22 Then a man possessed by evil spirits was brought to Yeshua. He was blind and unable to speak, but Yeshua healed him so that he could both speak and see. 23 All the people were amazed and were saying, “Surely this must be the promised descendant of David?”

24 [ref]When the Pharisees’ party heard about that, they said, “That man is only driving out demons because he’s Beelzebul, the leader of the demons.”

25 But Yeshua, knowing their thoughts, said, “Every kingdom that’s divided against itself is doomed, and any city or household that’s divided against itself will self-destruct. 26 If Satan is driving out Satan, then he’s divided against himself and how could his kingdom possibly be established? 27 And if I’m driving out demons by Beelzebul, then by who are your sons driving them out? 28 But if I am driving out demons by God’s spirit, then that must mean that God’s kingdom has already arrived among you all.

29 “How can someone go into the house of a strong man and steal his goods if they don’t tie him up first? Only then can his home be plundered.

30 [ref]“Anyone who’s not for me is against me, and anyone who isn’t helping me gather others is scattering them. 31 That’s why I’m telling you that people can be forgiven for all kinds of sin and slander, except that slandering God’s spirit won’t be forgiven. 32 [ref]Anyone who speaks out against humanity’s child can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks out against the holy spirit won’t be forgiven either in this age or in the coming one.

20 Then Yeshua was approaching a house, but the crowd swarmed them again so they had no opportunity to eat. 21 The ones with him heard all the noise and came to get him, because they were wondering if he was crazy.

22 [ref]The religious teachers had come up from Yerushalem and were complaining, “He’s possessed by the prince of demons. He can command them because he rules them!”

23 But Yeshua addressed them: “How could Satan command himself? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom could never prosper. 25 If a household is divided against itself, that family will never prosper. 26 So if Satan attacked himself and was split, he couldn’t possibly be powerful, but his time would be over.

27 On the contrary, no one can enter a strong man’s house to clean out his possessions unless he first ties up that strong man—after that he can work on the goods.

28 Honestly, I assure you that any sin of a person can be forgiven, no matter how much they curse God. 29 [ref]But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven, but is eternally responsible for their sin.” 30 (He said this because they were saying that he was demon-possessed.)

14 Then Yeshua drove out a demon that caused muteness, and after the demon departed, the man was able to speak. The crowds were amazed, 15 [ref]but yet some of them said, “He’s driving out demons because he’s Beelzebul the leader of the demons.”

16 [ref]Others who wanted to test who he was, asked Yeshua to send a sign from heaven, 17 but he knew their thoughts and told them, “Any kingdom that’s divided against itself is doomed, and any household that’s divided will self-destruct. 18 So if Satan was fighting against himself, how could his kingdom even remain? Yes, I know that you’re all saying that I must be Beelzebul in order to drive out demons, 19 but if I have Beelzebul’s power over demons, then whose power do your apprentices use to drive out demons? 20 However if I’m driving out demons with power that comes from God, then that means that God’s kingdom is right in the middle of you all.

21 “Whenever a strong landowner arms himself and guards his nice home, everything remains there peacefully, 22 but when someone stronger than him arrives and overpowers him, he’ll even take the body armour that the landowner put his trust in, and then relieve him of all his goods.

23 [ref]“Anyone who doesn’t follow me is against me, and anyone who doesn’t gather with us, wants to scatter us.