Matthew 12:38-50

New American Standard Bible

The Desire for Signs

³⁸ Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, ^(A)we want to see a ^[a]sign from You.” ³⁹ But He answered and said to them, “^(B)An evil and adulterous generation craves a ^[b]sign; and so no ^[c]sign will be given to it except the ^[d]sign of Jonah the prophet; ⁴⁰ for just as ^(C)Jonah was in the stomach of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so will ^(D)the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for ^(E)three days and three nights. ^41 (F)The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because ^(G)they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something ^(H)greater than Jonah is here. ^42 (I)The Queen of the South will rise up with this generation at the judgment and will condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and behold, something ^(J)greater than Solomon is here.

⁴³ “^(K)Now when the unclean spirit comes out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and brings along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they come in and live there; and ^(L)the last condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.”

Changed Relationships

^46 (M)While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His ^(N)mother and ^(O)brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. ⁴⁷ [^[e]Someone said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak to You.”] ⁴⁸ But ^[f]Jesus replied to the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother, and who are My brothers?” ⁴⁹ And extending His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold: My mother and My brothers! ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother, and sister, and mother.”