Luke 11:17-20

Luke 11:17-20

[17] But  he,  knowing  their  thoughts,  said  unto them,  Every  kingdom  divided  against  itself  is brought to desolation;  and  a house  divided against  a house  falleth.  [18] Satan  be divided  against  himself,  how  his  kingdom  stand?  because  ye say  cast out  devils  through  Beelzebub.  [19] And  if  I  by  Beelzebub  cast out  devils,  by  whom  sons  cast them out?  therefore  shall they  judges.  [20] But  if  I with  the finger  of God  cast out  devils,  no doubt  the kingdom  of God  is come  upon 

What does Luke 11:17-20 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus at least knew the thoughts of his critics by their request for a greater sign ( Luke 11:16) if not by prophetic insight. He argued first that the head of an army would hardly work with his enemy against his own troops. Second, if Satan was behind Jesus" exorcisms, it was logical to assume that he was behind the exorcisms that some recognized Jewish exorcists performed (cf. Acts 19:13-14). Jesus" antagonists would have been unwilling to concede that. They wanted to maintain a double standard believing that their approved exorcists operated with God"s power, but Jesus used Satan"s. God gave the Jewish exorcists their power too. Jesus believed in a real devil who heads a kingdom that is strong and united (cf. Ephesians 2:1-3; Ephesians 6:10-18).
Jesus" allusion to the finger of God ( Luke 11:20) goes back to Moses" miracles in Pharaoh"s court ( Exodus 8:19). There the Egyptians confessed that the finger (i.e, action) of God was at work when they could no longer reproduce Moses" miracles. Jesus claimed the same divine source of power for His miracles. His miracles indicated the coming of the Messiah and the approach of His kingdom. This was Jesus" third argument.