The Sign of Jonah

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, ^(A)we wish to see a sign from you.” ³⁹ But he answered them, ^(B)“An evil and ^(C)adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For ^(D)just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, ^(E)so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ^41 (F)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and ^(G)condemn it, for ^(H)they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, ^(I)something greater than Jonah is here. ^42 (J)The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, ^(K)something greater than Solomon is here.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

⁴³ “When ^(L)the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ^(M)waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and ^(N)the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this ^(O)evil generation.”

¹⁶ while others, ^(A)to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. ^17 (B)But he, ^(C)knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. ¹⁸ And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, ^(D)by whom do ^(E)your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if it is by ^(F)the finger of God that I cast out demons, then ^(G)the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹ When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; ^22 (H)but when one stronger than he attacks him and ^(I)overcomes him, he takes away his ^(J)armour in which he trusted and ^(K)divides his spoil. ^23 (L)Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

^24 (M)“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ^(N)waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ ²⁵ And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And ^(O)the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

True Blessedness

²⁷ As he said these things, ^(P)a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ^(Q)“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” ²⁸ But he said, ^(R)“Blessed rather are those ^(S)who hear the word of God and ^(T)keep it!”

The Sign of Jonah

^29 (U)When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ^(V)“This generation is an evil generation. ^(W)It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For as ^(X)Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. ^31 (Y)The queen of the South will rise up at the judgement with the men of this generation and ^(Z)condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, ^(AA)something greater than Solomon is here. ^32 (AB)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgement with this generation and ^(AC)condemn it, for ^(AD)they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, ^(AE)something greater than Jonah is here.

The Light in You

^33 (AF)“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. ³⁴ Your eye is ^(AG)the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is ^(AH)bad, your body is full of darkness. ^35 (AI)Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. ³⁶ If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, ^(AJ)as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”