Jesus and Beelzebul: The Debate about Demons?

Luke 11:14-26

Sermon Notes

1) Their Accusation: Discrediting the Demon Slayer because of Doubt, 14-16

2) Jesus’s Response: Divided Houses Are Doomed to Failure, 17-19

3) Jesus’s Alternative: Divine Intervention Explains Everything, 20-23

4) Jesus’s Ultimatum: Indecision Leads to Demoniac Domination, 23-26

Reflection questions:

1. Is doubt always a bad thing? Read Psalms 42-43; how do you see the Psalmist being honest about his doubts? How do you see him take his doubts to God, instead of using them to turn away from God?

2. Can you think of other times when Jesus presented the Gospel as an ultimatum, a choice that required an urgent, decisive response? See Luke 18:18-27 for one example.

3. Read 1 Peter 5:6-11. What does this passage tell you about Satan’s power? How should we respond in light of Satan’s power? Is God trying to scare us, sober us, encourage us (or all of the above, or something else) through these verses?