How can Satan cast out Satan?

 

 And they went into a house.  Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.  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."  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."  So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables:  "How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.  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.

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

Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.  And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You."  But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"  And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

 

- Mark 3:19b–35 

 

Yesterday we read that, after a confrontation with the Pharisees (who then begin to plot against Him), Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea.  And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.  So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.  For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.  And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God."  But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.  And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted.  And they came to Him.  Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:  Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder"; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.   

 And they went into a house.  Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.  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."  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."   Beelzebub was a term used by the Jews as a form of ridicule of the God Baal, worshiped by the Philistines, and indeed in many places in the ancient Near East.  When Israel fell into idolatry, it was significantly to worship Baal.  Here the scribes call him the ruler of the demons.  Beelzebub is translated as prince of "the dung heap" or lord of "the flies" (2 Kings 1:2-16).

So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables:  "How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.  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."  My study Bible comments that the impossibility of demons fighting against themselves illustrates the irrational pride and envy of the Pharisees in their opposition to Jesus.

"Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" -- because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."  My study Bible says that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is blasphemy against the divine activity of the Spirit; that is, blasphemy against pure goodness.  This is what it is to claim that the work of the Holy Spirit is the work of demons.   Those who accuse Christ of working by the power of demons know well the divine activity of the Holy Spirit from the Old Testament, and therefore are engaging in a willful hardness of heart and a refusal to accept God's mercy.  Moreover, exorcism was already commonly practiced in Judaism (see Matthew 12:27).  My study Bible adds that in patristic commentary it is clear that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not an "unforgivable sin" and neither does Jesus call it so.  St. John Chrysostom teaches that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would be forgivable if a person were to repent of it.  My study Bible adds that Jesus makes this declaration knowing that those who blaspheme against the Spirit are calling pure, divine goodness "evil," and that they are beyond repentance through their own choice.

Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.  And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You."  But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"  And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."   My study Bible comments that Christ's relatives have not yet understood His identity and mission.  He points to a spiritual family based on obedience to the will of God.   My study Bible reminds us that in Jewish usage, brothers can indicate any number of relations.  Abram called his nephew Lot "brother" (Genesis 14:14); Boaz spoke of his cousin Elimelech as his "brother" (Ruth 4:3); and Joab called his cousin Amasa "brother (2 Samuel 20:9).  Still today across the Middle East, relations such as cousins are called "brothers."  Christ Himself had no blood brothers, as Mary had only one Son, Jesus.  Therefore these brothers mentioned here are cousins or possibly stepbrothers who are sons of Joseph by an earlier marriage.  When Jesus commits His mother to the care of the apostle John at the Cross (John 19:25-27), this is an act which would have been unthinkable if she had other children to care for her. 

