Matthew 9:34

9:34 But the Pharisees ¹  said, “By the ruler ²  of demons he casts out demons.” ³ 

Matthew 12:24

12:24 But when the Pharisees ⁴  heard this they said, “He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebul, ⁵  the ruler ⁶  of demons!”

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¹ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

² tn Or “prince.”

³ tc Although codex Cantabrigiensis (D), along with a few other Western versional and patristic witnesses, lacks this verse, virtually all other witnesses have it. The Western text’s reputation for free alterations as well as the heightened climax if v. 33 concludes this pericope explains why these witnesses omitted the verse.

⁴ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

⁵ tn Grk “except by Beelzebul.”

sn Beelzebul is another name for Satan. So some people recognized Jesus’ work as supernatural, but called it diabolical.

⁶ tn Or “prince.”