King James Version

What Does Matthew 12:25 Mean?

Matthew 12:25 in the King James Version says “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and ev...” — study this verse from Matthew chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:”

Matthew 12:25 · KJV

Context

23

And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

24

But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. Beelzebub: Gr. Beelzebul

25

And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

26

And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

27

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

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Jesus responds to Pharisees' absurd accusation with logic: 'Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.' This principle—internal division destroys—is universally recognized. Kingdoms torn by civil war collapse; cities divided cannot function; families at odds disintegrate. The Greek 'divided against itself' (μερισθεῖσα καθ᾽ ἑαυτῆς/meristheisa kath' heautēs) emphasizes internal splitting. Jesus applies this to Pharisees' accusation: if Satan casts out his own demons, he's divided against himself and his kingdom falls. The argument is irrefutable. Reformed theology observes Jesus's apologetic method: appealing to reason and observable reality. Faith doesn't require abandoning logic; rather, unbelief often requires abandoning logic. The verse also has application beyond demonology: churches divided against themselves cannot stand; Christian movements torn by internal conflict fail; believers at odds with themselves (double-minded) lack stability. Unity isn't uniformity but shared purpose and mutual support under Christ.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Civil wars frequently devastated ancient kingdoms: Roman civil wars (Pompey vs Caesar, Octavian vs Antony), Jewish civil war during Roman siege (Josephus records factions fighting each other while Romans besieged Jerusalem, hastening city's fall in 70 AD). Jesus's audience knew this reality. House division was equally familiar: inheritance disputes, family feuds, and factional splits regularly destroyed households. Jesus's logic was therefore universally compelling—everyone recognized that internal division causes collapse. The Pharisees couldn't refute this argument. Their accusation that Jesus cast out demons by Satan's power required believing Satan was undermining his own authority—absurd. If exorcisms proved demonic division, Satan's kingdom was collapsing—hardly making him effective patron for Jesus. The argument exposed Pharisees' bad faith: they weren't seeking truth but manufacturing accusations. Throughout history, Jesus's principle has proven true: divided churches decline, split movements fail, conflicted individuals struggle. Unity under truth, maintained by love, is essential for health and effectiveness.

Reflection Questions

  1. What divisions in your life—internal conflicts, relational strife, or spiritual double-mindedness—are undermining your spiritual vitality?
  2. How does Jesus's logical apologetic method inform Christian engagement with skeptics and critics?
  3. What does this teach about the necessity of church unity—how should congregations maintain it without compromising truth?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 25 words
εἰδὼς1 of 25

“knew”

G1492

used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl

δὲ2 of 25

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

ὁ3 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰησοῦς4 of 25

“Jesus”

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

τὰς5 of 25
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἐνθυμήσεις6 of 25

“thoughts”

G1761

deliberation

αὐτοῖς7 of 25

“their”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

εἶπεν8 of 25

“and said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

αὐτοῖς9 of 25

“their”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

πᾶσα10 of 25

“Every”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

βασιλεία11 of 25

“kingdom”

G932

properly, royalty, i.e., (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively)

μερισθεῖσα12 of 25

“divided”

G3307

to part, i.e., (literally) to apportion, bestow, share, or (figuratively) to disunite, differ

καθ'13 of 25

“against”

G2596

(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)

ἑαυτῆς14 of 25

“itself”

G1438

(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc

ἐρημοῦται15 of 25

“is brought to desolation”

G2049

to lay waste (literally or figuratively)

καὶ16 of 25

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

πᾶσα17 of 25

“Every”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

πόλις18 of 25

“city”

G4172

a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size)

ἢ19 of 25

“or”

G2228

disjunctive, or; comparative, than

οἰκία20 of 25

“house”

G3614

properly, residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication, a family (especially domestics)

μερισθεῖσα21 of 25

“divided”

G3307

to part, i.e., (literally) to apportion, bestow, share, or (figuratively) to disunite, differ

καθ'22 of 25

“against”

G2596

(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)

ἑαυτῆς23 of 25

“itself”

G1438

(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc

οὐ24 of 25

“not”

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

σταθήσεται25 of 25

“shall”

G2476

to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Matthew. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Matthew 12:25 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Matthew 12:25 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Galatians 5:15Jeremiah 17:101 Corinthians 2:11Matthew 9:4Isaiah 9:21Luke 11:17-22

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