A House Divided Cannot Stand(A)

22 (B)Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the [a]blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the (C)Son of David?”

24 (D)Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by [b]Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

25 But Jesus (E)knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, (F)surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 (G)Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. 30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

The Unpardonable Sin(H)

31 “Therefore I say to you, (I)every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, (J)but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. 32 Anyone who (K)speaks a word against the Son of Man, (L)it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:22 NU omits blind and
  2. Matthew 12:24 NU, M Beelzebul, a Philistine deity

22 Then was brought unto him [a]one possessed with a demon, blind and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the dumb man spake and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed, and said, Can this be the son of David? 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This man doth not cast out demons, but [b]by [c]Beelzebub the prince of the demons. 25 And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 26 and if Satan casteth out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand? 27 And if I [d]by [e]Beelzebub cast out demons, [f]by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 28 But if I [g]by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. 29 Or how can one enter into the house of the strong man, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. 30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. 31 Therefore I say unto you, Every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this [h]world, nor in that which is to come.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 12:22 Or, a demoniac
  2. Matthew 12:24 Or, in
  3. Matthew 12:24 Greek Beelzebul.
  4. Matthew 12:27 Or, in
  5. Matthew 12:27 Greek Beelzebul.
  6. Matthew 12:27 Or, in
  7. Matthew 12:28 Or, in
  8. Matthew 12:32 Or, age