²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ^(A)“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” ^25 (B)Knowing their thoughts, ^(C)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, ^(D)by whom do ^(E)your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if it is ^(F)by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then ^(G)the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or ^(H)how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed ^(I)he may plunder his house. ^30 (J)Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

³⁶ I tell you, ^(A)on the day of judgment ^(B)people will give account for ^(C)every careless word they speak, ³⁷ for ^(D)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, ^(E)we wish to see a sign from you.” ³⁹ But he answered them, ^(F)“An evil and ^(G)adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰ For ^(H)just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, ^(I)so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ^41 (J)The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and ^(K)condemn it, for ^(L)they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, ^(M)something greater than Jonah is here. ^42 (N)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, ^(O)something greater than Solomon is here.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

⁴³ “When ^(P)the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ^(Q)waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.