Verses 27-28, in which Jesus turns the Pharisees’ argument against themselves, do not have a parallel in Mark, though one is present in Luke 11.19-20. The Pharisees claim that Jesus’ work of casting out demons is done in the power of Satan. But the Pharisees’ own followers also cast out demons, and so Jesus asks where their power to do this comes from. This is a question which they cannot answer without condemning themselves, and it simultaneously proves that they are wrong in their conclusions about the source of Jesus’ power.
And if introduces a clause in Greek which assumes that the untrue statement, I cast out demons by Beelzebul, is a true statement. But the clause also includes in its scope the accusation made by the Pharisees in verse 24. One can then appropriately translate “If it is true, as you say, that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.” Or, placed in statement form, “You say that I drive out demons because Beelzebul gives me the power to do so” (Good News Translation).
By Beelzebul (Good News Translation “because Beelzebul gives me the power to do so”) is phrased in a dynamic way in a number of translations: “by Beelzebub’s aid” (An American Translation), “with Beelzebul’s help” (New American Bible), and “by the help of Beelzebul” (Barclay). Phillips (“I am an ally of Beelzebub”) and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch (“because I am in league with Satan”) are also good examples of what may be done.
By whom is preceded by a transitional in Good News Translation: (“Well, then”) and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch (“Then”), though many other translations into major modern languages do not employ such a device. This is a stylistic matter which will have to be evaluated in each language situation. Good News Translation restructures the question by whom do your sons cast them out? to “who gives your followers the power to drive them out?” This will be easier to follow in most languages.
Your sons (so also Moffatt, An American Translation) is a Semitism (New Jerusalem Bible footnote) which one commentator defines as here having the meaning of “membership in a group.” Traduction œcuménique de la Bible has “your disciples,” Barclay “your own disciples,” and Good News Translation “your followers.” Certainly to translate sons literally would give the wrong meaning to Jesus’ words.
Therefore (literally “Because of this”) they shall be your judges is represented in Good News Translation as “What your own followers do proves that you are wrong!” and in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch as “Your own followers prove that you are in the wrong.” The time reference is the present and immediate future, not the final judgment. Accordingly, they shall be your judges is translated “Let them be the ones to judge you” (New American Bible), “If this is your argument, they themselves will refute you” (New English Bible), and “Ask them what they think of this argument of yours” (Barclay). The text does not necessarily imply verbal refutation; the implication is rather that the miraculous deeds performed by the followers of the Pharisees are sufficient evidence in themselves to prove that the Pharisees’ argument is erroneous. In most languages a simple sentence such as the one in Good News Translation will be best here; for example, “Their actions demonstrate how wrong your argument is” or “What they are doing proves that your accusations cannot be right.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
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