Matthew 12:27 Meaning and Explanation
“And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus points out that their own followers cast out demons, so their charge condemns themselves.
What Does Matthew 12:27 Mean?
Jesus turns their accusation back upon them. Their own people, the 'children' of their tradition, also practiced casting out evil spirits. If his exorcisms must be credited to Beelzebub, then by the same reasoning so must theirs. Their own followers thus become their judges, exposing the double standard.
The argument lays bare the malice of the charge. They condemn in Jesus what they would never condemn among their own. Such judgment is not honest but partisan, born of hostility rather than truth. Christ presses them to be consistent, and consistency would force them to admit that the casting out of demons is a work of God, not of the devil. Prejudice blinds them to what fairness would plainly reveal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 12:27
What does Matthew 12:27 mean?
Jesus points out that their own followers cast out demons, so their charge condemns themselves.