What does Luke 11:18 mean?
A man made blind and mute by a demon received healing from Jesus (Luke 11:14; Matthew 12:22). The lawyers, visiting from Jerusalem (Mark 3:22), quickly judge that Satan has empowered Jesus to do so (Luke 11:15). Jesus is pointing out that if Satan is enabling Him to cast out demons, Satan's kingdom is divided and will fall. Jesus has given a concrete example of a split nation, probably referring to the division of the nation of Israel into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah (1 Kings 12:16–20). He's also spoken of a split family, which may refer to the failing Herodian empire (Luke 11:17).Now, Jesus gets to his point: Satan does not work against his own purposes. Satan's intent is to take glory from God. He does so in two ways. First is by convincing people made in God's image to worship Satan, instead. Second is by destroying people made in God's image (1 Peter 5:8). If one of the Devil's demons so controlled a man that he was blind and mute, purposefully allowing that demon to be cast out would work against Satan's purposes.
Some wonder if Satan may have arranged for false exorcisms as part of a larger strategy to win the trust of the people. That becomes an interesting thought experiment within the moment depicted by this passage. Yet it doesn't hold weight against the wider picture of Jesus and His ministry. Jesus proved in His temptation that He will not follow or worship Satan or in any way agree to his schemes (Luke 4:1–13). Jesus is God and is working through the power of the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28–30; Luke 3:21–22). Satan's larger strategy is right in front of him: to cause pain to God the Son incarnate and arrange for His murder. By hurting this man and steering the prideful thoughts of the religious lawyers, he has done both.
Further, as Jesus notes (Luke 11:19), the men criticizing Him believe their own family members cast out demons: if so, how can they then claim what Jesus does is Satanic?
When Jesus says, "Beelzebul," He's using the same terminology the Jewish lawyers do (Luke 11:15). They are equating Satan to the Philistine god called the "lord of the flies."
