By connecting Jesus with Satan, the scribes are clearly suggesting that Jesus is involved with occult practices such as witchcraft and sorcery. Occult practices were prohibited in Israel (see Deuteronomy 18:9–13). Anyone found engaging in the occult was to be put to death (Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 20:27). Thus, by accusing Jesus of being possessed by Beelzebul, the scribes are providing a motive for him to be killed. This could therefore be their first attempt to try and have Jesus killed (Mark 3:6).
22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”