This verse, Luke 11:18, is part of Jesus' response to accusations that He was casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. It's a logical argument meant to expose the absurdity of the accusation. Here's a breakdown:

"If Satan also is divided against himself...": This sets up a hypothetical scenario. Jesus is saying, "Let's imagine that Satan's kingdom is in a state of internal conflict."

"...how will his kingdom stand?": This is the crucial question. The point is that any kingdom, organization, or power structure must have some level of unity and cooperation to survive. If its own forces are fighting each other, it will collapse. A house divided cannot stand, and neither can a kingdom or evil empire divided.

"For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.": This connects the logical argument to the specific accusation. If Jesus is casting out demons using Beelzebul's power (i.e., Satan's power), then Satan is essentially attacking himself. He's driving out his own demons, which would be self-destructive.

In summary, the verse argues:

If Jesus is casting out demons by the power of Satan, then Satan is working against himself. But Satan wouldn't deliberately undermine his own power. Therefore, the accusation that Jesus is casting out demons by Beelzebul is illogical and doesn't hold water.

Key takeaways:

Logic and Reason: Jesus uses sound logic to refute His accusers. He doesn't just rely on divine authority.
The Absurdity of the Accusation: The accusation is ultimately ridiculous because it implies self-destruction within the demonic realm.
The Power of Unity: The verse implicitly highlights the importance of unity and cooperation within any group or system.
Jesus' Authority: By disproving the false accusation, Jesus affirms His own authority and the true source of His power, which is not Satanic.

In essence, Jesus is saying, "Think about it logically. Why would Satan sabotage his own kingdom?"