Mark 3:23
◄  Mark 3:23  ►
New International Version (©2011)
So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan?

New Living Translation (©2007)
Jesus called them over and responded with an illustration. "How can Satan cast out Satan?" he asked.

English Standard Version (©2001)
And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
So He summoned them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan?

International Standard Version (©2012)
So Jesus called them together and began to speak to them in parables. "How can Satan drive out Satan?

NET Bible (©2006)
So he called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan cast out Satan?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
And Yeshua called them, and he said to them in parables, “How is Satan able to cast out Satan?”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Jesus called them together and used this illustration: "How can Satan force out Satan?

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

American King James Version
And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

American Standard Version
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And after he had called them together, he said to them in parables: How can Satan cast out Satan?

Darby Bible Translation
And having called them to him, he said to them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

English Revised Version
And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

Webster's Bible Translation
And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?

Weymouth New Testament
So He called them to Him, and using figurative language He appealed to them, saying, "How is it possible for Satan to expel Satan?

World English Bible
He summoned them, and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan?

Young's Literal Translation
And, having called them near, in similes he said to them, 'How is the Adversary able to cast out the Adversary?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:22-30 It was plain that the doctrine of Christ had a direct tendency to break the devil's power; and it was as plain, that casting of him out of the bodies of people, confirmed that doctrine; therefore Satan could not support such a design. Christ gave an awful warning against speaking such dangerous words. It is true the gospel promises, because Christ has purchased, forgiveness for the greatest sins and sinners; but by this sin, they would oppose the gifts of the Holy Ghost after Christ's ascension. Such is the enmity of the heart, that unconverted men pretend believers are doing Satan's work, when sinners are brought to repentance and newness of life.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 23-27. - How can Satan cast out Satan? Observe here that our Lord distinctly affirms the personality of Satan, and a real kingdom of evil. But then he goes on to show that if this their allegation were true, namely, that he cast out devils by the prince or the devils, then it would follow that Satan's kingdom would be divided against itself. As a house divided against itself cannot stand, so neither could the kingdom of Satan exist in the world if one evil spirit was opposed to another for the purpose of dispossessing, the one the other, from the minds and bodies of men. Our Lord thus employs another argument to show that he casts out evil spirits, not by Beelzebub, but by the power of God. It is as though he said, "As he who invades the house of a strong man cannot succeed until he first binds the strong man; in like manner I, Christ Jesus, who spoil the kingdom of Satan, whilst I lead sinners who had been under his power to repentance and salvation, must first bind Satan himself, otherwise he would never suffer me to take his captives from him. Therefore he is my enemy, and not in league with me, not my ally in the casting out of evil spirits, as you falsely represent me to be. It behoves you, then, to understand that it is with the Spirit of God that I cast out devils, and that therefore the kingdom of God is come upon you."

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he called them unto him,.... The Jerusalem Scribes, to come nearer to him, and attend to what he had to say in defence of his character and miracles:

and said unto them in parables: similitudes, and proverbial expressions, as the following seem to be,

how can Satan cast out Satan? or one devil cast out another? how unreasonable is it to suppose it? can it ever be thought that such, whose interest it is to unite, would ever oppose and dispossess one another? if therefore, as if he should say, I am Beelzebub, or have him, and he is in me, and I am in confederacy with him; was this the case, can any think I should ever cast him out of others, as I do?

Mark 3:23 Parallel Commentaries

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A House Divided
…22And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He has Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casts he out devils. 23And he called them to him, and said to them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? 24And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. …

Matthew 4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"
Matthew 12:25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
Matthew 13:3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.
Mark 3:24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
Mark 4:2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:
Mark 4:11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables
Mark 12:1 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place.
Luke 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.