22 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”

23 Jesus summoned them, and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 If Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he can’t stand, but has an end. 27 But no one can enter into the house of the strong man to plunder, unless he first binds the strong man; and then he will plunder his house. 28 Most certainly I tell you, all sins of the descendants of man will be forgiven, including their blasphemies with which they may blaspheme; 29 but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.”* 30 —because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Mark 3:22-30 - World English Bible

If you won't take responsibility, blame someone else.

The ministry of Jesus challenged the leadership of the Pharisees and scribes. They studied the Torah to the extent that they believed they were the sole arbitrators of God's will. When the Nazorene entered the scene, preaching and healing, they were faced with a competitor. Many people thought the divine did work through this Jesus; his words and activity revealed God, not the legal pronouncements of the scribes. So the experts in the Law had to act fast. Instead of self-reflection and renewal, they lashed out at the Lord with accusations of evil. If the Pharisees and scribes spoke for God, then Jesus spoke for Beelzebul, the prince of darkness. (The word "Beelzebul" was a corruption of Ba'al Zabub, the deity of a Philistine town; the corruption originally meant to belittle pagan worship by Israel's neighbor, but soon became another name for Satan.)

Jesus answered their charge with an absurdity. Why would Satan try to win through losing? A kingdom can't stand divided; neither can a clan (a "house"). Splintered loyalties were no way to achieve conquest. No, winning comes not only through physical strength, but through strength of purpose (for plundering). In order to bring about results, a leader must heal divisions through forgiveness, then he will have the numbers necessary to reach his ends. God was no different; he would forgive even blasphemy, so all could enjoy life in the Kingdom. If, however, someone rejected that offer of reconciliation, the work of the Spirit, they rejected life with God himself and would suffer eternal punishment. So, Jesus used the offer of forgiveness to flip the charge of demonic activity back onto the scribes. Those who reject God's activity deny the source of that activity and, so, condemn themselves.

If you blame someone for your problems, you're usually responsible for them.

Take a moment to review the people you blame in your life. Are they really the source of your problems, or is that source a little closer to home?