“If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?”
The full verse · Matthew 12:27 · KJV
cast , do cast them ? shall .
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, answering the charge that He cast out devils by Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24-25)
Asked to
Pharisees: a Jewish religious party known for strict keeping of the law and tradition, who said Jesus cast out devils "by Beelzebub the prince of the devils" (Matthew 12:24)
The Scene
Jesus has healed a man possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb, and the Pharisees answer the crowd's amazement by saying He casts out devils "by Beelzebub the prince of the devils" (Matthew 12:22-24).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus exposed the Pharisees' double standard. Some among their own followers claimed to cast out devils. So why accuse Jesus? Barnes reasons, "If your argument be true that a man who casts out devils must be in league with the devil, then your disciples have made a covenant with him also." Gill reasons the Pharisees would credit their own people to God and Jesus to Beelzebub, "which would show their great partiality." The question forced them either to drop their charge or condemn their own.
The Response
What Scripture recordsJesus answered His own question: "therefore they shall be your judges" (Matthew 12:27). Their own followers would stand as witnesses against their unfair judgment. Barnes sums it up: "They shall condemn you and your argument." Matthew records no answer to the question. Jesus then drew the true conclusion: "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you" (Matthew 12:28).
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Your children" translates huioi, literally "sons." In this setting it means followers or disciples rather than family members. Barnes explains it as "your disciples, or followers." Gill mentions the view that these were Christ's own disciples but sets it aside for another: "some among themselves, who pretended to have a power of exorcising and ejecting of devils."
The word "judges" (kritai) carries a courtroom picture. The very people the Pharisees trusted would, in effect, testify against them. Luke records the same question in nearly the same words (Luke 11:19).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyJesus' question exposes what Gill calls "their great partiality": they credited their own exorcists to God and Jesus to Beelzebub. The Pharisees were not weighing the evidence honestly. Earlier they had "held a council against him, how they might destroy him" (Matthew 12:14). Jesus held their reasoning up to the light.
His next words point to what was truly happening: "if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you" (Matthew 12:28). In Luke the same saying reads, "if I with the finger of God cast out devils" (Luke 11:20). The question was meant to clear away the excuse so the Pharisees could see God's kingdom standing in front of them.
Look Closer
What does Jesus' question assume the Pharisees' "children" were doing?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Father, Jesus exposed a standard that was fair to friends and harsh to Him; where am I judging others by a measure I would never apply to myself?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Why is it so easy to excuse in "our people" what we criticize in others?
- Tell about a time someone treated you fairly when it would have been easier to take sides. What did that show you?
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Jesus' question asks you to use one standard, not two. It is easy to judge outsiders harshly while giving friends, family, or your own group every benefit of the doubt. Jesus called that out.
When you are tempted to dismiss someone's good work because of who they are, stop and ask whether you would say the same about someone you like. Fairness is part of honesty before God.
This does not mean every claim is equally true. Jesus still drew a clear line between the Spirit of God and Satan (Matthew 12:28). Weigh things carefully, and weigh them the same way for everyone.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
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