In today's passage the pharisees talked among themselves. The wanted to see Jesus totally destroyed. Jesus knew what they were up to and moved on. As in other places he had a great following, and Jesus healed them all (v15). He asked that they not tell everyone what happened but to keep it quiet.
When he healed a deaf and blind man who was devil possessed, the pharisees once again said, he casts out devils by Beelzebub, prince of the devils.
Jesus answered: 25. ... Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26. And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
29. or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
In essence he was telling them, what good is it for the devil to give power to cast out devils? If he is against himself, he weakens himself. In order for a city or a home to stay strong it must be united.
Verse 25, I think can be applied to different situations. Abraham Lincoln quoted him in part during one of his speeches, saying a house divided against itself cannot stand. That statement is just as true today.
Evil cannot erase evil. Only good can do that.
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