17 Jesus knew what they were thinking, and he said:A kingdom where people fight each other will end up in ruin. And a family that fights will break up.
18 If Satan fights against himself, how can his kingdom last? Yet you say that I force out demons by the power of Beelzebul.
19 If I use his power to force out demons, whose power do your own followers use to force them out? They are the ones who will judge you.
20 But if I use God's power to force out demons, it proves that God's kingdom has already come to you.
21 When a strong man arms himself and guards his home, everything he owns is safe.
22 But if a stronger man comes and defeats him, he will carry off the weapons in which the strong man trusted. Then he will divide with others what he has taken.
23 If you are not on my side, you are against me. If you don't gather in the crop with me, you scatter it.