Jesus and Beelzebul: His Own People Believed that Jesus Was Demon Possessed - Matthew 12:22-37

Jesus and Beelzebub Parallel Passages

‭Mark 3:20-30 

[20] Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. [21] But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.” [22] And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” [23] So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? [24] If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. [25] And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. [26] And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. [27] No one can e‭nter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

[28] “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; [29] but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— [30] because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Matthew 12:22-37 

[22] Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. [23] And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

[24] Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

[25] But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. [26] If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? [27] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. [28] But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. [29] Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. [30] He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

[31] “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. [32] Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. [33] “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. [34] Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. [36] But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. [37] For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  

‭Luke 11:14-26 

[14] And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled. [15] But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” [16] Others, testing Him, sought from Him a sign from heaven.

[17] But He, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. [18] If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. [19] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. [20] But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. [21] When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. [22] But when a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his spoils. [23] He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

[24] “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ [25] And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. [26] Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

The Jews Believed that Jesus Had an Unclean Spirit/Was Demon Possessed

Matthew 9:34 

But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons.”

Mark 3:21

But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

Mark 3:22

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”

Mark 3:30 

because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Matthew 12:24

Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” 

Luke 11:15

But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” 

John 7:20 

The people answered and said, “You have a demon. Who is seeking to kill You?”

John 8:48 

Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”

John 8:52 

Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’

John 10:20

And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”