If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand.If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
3 sermons cite this verse
… How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but has an end. No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. Now, we're going to explain what this means because it's, again, spoken in a parable, so it might be a little hard to understand. We're going to explain what all that means in just a second. But I want to add a clarifying detail to this story. Matthew's gospel adds a bit more understanding to how this unfolds. It wasn't just random. Jesus wasn't just like with this crowd and the Pharisees just showed up and decided to say, that guy's Satan. That's not what happened. Matthew adds a clarifying detail that just prior to this happening, the crowd and the multitudes gather and a man is brought to Jesus who's demon-possessed, lame, and mute, blind as well. And Jesus heals this man. He casts out the demon. He heals him. …
… how can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house. Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men. and whatever blasphemies they may utter, but he who blasphemies against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation because they said he has an unclean spirit. Did you all get that? This is big stuff. Have you ever heard of the unpardonable sin? That's it. You want to commit the unpardonable sin? Keep believing that Jesus is not who he is, And that he's nothing else but a prophet. He's nothing else but a magician. He's nothing else but an alien. …
… That is a contradiction. Verse 24, He continues, a kingdom is divided. against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Or verse 25, if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Verse 26, if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished. Your conclusion is as ridiculous as the family's. How can you say He was deranged and delusional when you knew Him so well, and how does that explain the miracles? How can you say He's demonic when He's casting out Satan's forces? In verse 27 he adds, in fact, no one can enter the strong man's house, meaning Satan, and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. If Satan's house is being plundered, then whoever is plundering Satan's house, whoever is delivering people from demons, casting them out, is stronger than Satan. He has to be stronger than Satan. All these two options are absurdities. …