Matthew 10:25 Cross References - JMNT

²⁵ " [It is] sufficient and enough for the student (or: disciple) that he can come to be as his teacher, and the slave as his owner. Since (or: If) people call and surname the Sovereign (Master and Sole Owner) of the house (the Householder) 'Beelzeboul' [spellings vary; = lord of the flies, a Philistine deity], how much rather (or: more) those of His household.

³⁴ Yet the Pharisees began saying, "Within the [authority] of and in union with the ruler (or: chief) of the demons is he now expelling the demons." [comment: the Pharisees here give validity to the Hellenistic concept of demons, and to the pagan dualism which supposed that demons were beings which had a ruler. In the LXX, Isa. 65:3 spoke of Israel, saying "They repeatedly sacrifice in the gardens, and burn incense on the tiles, to the demons – which things do not exist!"]

²⁴ Now upon hearing, the Pharisees said, "This person is not casting (or: throwing) out the demons except in union with Beelzebub [other MSS: Beelzebul; Beezeboul], the ruler (or: chief; originator) of the demons (Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influences)." [comment: Beelzebub, is the NT spelling for Baal-zebub, a Philistine deity (2 King 1:2). So here we have the Pharisees validating the existence of a pagan god! And yet, we are told in Ps. 95:5 that “all the gods of the peoples (= people groups) are mere idols (nobodies; things of naught).” The LXX (Greek OT) renders this: “all the gods of the ethnic multitudes (nations; non-Israelites) {are} demons.” But Isaiah says in 65:3 (LXX), “This is a people that '85 offer{s} sacrifices in gardens, and burn{s} incense on bricks to the demons – which things DO NOT EXIST!”]

²² Further, the scribes (men learned in the Scriptures; = Jewish theologians) – those coming down (descending) from Jerusalem – had kept on saying that He possesses (constantly has and holds) Beelzeboul [= an unclean spirit: see vs. 30; other MSS: Beezeboul; Vulgate & Syriac: Beelzebub; in Lu. 11:15 Jews identify this title as the "prince (ruler) of the demons"; Jesus, in vs. 23, understands them to be speaking of their concept of Satan; see comment, Matt. 12:24], and that in union with the prince (ruler; chief) of the demons [Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influences] He is repeatedly throwing (casting) out the demons.

¹⁵ But certain ones of them said, "He continues casting out the demons in union with Beelzebul, the chief and ruler of the demons (= animistic influences)." But He, giving a discerning reply, said, "How does the adversary (satan) continue able and with power to continue casting out the adversary (satan)?"

²⁰ The crowd considered and replied, "You’re demon-possessed (or: You possess a demon; You constantly hold a demon; You presently have a demon [note: a Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influence])! Who is constantly seeking to kill you?"

⁴⁸ The Jews (= religious authorities) calculated a reply and said to him, "Are we not expressing it beautifully (or: finely; ideally) when we are saying that you yourself are a Samaritan and constantly have (or: continuously hold or possess) a demon (a Hellenistic concept and term: = an animistic influence)?"

⁵² The Jews (= religious authorities) said to Him, "Now we have come to personally know (have intimate experiential knowledge) that you presently have a demon (= an animistic influence)! Abraham died (or: is dead), also the prophets, and yet here you are now saying, 'If anyone should hold, protect, note and observe my word (message; idea) he by no means (under no circumstances) may taste of (= partake of or participate in) death, on into the Age.

²⁰ Now many of them began saying, "He continues having a demon (a Hellenistic concept and term: = animistic influence) and is insane (mad; manic; crazy). Why do you continue listening to (or: hearing; = paying attention to) him?"