Matthew 12:24-30 Now upon hearing, the Pharisees said, "This person is not casting (or: throwing) out the demons except in union with Beelzebub other MSS: Beelzebul; Beezeboul, the ruler (or: chief; originator) of the demons (Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influences)." : King ). So here we have the Pharisees validating the existence of a pagan god! And yet, we are told in Ps. (LXX), “This is a people that ' offer{s} sacrifices in gardens, and burn{s} incense on bricks to the demons – which things DO NOT EXIST!” that “all the gods of the peoples (= people groups) are mere idols (nobodies; things of naught).” The LXX (Greek OT) renders this: “all the gods of the ethnic multitudes (nations; non-Israelites) {are} demons.” But Isaiah says in : : comment: Beelzebub, is the NT spelling for Baal-zebub, a Philistine deity (

JMNT⁽ⁱ⁾ ²⁴ Now upon hearing, the Pharisees said, "This person is not casting (or: throwing) out the demons except in union with Beelzebub [other MSS: Beelzebul; Beezeboul], the ruler (or: chief; originator) of the demons (Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influences)." [comment: Beelzebub, is the NT spelling for Baal-zebub, a Philistine deity (2 King 1:2). So here we have the Pharisees validating the existence of a pagan god! And yet, we are told in Ps. 95:5 that “all the gods of the peoples (= people groups) are mere idols (nobodies; things of naught).” The LXX (Greek OT) renders this: “all the gods of the ethnic multitudes (nations; non-Israelites) {are} demons.” But Isaiah says in 65:3 (LXX), “This is a people that '85 offer{s} sacrifices in gardens, and burn{s} incense on bricks to the demons – which things DO NOT EXIST!”] ²⁵ So, having seen and now knowing (perceiving) their inner impulses, emotions, sentiments and reflections, He said to them, "Every reign of a king (kingdom; = government) being parted (divided and separated into parts) down against itself is being progressively turned into a desert (made desolate, waste and depopulated), and every city or household being parted down against itself will not continue standing (= be surviving). ²⁶ "So if 'Satan' continues casting (or: driving) out 'Satan,' he is parted (divided and separated into parts) upon himself. How, then, will his reign (kingdom; government) continue standing (= be surviving)? ²⁷ "And if I, Myself, 'in union with Beelzebub' continue casting (or: driving) out the demons, in union with whom are your sons habitually casting and driving [them] out? Through this (or: Therefore; For this reason), they, themselves, will continue being your judges (or: decision makers pertaining to you folks). ²⁸ "Yet if I, Myself, in union with God's Spirit ([being] within the midst of the effect of God's breath; in an attitude which is God) am constantly driving (or: casting) out the demons, God's reign (the kingdom from God, the sovereign rule which is God, and the government of God) has consequently preceded and come beforehand upon you people (or: has really overtaken you folks and is now arrived and settled upon you). ²⁹ "Or, how does anyone have power or ability to enter into the house belonging to a strong person and to seize (snatch up and plunder) his movable goods (equipment; utensils; gear; belongings; possessions), unless he can (or: should) first bind (tie up) the strong person? After that he will proceed in completely plundering (thoroughly looting) his house. ³⁰ "The person not continually being with Me (= on My side) continues being against Me, and the person not habitually gathering (or: leading together) with Me is constantly scattering.