This puzzling passage finds its proper interpretation in the light of what precedes and follows. Jesus delivered people from possession by demons by the power of the Spirit of God, thus demonstrating that the kingdom of God had arrived on the scene. The Pharisees, however, attributed His exorcisms to Satan, thus calling good evil and showing their incurable hard-heartedness (12:22-32). They were bad trees; how could they bear good fruit? (12:33-37). These Jewish leaders then compounded their error by demanding that Jesus produce some miraculous proof of His commission from God, which Jesus refuses to provide until He rises from the dead. Indeed, He had already given enough evidence that He was Son of God and Savior of Israel (12:38-42). Jesus then teaches that deliverance from demons does not insure salvation. Unless devotion to Christ replaces the dominion of one evil spirit, temporary relief and reform will be swallowed up by deeper demonization and greater wickedness. In other words, we cannot remain neutral to Christ (12:30), much less disbelieve Him (12:38-42). But even temporary faith, which brings some sort of freedom from bondage, will not protect us from the power of the devil. The parable of the sower, which follows shortly afterwards, describes people who receive God’s word with joy, but fall away when trouble comes, or the distractions of this world “choke the word” (13:3-9, 18-23). Only when our nature is changed by whole-hearted faith in Christ and regeneration by His Spirit, so that we become God’s children and do His will, can we be safe in God’s kingdom (12:33-37; 46-50). What about you? Are you relying on “self-help” programs to set you free from powerful addictions? Depending upon church attendance to guarantee salvation? Hoping that deliverance from an evil spirit will produce a fundamental change in your character? Withholding full commitment to Christ until he “proves” Himself to you? If so, every “improvement” in your life will be erased by slavery to more pernicious forces, and you will end up in lasting misery. Now is the time to trust in Christ and follow Him fully as the only one who can “save His people from their sins” (1:21).