Luke 11:15
But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
Original Language Analysis
ἐξ
of
G1537
ἐξ
of
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
3 of 13
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
αὐτῶν
them
G846
αὐτῶν
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
4 of 13
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 13
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Historical Context
The Beelzebub accusation appears in all three Synoptic Gospels, indicating its prominence in Jewish opposition to Jesus. Attributing miraculous power to demons rather than God protected the Pharisees' authority—if Jesus operated by God's power, their rejection of Him was rebellion against God. By claiming demonic collusion, they could dismiss His works while maintaining their own religious credentials. This accusation would later be used against Christians (see Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho), showing how entrenched this polemic became.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the Pharisees' willingness to attribute obvious good (healing) to Satan reveal about the depths of spiritual blindness?
- How does this accusation illustrate the danger of religious systems that prioritize institutional authority over truth?
- In what ways might contemporary Christianity be tempted to dismiss genuine moves of God because they don't fit our theological frameworks?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. This verse records the ultimate blasphemy: attributing Jesus' works to Satan. The name "Beelzebub" (Βεελζεβούλ, Beelzeboul) derives from the Philistine deity Baal-zebub ("lord of flies," 2 Kings 1:2) but had become a Jewish title for Satan as "lord of the dwelling" or prince of demons. Calling him "chief of the devils" (ἄρχοντι τῶν δαιμονίων, archonti tōn daimoniōn) acknowledges a hierarchical demonic kingdom.
The accusation is strategically wicked: unable to deny the miracle's reality, Jesus' opponents reinterpret its source. This foreshadows Matthew 12:31-32's warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit—persistently attributing God's redemptive work to Satan crosses into unforgivable territory. The charge also reveals the Pharisees' spiritual blindness: they so thoroughly rejected Jesus that they preferred to believe God's Messiah was Satan's agent rather than acknowledge His divine authority. This demonstrates how religious tradition and pride can harden hearts against truth.