Matthew 12:31-45

English Standard Version

^31 (A)Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but ^(B)the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² And whoever speaks a word ^(C)against the Son of Man ^(D)will be forgiven, but ^(E)whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in ^(F)this age or in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

^33 (G)“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, ^(H)for the tree is known by its fruit. ^34 (I)You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, ^(J)when you are evil? ^(K)For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ^35 (L)The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. ³⁶ I tell you, ^(M)on the day of judgment ^(N)people will give account for ^(O)every careless word they speak, ³⁷ for ^(P)by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

The Sign of Jonah

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, ^(Q)we wish to see a sign from you.” ³⁹ But he answered them, ^(R)“An evil and ^(S)adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For ^(T)just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, ^(U)so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ^41 (V)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and ^(W)condemn it, for ^(X)they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, ^(Y)something greater than Jonah is here. ^42 (Z)The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, ^(AA)something greater than Solomon is here.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

⁴³ “When ^(AB)the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ^(AC)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 ^(AD)the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this ^(AE)evil generation.”