“…How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.” Mark 3:23-27
My Summary & Reflection
In this parable, Jesus asks rhetorically, how can evil cast out evil? He notes that a kingdom in conflict with itself cannot survive. Similarly, a house in conflict against itself cannot survive. He notes that no one can enter a strong man’s house and vandalize his goods, unless he first incapacitates the strong man. It is only then, that the strong man’s house can be vandalized.
Jesus gives this parable after the scribes of the day, because of his ability to cast out evil, accused him of being a servant of evil. They charged that the healing that Jesus performed and that had been witnessed by many, was a result of the fact that Jesus himself was evil. Jesus’ statement that, “how can Satan cast out Satan?” meant that only good can cast out evil. Evil cannot cast itself out.
In the parable, the strong man’s house would be the house or the domain of evil. Of it, Jesus says that in order to vandalize that evil domain, first the strong man of the house must be restrained. Otherwise, the strong man would not allow his domain to be vandalized. In it, Jesus appears to be describing how it is that evil is cast out. He first finds the evil and binds it, it is only then that the house can be freed of it.
Jesus notes that a kingdom or a house divided against itself cannot stand. In other words, for both good and evil, everything has to work toward a common purpose, or failure will result. Therefore, if the goal of your house, church, business, etc. is good then the steps that are taken by your household to achieve your goal should be toward good. If you have members of your team working against you, then failure will ultimately be the result.
Your Reflection
- Are the members of your household, church, business, or organization aligned toward the purpose that God has for you?
- How can you remove the evil that is infecting your life or the life of your household?