Matthew 12:26

Dutch 1939 (De Heilige Schrift, Petrus Canisiusvertaling, 1939)

Zo dus satan den satan uitdrijft, dan strijdt hij tegen zichzelf: hoe zal zijn rijk dan stand kunnen houden?

Wat betekent dit?

Jesus is speaking here and asking how Satan could defeat himself if he cast out evil spirits, since doing so would cause division within his kingdom of darkness, making it impossible to stand.

Uitgelegd voor kinderen

Imagine if a captain of a team started kicking players off their own team. How can the team win then? Jesus is saying that Satan wouldn't kick out other bad things because he needs them all working together to cause trouble.

Historische achtergrond

Matthew wrote this Gospel in Greek for Jewish Christians, detailing Jesus' teachings and miracles. The cultural context was one where exorcisms were common and debated as signs of divine or demonic power.

Toepassing voor vandaag

If someone tells you that they can fix problems by dividing themselves, question it because division weakens any cause or organization. This applies to modern situations like politics or business leadership.

Onderwerpen

• evil spirits
• division
• Satan
• kingdom of darkness
• exorcism
• Jesus' teachings

Gerelateerde verzen

• Luke 11:17
• Mark 3:24
• Ephesians 6:12
• Job 1:6-8
• Revelation 12:9

Aanbevolen literatuur

Commentaar Commentaren op Matthew → Deze Bijbel Studiebijbel (De Heilige Schrift, Petrus Canisiusvertaling, ) →

Veelgestelde vragen

Who is speaking in this verse?

Jesus is speaking, addressing his opponents who falsely accused him of casting out demons by Satan's power.

What does 'his kingdom' refer to here?

'His kingdom' refers to the domain or realm controlled by Satan, often described in biblical terms as a kingdom of darkness and evil.

How does this verse impact our understanding of spiritual warfare?

This verse helps us understand that the forces of evil cannot be divided; they operate with a united front against God's kingdom, highlighting the importance of unity among believers in Christ.

What lesson can we learn about leadership from this verse?

Leadership should not involve self-division. Just as division would weaken Satan’s kingdom, so too will it weaken any human organization or cause if leaders split their efforts.