Satan Standing Against Himself?

[IntoTheCrimsonSky]

Hey Everyone,

Ever since I first read a certain part of the story within 3 of the gospels, it puzzled me. 2 years later, I understand a great more than I did then..but still cannot grasp this.

My confusion lies within these passages:

Matthew 12:26 - And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

Mark 3:23-26
23 - And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
24 - And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25 - And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
26 - And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.

Luke 11:17-20
17 - But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
18 - If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
19 - And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
20 - But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

I understand the concept clearly. Jesus is stating that if He was casting out the demons by the power of Satan, then that would be Satan fighting himself. The problem I have with this, though, is that in the modern day it appears Satan is ALWAYS doing this.

For a good example, most faiths believe in a bad and a good. From my experiences with spiritualism..you are 'very' well trained in knowing how to fight the evil, and to get rid of it when it's present. Yet it's 'all' evil. Satan actually uses his own faith to cast himself out...

I hope I'm making sense with this. There are so many examples I see of this in modern society that I didn't understand what Jesus is trying to say. How would it be dividing his kingdom, if in the end he's still winning over hearts by making them feel like they're getting rid of the evil, only to miss the other evil that is staying?

I don't doubt that Jesus was doing it from God, but I also don't understand how what he's saying was any proof of that fact. It can also be an annoying little fact when trying to explain to someone that they 'aren't' dealing with something from God, if they can point that out.

Any thoughts on these passages, guys?

Blessings and Love,
Sarah

 

[Loveaboveall]

Is Satan really casting himself out or is he just making it appear that way? Think about it. If it is the same power working it is just manifested in a different way but never leaves!

 

[RC_NewProtestants]

What you find Jesus doing quite frequently is saying things which you might say are word plays used to stop the people that were criticizing Him. I think this is another example of this technique. A really good example is where he talks about the old testament text that says "you are gods"

[SIZE=-0][SIZE=-0] John 10:32 Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" 33 The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." 34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, `I SAID, YOU ARE GODS'? 35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, `You are blaspheming,' because I said, `I am the Son of God'? [/SIZE][/SIZE]

 

[thecountrydoc]

A senior moment. Deleted, duplicate post.

 

[thecountrydoc]

Hi Sarah,

First let me say HAPPY BIRTHADY!!!

All of the text you have listed are basicly variations of Matt. 12:26. In each case the scribes and Pharisees were trying to trap Jesus. To fully understand verse 26 we need to back up to verse 22 and read the whole paassage in context.

"Then was brought to him (Jesus) one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

And all the people were amazed, and said, "Is this not the son of David?" But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, "This fellow doeth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of devils." And Jesus knew their thoughts and said unto them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?" Matt. 12:22-26

Here is the key phrase to this passage as well as the other text you listed from Mark and Luke. From verse 26; "Cast out Satan." Satan was engaged in mortal combat with Christ (see Rev. 12:7-9; cf. Matt. 4:1-11; John 12:31; 16:11; ect.). The devil could hardly be foolish enough to work at cross-purpoase with himself, sustaining the claims of his arch enemy, Christ, by cooperating with Him in the expulsion of demons he himself had inflected upon men. On the basis of such a policy "his kingdom" was certain to fall. Herewith Jesus reduced the argument of the Pharisees to obserdity, and His reasoning was so clear and simple that all could see it.

I hope this answers your questions. If not, please feel free to ask for futher explaination.

Your friend and brother in Christ,
Doc