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‖.
Whose thoughts? When closely examined, the text indicates He is considering the thoughts of the people (in
verse 23), not the Pharisees. His ensuing comments are directed toward them more than their leaders.
12:28 But if I cast out devils...
―But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you‖.
Again, the direct connection is made between the miracles He is doing and their specific purpose, to declare
to them that the Kingdom of YHWH is being offered. There is no argument as to the validity of these being
"real miracles‖. The discussion at hand is, by whose authority were these miracles being done? If by YHWH,
then this was their opportunity to usher in His Kingdom on earth. It is interesting that Scripture tells us that
many of the physical problems people were experiencing at the time were directly attributed to the work of
Satan or a demon.
The Hebrew Zohar shows that the clash between YHWH's Kingdom being established over Satan's is what
spiritual warfare is all about. This section also testifies to what Paul wrote about Satan, being the god of this
world; and also to the Gospel account of Satan being able to tempt Y‘shua with the kingdoms of this world.
Soncino Zohar, Bereshith, Section 1, Page 204b: ―God thus admonished Israel to sanctify themselves, in the
words: ―Ye shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy‖ (Lev. XIX, 2). The term Ani (I) here signifies the
kingdom of heaven. Confronting this is the kingdom of idolatry, which is termed ―another‖ (aher), regarding
which it is written: ―For thou shalt bow down to no other god, for the Lord whose name is Jealous, is a
jealous God‖ (Ex. XXXIV, 14). Ani (I) is sovereign over this world and of the world to come, all being
dependent on it, whereas the other one (aher), the side of impurity, the other side, has rule only in this world
and none at all in the other world; and hence, whoever cleaves to that Ani (I) has a portion in this world and
in the world to come; but he who cleaves to that aher (the other one) perishes from this world and has no
portion in the world to come. He has, however, a portion in the world of impurity, as that other kingdom, the
kingdom of idolatry, possesses innumerable emissaries through whom it exercises dominion over this world‖.
The Zohar makes it clear that the Kingdom of YHWH is in a struggle to be established:
Soncino Zohar, Bereshith, Section 1, Page 210b: ―Now, seeing that the holy kingdom, the kingdom of
heaven, has been overthrown and the wicked kingdom has prevailed, it behoves man to mourn with it and to
abase himself with it, so that when it will be raised again and joy will be restored to the world, he may rejoice
with it. Scripture thus says: ―Rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her‖ (Is. LXVI, 10)‖.
The time period of the Kingdom offer extended for a brief while after Y‘shua's death. Peter reiterated the offer
to his kinsmen. Peter let them know that if they were to accept the message of Y‘shua, He would eventually
return and usher in the Kingdom:
(18) ―But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Y‘shua should
suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
(19) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of
refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
(20) And he shall send Messiah Y‘shua, which before was preached unto you:
(21) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by
the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began‖. (Acts 3:18-21)
NOTE: One of the criticisms of the "New Testament" until recent times has been the popular belief of
demonic activity within its pages, in light of the fact that there was little other historical evidence that
witnessed to such things in the Second Temple period. This changed with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Among the
parchments (dated about 100 years prior to Y‘shua) are found detailed instructions on casting away demons,
using either chants or the placing of an amulet upon the body. Many of these demons were directly
connected to physical ailments (Scrolls 4Q560 and 11Q11).
12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house?
―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‖.