Tenorio, Maricor D.

11 – St Irenaeus

The Parable of the Strongman

(Luke 11:21 - 22)

Jesus’ Parable of the Strongman illustrates the conflict between

the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of darkness. The strongman
who owns the house is Satan; today’s world is his house; his
possessions are people.

In his parable, Jesus likens himself to a robber. Just as a robber

breaks into a home and ties up its strong homeowner while carrying off
his possessions, Jesus bound the strong adversary and carried away
the people. By freeing demon-possessed people from spirits that
afflicted them, Jesus was robbing the possessions of the strongman’s
house.

Found in all three synoptic gospels, this parable forms part of the
Beelzebul controversy, where Jesus’ opponents accused him of gaining
his power to exorcise demons by being in the same league as Satan.
 EXEGESIS

All Christians acknowledge that the Gospels are vital for

discipleship today. But interpreting and applying the Gospels can be
difficult since they’re about things that happened a long time ago—
“back then.” What difference do these ancient events make for our daily
lives?

The Gospels are relevant because they showcase the victory that
Jesus Christ, through his lifelong obedience, won on our behalf. The
victory he won back then has cosmic and personal consequences that
affect us right now.

To demonstrate such relevance, let’s turn to a difficult parable of

Jesus: the binding of the strong man, as found in Mark 3:22–30.
Although this passage can be a head-scratcher, it’s best understood as
a parable explaining Jesus’s mission.

In Mark 3 Jesus’s mission is under attack. After announcing the

coming of God’s kingdom (Mark 1:14–15), he begins to heal the sick,
cast out demons, teach with authority, call disciples, and even forgive
sins. But not everyone is happy with him. In Mark 3:22–30 the scribes
challenge the source of Jesus’s authority, claiming it comes from
Beelzebul, the prince of demons (Satan). In response, Jesus points out
that his attacks on the kingdom of Satan invalidate the accusation that
he’s working with Satan.
 REFLECTION

The parable of the Strong Man is about the conflict of heaven

and darkness. The house that the Strongman kept owning is the world,
he is named Satan. On the ground that were stepping is the world full
of noliving and living things including people. Satan keep pursuing his
aim to get his possession of different people.
For we the child of heavenly Father, we should not let Satan
conquer and own this world. Because all he wanted is a destructions of
the things created by God. If we let him, it is like a natural hazard that
destroys family and also the nature.
Jesus carried away the people by freeing demon-possessed and
he also robbing the possessions of the strongman's house.
We should no let Satan enter in our lives because he is the reason
of the nonheavenly doings and acts here in the world.

We should always choose a choice that is favored by our God. To

decrease the level of anxiety, depression and loneliness. We should
always hear the word of God. And let the words sink into your mind that
nourishes not only the body but also the soul. Give thanks to our God
for his kindness because he never set aside your problems in life
instead he will make you realize why you deserve this conflict in life and
he knows that you can do and conquer this problem and finish it more
stronger and bolder.