What is the meaning of Luke 11:15? but some of them said • In the middle of an undeniable miracle (Luke 11:14), “some” onlookers—identified in Matthew 12:24 as Pharisees—choose not to marvel or repent but to criticize. • Their response fulfills Isaiah 5:20, calling evil good and good evil, proving the hardness of the unregenerate heart (Jeremiah 17:9). • Rather than disputing the reality of the exorcism, they attack its source, showing that evidence alone never coerces faith (John 12:37-40). It is by Beelzebul • “Beelzebul” is a derogatory title for Satan, echoing 2 Kings 1:2-3 where the Philistine god “Baal-Zebub” is mocked; by Jesus’ day the name had become synonymous with the devil (Revelation 12:9). • Accusing Jesus of partnership with Beelzebul inverts the truth declared earlier by Gabriel—“He will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32). • This charge echoes Israel’s past when they accused Moses of evil motives (Exodus 16:3), revealing a recurring pattern of rejecting God’s appointed deliverer. the prince of the demons • Scripture plainly teaches a hierarchy in the demonic realm (Ephesians 6:12); calling Satan “prince” acknowledges that authority while ignoring Christ’s superior authority (Colossians 1:16-18). • The crowd’s words unwittingly admit the spiritual warfare behind the scene: kingdoms are in conflict (Matthew 12:26). • By redefining Jesus’ power as satanic, they step toward the “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” that Jesus warns about in the parallel account (Mark 3:28-30). that He drives out demons • Jesus’ miracle is not denied; instead, its meaning is twisted, illustrating Romans 1:22, “Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.” • The statement betrays fear: if Christ’s authority is divine, then His call to repentance is inescapable. Assigning His power to Satan offers a convenient escape from obedience (John 3:19-20). • Jesus will soon expose the irrationality of their claim, showing that a kingdom divided cannot stand (Luke 11:17-20), and He will affirm that His exorcisms prove the arrival of God’s kingdom. summary Luke 11:15 reveals hearts so hardened that, faced with undeniable liberation, they brand the Liberator as satanic. Their accusation displays spiritual blindness, fulfills prophetic warnings, and sets the stage for Jesus to declare the triumph and unity of God’s kingdom. The verse challenges every reader to recognize miracles for what they are—signposts of Christ’s divine authority—and to submit to Him rather than slander the work of the Holy Spirit. |
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