11. What would you fathers do if your son asks you for a fish? Would any of you give him a snake?
12. Or, if your son asks for an egg, would you give him a scorpion?
13. Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
14. One time Jesus was sending a demon out of a man who could not talk. When the demon came out, the man was able to speak. The people were amazed.
15. But some of them said, “Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul to force demons out of people. Beelzebul is the ruler of demons.”
16. Other people wanted to test Jesus. They asked him to give them a sign from heaven.
17. But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he said to them, “Every kingdom that is divided and fights against itself will be destroyed. And a family that fights against itself will break apart.
18. So if Satan is fighting against himself, then how will his kingdom last? You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons.
19. But if I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, then by what power do your people force out demons? So your own people prove that you are wrong.
20. But if I use the power of God to force out demons, the kingdom of God has come to you!
21. “When a strong man with many weapons guards his own house, then the things in his house are safe.