We might be surprised that Jesus' relatives come to get Him because the crowds have grown so large who come to see Him, or that the house was so crowded that they could not so much as eat bread.   Even more surprising is to hear that they claim He is out of His mind.   But it might not seem so strange to us in the context of Christ's time and place, rather than our own.  We live in a time when all kinds of people seek to be famous for all kinds of reasons, and especially through the use of social media which is available to so many.  But in Christ's time this was not so.  Even renown itself was potentially scandalous.  Moreover, Jesus has no high position sanctioned in the society.  He is not a member of the Sanhedrin, nor a scribe, nor a priest or Pharisee.  It is also a time of Roman rule of Israel, in which any sort of activity that gathers a large group is going to be suspect, especially because there are those who agitate for violent overthrow of Roman rule.  Perhaps even more importantly, we've just been told (in Saturday's reading) that now the Pharisees have begun to plot against Him -- together with the Herodians (those who support Roman rule through the royal family of Herod) they now seek to destroy Him.  So perhaps His family considers that they have many reasons to try to make excuses for His ministry, to cover His behavior, to seek to speak to Him privately away from the crowds who follow Him.  After all, John's Gospel explicitly tells us that mid-point in His ministry, "even His brothers did not believe in Him" (see John 7:1-5).  So we're left to ponder here what it is like for Christ in His ministry to have so much opposition -- even among His relatives who fear scandal and the possible threats from such negative attention.  In this context comes also spiritual opposition for us to note in the demonic forces which Jesus casts out, for His spiritual authority and power even extends over them.  It is in this context that we can view Christ's words about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, because it is important to understand the nature of the world, and the opposition to God that has always been a part of the story of the people of God.  The example of the prophets of old remains important to us, as it was important to Christ.  In all four Gospels we read that Jesus teaches that a prophet has no honor in his own country (Matthew 13:57,Mark 6:4,Luke 4:24; John 4:44).  St. Paul writes about the opposition the gospel faces in the world: "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).  Jesus teaches us that in the world, we will have tribulation, but He has overcome the world (John 16:33).   Let us note all the opposition to Christ, on so many levels -- spiritual, worldly, from the religious authorities, even among His own family members who do not believe.  For we also, as He has promised, may expect tribulation and opposition to our faith in the world.  But this is part of the journey and the lives of the saints who have followed throughout the history of the Church.  Let us be those who follow in their footsteps, and seek His way -- His path -- for how we go through the world.  In today's reading, Jesus asks the question, "How can Satan cast out Satan?"  And the answer is, clearly, that he cannot.  Only Christ can do this.  Let us consider the reality of opposition of the "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" and how this continues to be present in our world in its effects and various forms.   Let us understand what the journey asks of us, for we all meet Him in His glory at the Cross and in His Resurrection.

Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation

 

 And they went into a house.  Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.  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."  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."  So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables:  "How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.  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. 

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

Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.  And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You."  But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"  And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."

 

- Mark 3:19b–35 

 

In yesterday's reading, we read that Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea, after the Pharisees and Herodians began to plot how they might destroy Him.  And a  great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.  So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.  For He healed many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to touch Him.  And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, "You are the Son of God."  But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.  And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted.  And they came to Him.  Then He appointed the twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons:  Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder"; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.  And they went into a house.   

And they went into a house.  Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.  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."  And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebub," and, "By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons."  So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables:  "How can Satan cast out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end.  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."  My study bible comments that Beelzebub, or Baal, was the prince of "the dung heap" or lord of "the flies" in what is probably a Jewish corruption of the Philistine name for their god, which was meant to ridicule  (2 Kings 1:2-16).  Here, this god of the Philistines is called the ruler of the demons.  Jesus alludes to a spiritual war going on behind the scenes, a battle for the plunder which is human beings, for which exorcism means routing the "occupying" demons.   Only a stronger man could take away the "plunder" from Beezebub the "strong man."  My study bible comments that the impossibility of demons fighting against themselves illustrates the irrational pride and envy of the Pharisees in their opposition to Jesus.

"Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation" -- because they said, "He has an unclean spirit."  To blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is to blaspheme against the Spirit's divine activity.  My study bible describes this as a blasphemy against pure goodness.  A sin against the Son of Man, my study bible explains, is more easily forgiven because the Jews did not know much about Christ.  But blasphemy against the Spirit, whose divine activity was known from the Old Testament, will not be forgiven as it comes from a willful hardness of heart and a refusal to accept God's mercy.  However, the patristic tradition is clear:  such blasphemy is not an "unforgivable sin," nor does Jesus call this sin "unforgivable."  St. John Chrysostom comments that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit would be forgivable if a person were to repent of it.  Jesus makes this declaration, my study bible remarks, knowing that those who blaspheme the Spirit are calling pure, divine goodness "evil," and that they are beyond repentance by their own choice.

Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.  And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You."  But He answered them, saying, "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"  And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."  My study bible comments that Christ's relatives have not yet understood His identity and mission.  Christ points to a spiritual family, which is based on the obedience to the will of My Father.  My study bible also explains that in typical Jewish usage of the time, brother can indicate any number of relations.  Abram called his nephew Lot "brother" (Genesis 14:14); Boaz spoke of his cousin Elimelech as his "brother" (Ruth 4:3); and Joab called his cousin Amasa "brother" (2 Samuel 20:9).  Jesus Himself had no blood brothers; Mary had one Son, Jesus.  The brothers which are mentioned here were either stepbrothers (that is, sons of Joseph by a previous marriage) or cousins.  When Jesus commits His mother to the care of John at the Cross (John 19:25-27), it is an act that would have been unthinkable if Mary had other children to care for her.

As Jesus' fame grows, so do -- in some sense, at least -- the impacts of His ministry upon His family.  In the first instance remarked on here, we're told that there are so many people crowding into the house where Jesus is, that no one could so much as eat bread.  At this time, His family comes for Him:  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."   In some sense, the text seems to say to us, all of this public attention is not good for them.  Possibly they are even responding to the fact that by now the religious authorities (the Pharisees) are plotting with the state authorities (the Herodians who support the Roman rule of the house of Herod) to destroy Him.  This might be a way to try to save Jesus from what is happening, and what they fear will come to Him.  At any rate, by now we're told that they are getting involved, and the effort is to stop what is happening if possible.  In the next instance, we're told that His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him.  They clearly want to speak with Him.  Everybody tells Jesus, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You."  But here is Jesus' response:  "Who is My mother, or My brothers?"  And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers!  For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother."   We should be careful to note that Jesus isn't really criticizing His family.  Rather, He's emphasizing what is of most importance, and that is communion between those who truly love God.  And that nothing must get in the way of that practice of doing the will of God -- even if the family is terrified or worried.  In Jesus' case, He is called by God on a mission and He's fulfilling that mission, and no matter how much He might love, respect, or revere His family, He is called first to that mission, and so is everyone else -- including other members of His family.  This goes hand in hand with the power of the Holy Spirit to which Jesus refers earlier.  To condemn the will of God -- and the work of God in the world -- as somehow not good, or as evil, is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.  This is a far more serious sin than anything one might say about Jesus as a Man.  It is, in fact, just that work of the Spirit that we are to understand is evident in His ministry -- just as it was the Spirit who "threw" Him into the wilderness for temptation and trial before He began that ministry, and just as it was that Spirit which rested upon Him at Baptism.  See Mark 1:6-14; Mark makes it clear from the beginning of his Gospel that the Holy Spirit is central to everything that unfolds.  In the Creed, we say that Christ became man, incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary.  And by what power is it that the demons are cast out of human beings?  Surely Christ has power of His own, but we must also not leave out what cannot be separated from Christ the Son:  the Father and the Holy Spirit.  In Luke's Gospel, in the passage which tells the same story of accusation by the religious leaders, Jesus responds by saying, "But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Luke 11:20).   The finger of God is a reference to the Holy Spirit.  So we are to understand that to label the work of the Holy Spirit "evil" is a serious sin.  To sin against another, as all human beings seem to routinely do all the time, is something Christ sets apart from the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is a power indeed in this world.  The Creed tells us also that the Holy Spirit is the One "who spoke through the prophets."  And in that statement we must remember that Jesus also tells the religious leaders, "Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,' that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation" (Luke 11:49-51).  All of these things combine to emphasize not the power of human beings, nor the conventional understanding of sin and consequences, but the power of the Holy Spirit in the world, and why it is so important that we seek to know the will of God and do it, as Christ says.  For it is the Spirit working through human beings that becomes the true force to be reckoned with, the One who works against the demons in ways we can't see, the One who can work through us, to give true life and true prophetic voice.  We should note that the power of the Spirit is something that works in and with and "in between" (if you will) all things in this world -- and also in spite of them.  The power of human might and empire does not delay it and may seek to work against it, but ultimately it is our own work against the Spirit that has effects we can't stop, and serious spiritual consequences that have a way of working themselves out even in this world when we go down a wrong path too long.  Let us consider the power of Christ and His ministry, a power that supersedes the loyalty of even our deepest ties in this world.