by whom do your sons cast them out?

Luke 11:14-26

And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.

And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.


Prior to Jesus, there was no scriptural way to deal with demons other than a death sentence for those involved in divination or other occult practices.

People would go to the priests, rabbis, or occult practitioners to seek relief from demonic activity.   Since a means of exorcism was not prescribed by God in scripture, ritualistic exorcism as developed in babylonian traditions and kabbalah was practiced.  

However, without true authority these religious leaders were indeed trying to cast out demons through Beelzebub rituals.  They were accusing Jesus of what they themselves were guilty of.

What the religious leaders saw was that Jesus had true authority over the demons and brought complete deliverance from demonic posession.  This threatened and undermined they position and authority over the people.

One question remains... who is the "they" in "therefore shall they be your judges"?  Being that the religious leaders were treading in Beelzebub's jurisdiction without true authority it would be the demons that have the legal advantage.