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Matthew 12:22-30 CEV ...Some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk because he had a demon in him. Jesus healed the man, and then he was able to talk and see. (23) The crowds were so amazed that they asked, "Could Jesus be the Son of David?" (24) When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "He forces out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons!" (25) Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said to them: Any kingdom where people fight each other will end up ruined. And a town or family that fights will soon destroy itself. (26) So if Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last? (27) If I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force them out? Your followers are the ones who will judge you. (28) But when I force out demons by the power of God's Spirit, it proves that God's kingdom has already come to you. (29) How can anyone break into a strong man's house and steal his things, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can take everything. (30) If you are not on my side, you are against me. If you don't gather in the harvest with me, you scatter it.
Note Jesus asked in verse 29 how anyone could plunder a strong man's home unless they first bind the strong man. Some Bible students [most prefer to refer to "themselves" as Bible scholars] have suggested the strong man refers to Satan, and to Jesus using Holy Spirit to free those under Satan's power. I'm not sure. It does trouble me Jesus would refer to Satan as a "strong" man. There is nothing strong about him in God's sight! (Gal 4:8-9 of 1-11) I tend to think this verse might refer to Satan binding the strong man Jesus, by putting him to death and then plundering Jesus's house, or maybe God's house, as he used false religion to bring about the dark ages which existed and has had control over mankind for much of the 2000 years since Christ's death and resurrection to heaven; there awaiting his return in kingdom power in our day in time. (1 Cor 15:12-28) The words of Christ have had an awakening in these last days. We now see [through eyes of faith (2 Kings 6:15-17)] Jesus riding forth to complete his conquest in the midst of his enemies: (Psa 110:1-3) God's spirit empowering people to understand, and then to speak about, Jesus's message of hope and deliverance. (Luke 21:22-28) So, everyone not joined to Christ in spreading the good news of his Father's kingdom is joined with Satan in scattering and doing harm! (Mat 24:14)
Matthew 12:22-30 ESV ...Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. (23) And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?" (24) But when the Pharisees [religious leaders] heard it, they said, "It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." (25) Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. (26) And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? (27) And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. (28) But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (29) Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. (30) Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
Matthew 12:22-30 GNB ...Then some people brought to Jesus a man who was blind and could not talk because he had a demon. Jesus healed the man, so that he was able to talk and see. (23) The crowds were all amazed at what Jesus had done. "Could he be the Son of David?" they asked. (24) When the Pharisees heard this, they replied, "He drives out demons only because their ruler Beelzebul gives him power to do so." (25) Jesus knew what they were thinking, and so he said to them, "Any country that divides itself into groups which fight each other will not last very long. And any town or family that divides itself into groups which fight each other will fall apart. (26) So if one group is fighting another in Satan's kingdom, this means that it is already divided into groups and will soon fall apart! (27) You say that I drive out demons because Beelzebul gives me the power to do so. Well, then, who gives your followers the power to drive them out? What your own followers do proves that you are wrong! (28) No, it is not Beelzebul, but God's Spirit, who gives me the power to drive out demons, which proves that the Kingdom of God has already come upon you. (29) "No one can break into a strong man's house and take away his belongings unless he first ties up the strong man; then he can plunder his house. (30) "Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.
Matthew 12:22-30 NWT ...Then they brought him a demon-possessed man, blind and dumb; and he cured him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. 23 Well, all the crowds were simply carried away and began to say: “May this not perhaps be the Son of David?” 24 At hearing this, the Pharisees said: “This fellow does not expel the demons except by means of Be·el´ze·bub, the ruler of the demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself comes to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 In the same way, if Satan expels Satan, he has become divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand? 27 Moreover, if I expel the demons by means of Be·el´ze·bub, by means of whom do YOUR sons expel them? This is why they will be judges of YOU. 28 But if it is by means of God’s spirit that I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken YOU. 29 Or how can anyone invade the house of a strong man and seize his movable goods, unless first he binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 He that is not on my side is against me, and he that does not gather with me scatters.
Matthew 12:22-30 BBE ...Then they took to him one with an evil spirit, who was blind and had no power of talking: and he made him well so that he had the power of talking and seeing. (23) And all the people were surprised and said, Is not this the Son of David? (24) But the Pharisees, hearing of it, said, This man only sends evil spirits out of men by Beelzebub, the ruler of evil spirits. (25) And having knowledge of their thoughts he said to them, Every kingdom having division in itself is made waste, and every town or house having division in itself will come to destruction. (26) And if Satan sends out Satan, he makes war against himself; how then will he keep his kingdom? (27) And if I by Beelzebub send evil spirits out of men, by whom do your sons send them out? So let them be your judges. (28) But if I by the Spirit of God send out evil spirits, then is the kingdom of God come on you. (29) Or how may one go into a strong man's house and take his goods, if he does not first put cords round the strong man? and then he may take his goods. (30) Whoever is not with me is against me; and he who does not take part with me in getting people together, is driving them away.
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You will note the reference windows often include more than one translation of the Bible. The reason is to strive to gain the best possible understanding of the original Hebrew and Greek. Since we don't speak those languages, we rely on those who have come before and made the effort to translate those texts into English for us. Considering several translations gives the benefit of the understanding of several translation committees or individuals.
The Translations we quote are:
ALT - Analytical Literal Translation
ASV - American Standard Version (by the American revision committee in 1897).
BBE - 1965 Bible in Basic English
Bishops - 1568 Bishop's Bible
Calvin - 1856 by Calvin Translation Society
CEV - Contemporary English Version
Coverdale - 1535 Miles Coverdale Bible
Darby - 1889 Darby Bible
DRB - 1899 Douay-Rheims Bible
ESV - English Standard Version
GNB - Good News Bible
GW - God's Word Bible
ISV - International Standard Version
KJV - 1769 King James Version
KJV-1611 - Old King James Version from 1611
LitNT - Literal New Testament
LITV - Literal Translation of the Holy Bible
MKJV - 1962 Modern King James Version
Murdock - 1851 James Murdock New Testament
MWT - Modern World Translation
NWT - New World Translation
RV - Revised Version
Webster - 1833 Webster Bible
WTNT - 1525-26 William Tyndale New Testament
Wycliffe - 1394 Wycliffe Bible
YLT - 1862/1898 Young's Literal Translation
Scripture Reference Window
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