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 All the crowds were astounded and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” (C)

24 When the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This 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, by whom do your sons drive them out? 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 upon 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 plunder his house. 30 Anyone who is not with me is against me,(J) and anyone who does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore,(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 will be good, or make the tree bad[d] and its fruit will be 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 person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person 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[e] word they speak.[f] 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

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Footnotes

  1. 12:22 Lit mute
  2. 12:31 Or of
  3. 12:31 Other mss add people
  4. 12:33 Or decayed; lit rotten
  5. 12:36 Lit worthless
  6. 12:36 Lit will speak

Jesus and Beelzebul(A)

22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.(B) 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”(C)

24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,(D) the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”(E)

25 Jesus knew their thoughts(F) and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan(G) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul,(H) by whom do your people(I) drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God(J) has come upon you.

29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.

30 “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.(K) 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.(L) 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age(M) or in the age to come.(N)

33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.(O) 34 You brood of vipers,(P) how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks(Q) what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(R)

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