The Year of the Lord's Favor

Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Demon

^31 (A)And he ^(B)went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And ^(C)he was teaching them ^(D)on the Sabbath, ³² and ^(E)they were astonished at his teaching, ^(F)for his word possessed authority. ³³ And ^(G)in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ³⁴ “Ha!^{[a] (H)}What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? ^(I)I know who you are—^(J)the Holy One of God.” ³⁵ But Jesus ^(K)rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. ³⁶ And ^(L)they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? ^(M)For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” ³⁷ And ^(N)reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

^22 (A)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 (B)And all the people were amazed, and said, ^(C)“Can this be the Son of David?” ²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ^(D)“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” ^25 (E)Knowing their thoughts, ^(F)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, ^(G)by whom do ^(H)your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is ^(I)by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then ^(J)the kingdom of God has come upon you.

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman

^21 (A)And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. ²² And behold, ^(B)a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, ^(C)“Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” ²³ But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, ^(D)“Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” ²⁴ He answered, ^(E)“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵ But she came and ^(F)knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” ²⁶ And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and ^(G)throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷ She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat ^(H)the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” ²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, ^(I)great is your faith! ^(J)Be it done for you as you desire.” ^(K)And her daughter was ^(L)healed instantly.^[a]

¹⁷ And ^(A)these signs will accompany those who believe: ^(B)in my name they will cast out demons; ^(C)they will speak in new tongues; ^18 (D)they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; ^(E)they will lay their hands ^(F)on the sick, and they will recover.”