Parable of the Strong Man

And then he will plunder his house.In Luke chapter 11, the parable is as follows: When the strong man, fully armed, guards his own dwelling, his goods are safe.

But when someone stronger attacks him and overcomes him, he takes from him his whole armour in which he trusted, and divides his spoils.In the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, this parable forms part of the Beelzebul controversy, where Jesus's opponents accuse him of gaining his power to exorcise demons by being in league with Satan.

[5][6][7] Craig S. Keener suggests that the parable relates to the common wisdom that "no one plunders a strong man,"[8] while R. T. France and others see the parable as echoing the Book of Isaiah:[9][10] Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives rescued from the fierce?

[10] In the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas, which does not have the context of the Beelzebul controversy, the parable has been interpreted as merely suggesting that "the strong man must be free to protect his house and belongings.

The thief must understand this situation in order to accomplish his goal of plundering.