The Pharisees Rebuked

22 (A)Then a (B)demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to speak was brought to [a]Jesus, and He healed him so that the man who was unable to speak talked and [b]could see. 23 And all the crowds were amazed and were saying, “This man cannot be the (C)Son of David, can he?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man (D)casts out demons only by [c]Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

25 (E)And (F)knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if (G)Satan is casting out Satan, he [d]has become divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if (H)by [e]Beelzebul I cast out the demons, (I)by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. 28 But (J)if I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or, how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

The Unpardonable Sin

30 (K)The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.

31 (L)Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:22 Lit Him
  2. Matthew 12:22 Lit saw
  3. Matthew 12:24 Or Beezebul; meaning uncertain, perhaps lord prince, referring to Satan
  4. Matthew 12:26 Lit was
  5. Matthew 12:27 See note v 24

The Pharisees Rebuked

22 Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man both spoke and saw.(A) 23 All the people wondered in amazement, and said, “Could this be the Son of David (the Messiah)?” 24 But the Pharisees heard it and said, “This man [a]casts out demons only by [the help of] Beelzebul (Satan) the prince of the demons.”

25 Knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being laid waste; and no city or house divided against itself will [continue to] stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan [that is, his demons], he has become divided against himself and disunited; how then will his kingdom stand? 27 If I cast out the demons by [the help of] Beelzebul (Satan), by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [before you expected it]. 29 Or how can anyone go into a strong man’s house and steal his property unless he first overpowers and ties up the strong man? Then he will ransack and rob his house.(B)

The Unpardonable Sin

30 He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me; and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters.(C)

31 “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy [every evil, abusive, injurious speaking, or indignity against sacred things] will be forgiven people, but [b]blasphemy against the [Holy] Spirit will not be forgiven.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:24 A statement of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. See vv 31, 32.
  2. Matthew 12:31 Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is denying all the work of the Holy Spirit. This leads ultimately to rejecting the deity of Christ.