The Pharisees Rebuked

^22 (A)Then a ^(B)demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to ^[a]Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. ²³ All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the ^(C)Son of David, can he?” ²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man ^(D)casts out demons only by ^[b]Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”

^25 (E)And ^(F)knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “^[c]Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and ^[d]any city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If ^(G)Satan casts out Satan, he ^[e]is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ If I ^(H)by ^[f]Beelzebul cast out demons, ^(I)by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. ²⁸ But ^(J)if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

The Unpardonable Sin

^30 (K)He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

³¹ “^(L)Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. ^32 (M)Whoever ^[g]speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever ^[h]speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in ^(N)this age or in the age to come.

^34 [a]But Jesus was saying, “^(A)Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” ^(B)And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

¹⁶ If anyone sees his brother ^[a]committing a sin not leading to death, ^(A)he shall ask and ^[b]God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. ^(B)There is a sin leading to death; ^(C)I do not say that he should make request for this.