God's Chosen Servant

15 Jesus, aware of this, (A)withdrew from there. And (B)many followed him, and he healed them all 16 and (C)ordered them not to make him known. 17 (D)This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

18 (E)“Behold, my (F)servant whom I have chosen,
    my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
(G)I will put my Spirit upon him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
    nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21     (H)and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

22 (I)Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 (J)And all the people were amazed, and said, (K)“Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, (L)“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 (M)Knowing their thoughts, (N)he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, (O)by whom do (P)your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is (Q)by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then (R)the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or (S)how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed (T)he may plunder his house. 30 (U)Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 (V)Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but (W)the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word (X)against the Son of Man (Y)will be forgiven, but (Z)whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in (AA)this age or in the age to come.

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God’s Chosen Servant

15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.(A) 16 He warned them not to tell others about him.(B) 17 This was to fulfill(C) what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;(D)
I will put my Spirit on him,(E)
    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out;
    no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
21     In his name the nations will put their hope.”[a](F)

Jesus and Beelzebul(G)

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.(H) 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”(I)

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

25 Jesus knew their thoughts(L) 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(M) drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul,(N) by whom do your people(O) 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(P) 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.(Q) 31 And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.(R) 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(S) or in the age to come.(T)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:21 Isaiah 42:1-4

The Lord Is My Strength and My Shield

Of David.

28 To you, O Lord, I call;
    (A)my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you (B)be silent to me,
    I become like those who (C)go down to the pit.
(D)Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I (E)lift up my hands
    (F)toward your most holy sanctuary.[a]

Do not (G)drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
(H)who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
(I)Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    (J)render them their due reward.
Because they (K)do not regard the works of the Lord
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

Blessed be the Lord!
    For he has (L)heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and (M)my shield;
    in him my heart (N)trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my (O)song I give thanks to him.

The Lord is the strength of his people;[b]
    he is (P)the saving refuge of his anointed.
Oh, save your people and bless (Q)your heritage!
    (R)Be their shepherd and (S)carry them forever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary
  2. Psalm 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength

Psalm 28

Of David.

To you, Lord, I call;
    you are my Rock,
    do not turn a deaf ear(A) to me.
For if you remain silent,(B)
    I will be like those who go down to the pit.(C)
Hear my cry for mercy(D)
    as I call to you for help,
as I lift up my hands(E)
    toward your Most Holy Place.(F)

Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
    but harbor malice in their hearts.(G)
Repay them for their deeds
    and for their evil work;
repay them for what their hands have done(H)
    and bring back on them what they deserve.(I)

Because they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord
    and what his hands have done,(J)
he will tear them down
    and never build them up again.

Praise be to the Lord,(K)
    for he has heard my cry for mercy.(L)
The Lord is my strength(M) and my shield;
    my heart trusts(N) in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,(O)
    and with my song I praise him.(P)

The Lord is the strength(Q) of his people,
    a fortress of salvation(R) for his anointed one.(S)
Save your people(T) and bless your inheritance;(U)
    be their shepherd(V) and carry them(W) forever.