Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²² Then the people brought a man to Jesus. The man had a bad spirit in him. He was blind and could not talk. Jesus healed him. Then the man could talk and see.

²³ All the people were surprised. They said, `Is he David's son?'

²⁴ The Pharisees heard about it. They said, `This man drives out bad spirits by the help of Beelzebub, the chief of bad spirits.'

²⁵ Jesus knew what they were thinking. He said to them, `If one part of any country fights against the other part of the country, that country is broken down. If one part of any city or family fights against the other part of it, it cannot stand.

²⁶ If Satan drives out Satan, he fights against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

²⁷ If I drive out bad spirits by Beelzebub, how do your own people drive them out? Let them judge you.

²⁸ But if I drive out bad spirits by God's Spirit, then God's kingdom is here with you now.

²⁹ `If anyone wants to go into a strong man's house and steal his things, he must first tie the strong man. Then he can steal his things.

³⁰ `Anyone who is not with me, is against me. Anyone who does not work with me is working against me.

³¹ `That is why I tell you this. All wrong things that people do or say, will be forgiven. But people who say wrong things against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.

³² Anyone who says anything against the Son of Man will be forgiven. But anyone who says anything against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. He will not be forgiven in this world or in the next world.'