Satan Cannot Cast Out Satan: A Parable

In the ancient city of Damascus, a wise teacher known as Master Youssef resided. He was highly respected for his profound knowledge and remarkable ability to impart wisdom. People from far and wide would gather to listen to his teachings, seeking guidance and illumination.

One day, as Youssef was sitting under a fig tree, a group of his followers approached him, agitated and perplexed. They recounted a peculiar incident that had occurred earlier that morning. A man claiming to be a powerful sorcerer had approached them, offering his services to cast out demons. Initially, they were skeptical, but the sorcerer insisted that he possessed supernatural abilities, claiming to have the power to control the forces of darkness.

Perplexed by this encounter, the followers sought Youssef’s counsel. They asked for his opinion on the matter, questioning the sorcerer’s authenticity and the legitimacy of his claim to control dark forces. Youssef, with his discerning eyes, listened intently and smiled, knowing that a valuable lesson lay within this encounter.

He began to tell them a parable:

“Once, in a kingdom ruled by a wise and just king, a cunning thief appeared. This thief was exceptional in his craft, capable of stealing from the most secure of places without leaving a trace. His audacity and skill were unmatched, and rumors of his exploits spread throughout the kingdom.

One day, an ambitious prince, jealous of the thief’s feats, decided to challenge him. He claimed that he possessed the same skills and could outwit the thief at his own game. The king, taken aback by the prince’s audacious claim, summoned both the thief and the prince to his court.

The king, wise beyond measure, recognized that this rivalry held a valuable lesson for his people. He decided to give them an opportunity to prove their claims and abilities. He presented them with an impregnable treasure vault, guarded by the strongest and most faithful soldiers.

The challenge was simple yet profound: the prince had to steal a precious jewel from the vault, and the thief had to prevent him from doing so. They were given a single night to complete their endeavors.

As the night fell, the prince and the thief entered the vault. The prince, arrogant and confident, boasted of his prowess, believing he could outsmart the thief. But as the midnight hour approached, the thief observed something peculiar. In the fading moonlight, he saw a dark aura surrounding the prince, enveloping him like a cloak.

Realizing what this meant, the thief seized the opportunity. He knew that the Prince’s ambition had blinded him, opening a gateway for darkness to infiltrate his soul. The thief approached the prince and whispered the ancient words of protection against the forces of darkness.

In that moment, a blinding light shone within the vault, dispelling the darkness that had ensnared the prince. Confused and embarrassed, the prince understood that he had never possessed the ability to control dark forces as he had claimed. The real power to cast out darkness lay with the thief, who understood its nature and how to counter it.

Just as the thief could cast out the darkness that had engulfed the prince, so it is with Satan and his minions. Darkness cannot cast out darkness; only light can do that. Satan, the bringer of darkness, cannot cast out Satan himself. It is through divine light and righteousness that evil can be vanquished.”

Master Youssef concluded his parable, and his followers pondered its significance. They realized that the sorcerer who had approached them, claiming to cast out demons, was merely a servant of darkness himself. True power lies not in aligning oneself with evil but in seeking the light and righteousness that will forever cast out darkness.

Thus, the people of Damascus learned a profound lesson that day: to counter evil, one must seek the light within, for darkness can never cast out darkness.