Matius 12:24

12:24 But when the Pharisees ¹  heard this they said, “He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, ²  the ruler ³  of demons!”

Matius 12:26

12:26 So if ⁴  Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

[12:24]  ¹ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[12:24]  ² tn Grk “except by Beelzebul.”

[12:24]  sn Beelzebul is another name for Satan. So some people recognized Jesus’ work as supernatural, but called it diabolical.

[12:24]  ³ tn Or “prince.”

[12:26]  ⁴ tn This first class condition, the first of three “if” clauses in the following verses, presents the example vividly as if it were so. In fact, all three conditions in these verses are first class. The examples are made totally parallel. The expected answer is that Satan’s kingdom will not stand, so the suggestion makes no sense. Satan would not seek to heal.