And if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. Then how will his kingdom stand?
Jesus continues the logical exposure of the Pharisees’ accusation. He points out that if Satan were acting against himself by driving out his own demons, that would lead to the collapse of his kingdom, because no kingdom can survive under conditions of internal division. These words again emphasize the absurdity of the Pharisees’ claims: Satan cannot work against himself, because that contradicts his own interests. Therefore, Jesus’ works cannot be the result of demonic power, but are against demonic power and thus express God’s power that fights against evil. That is, Jesus’ mission is aimed at overthrowing Satan’s kingdom, not strengthening it. His works testify to the establishment of God’s kingdom, which is full of peace, righteousness, and deliverance from evil. This saying is yet another proof of Jesus’ divine identity and the truth of his mission.