Luke 11:14-26

Luke 11:14-26

[14] And  casting out  a devil,  and  it  dumb.  And  it came to pass,  when the devil  was gone out,  the dumb  spake;  and  the people  wondered.  [15] But  some  of  them  said,  He casteth out  devils  through  Beelzebub  the chief  of the devils.  [16] And  others,  tempting  him, sought  of  him  a sign  from  heaven.  [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  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  [21] When  a strong man  armed  keepeth  his  palace,  his  in  peace:  [22] But  when  a stronger  than he  shall come upon him,  and overcome  him,  he taketh  from him  all his armour  wherein  he trusted,  and  divideth  his  spoils.  [23] not  with  against  and  he that gathereth  not  with  scattereth.  [24] When  the unclean  spirit  is gone  out of  a man,  he walketh  through  dry  places,  seeking  rest;  and  finding  none,  he saith,  I will return  unto  house  whence  I came out.  [25] And  when he cometh,  he findeth  it swept  and  garnished.  [26] Then  goeth he,  and  taketh  to him seven  other  spirits  than himself;  and  they enter in,  and dwell  there:  and  the last  state of that  man  is  worse  than the first. 

What does Luke 11:14-26 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The placement of these events in Luke"s Gospel again raises the question of whether Luke recorded the same incident as Matthew and Mark or whether this was a similar but different one. I, along with many other students of the passages, believe it was probably a different occasion in view of the differences in the accounts.
The connecting idea with what precedes is the Holy Spirit ( Luke 11:13). Luke had stressed the Spirit"s influence in Jesus" life and ministry, but the religious leaders rejected that possibility concluding rather that Satan controlled Jesus.
"To understand the significance of Jesus" miraculous work, especially his exorcisms, one must understand Luke 11:14-23." [1]