom. But Satanis a deceiver, and he

Jesus was stronger than satan

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (17)

Similar to Jesus was stronger than satan

Similar to Jesus was stronger than satan (20)

More from GLENN PEASE

More from GLENN PEASE (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Jesus was stronger than satan