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PER226
Jesus the Messiah challenged after a miracle
In Jerusalem, after healing a mute demoniac, Jesus the Messiah is challenged by opponents who attribute his power to Beelzebul and demand another sign. He answers with logical and spiritual arguments, cites the sign of Jonah, redirects a word of praise toward obedience to the Word, and concludes with a metaphor about the inner light. This discourse, reported only by Luke (11.14-36), illustrates two opposite attitudes toward the Messiah: authentic faith and unbelieving rejection.
Luke 11.18-27 (King James Version) :If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: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.He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.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 my house whence I came out.And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org