A House Divided

²² Then a demon-possessed man^(A) who was blind and unable to speak was brought to Him. He healed him, so that the man^[a] could both speak and see.^{(B) 23} And all the crowds were astounded and said, “Perhaps this is the Son of David!”^(C)

²⁴ When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “The man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.”^(D)

²⁵ Knowing their thoughts,^(E) He told them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. ²⁶ If Satan^(F) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, who is it your sons drive them out by? For this reason they will be your judges.^{(G) 28} If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.^{(H) 29} How can someone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions unless he first ties up^(I) the strong man? Then he can rob his house. ³⁰ Anyone who is not with Me is against Me,^(J) and anyone who does not gather with Me scatters. ³¹ Because of this,^(K) I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy,^(L) but the blasphemy against^[b] the Spirit will not be forgiven.^{[c] 32} Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man,^(M) it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the one to come.^(N)

A Tree and Its Fruit

³³ “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad^[d] and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.^{(O) 34} Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow^(P) of the heart. ³⁵ A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good,^[e] and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.^{(Q) 36} I tell you that on the day of judgment^(R) people will have to account^(S) for every careless word they speak.^{[f] 37} For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”^(T)

³⁹ But He answered them,^(U) “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.^{(V) 40} For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights,^(W) so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. ⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it,^(X) because they repented at Jonah’s proclamation; and look—something greater than Jonah is here!^{(Y) 42} The queen of the south^(Z) will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look—something greater than Solomon is here!

An Unclean Spirit’s Return

⁴³ “When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it roams through waterless places looking for rest but doesn’t find any.^{(AA) 44} Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to my house that I came from.’ And returning, it finds the house vacant, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then off it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and settle down there. As a result, that man’s last condition is worse than the first.^(AB) That’s how it will also be with this evil generation.”

True Relationships

⁴⁶ He^(AC) was still speaking to the crowds when suddenly His mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to Him.^{(AD) 47} Someone told Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to You.”^[g]

⁴⁸ But He replied to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” ⁴⁹ And stretching out His hand toward His disciples,^(AE) He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother.”^(AF)