Luke 11:14-36

Jesus and Beelzebul

14 ^aNow he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15But some of them said, “He casts out demons ^bby Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16while others, ^cto test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 ^dBut he, ^eknowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, ^fby whom do ^gyour sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20But if it is by ^hthe finger of God that I cast out demons, then ⁱthe kingdom of God has come upon you. 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 ^jbut when one stronger than he attacks him and ^kovercomes him, he takes away his ^larmor in which he trusted and ^mdivides his spoil. 23 ⁿWhoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

24 ^o“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ^pwaterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And ^qthe last state of that person is worse than the first.”

True Blessedness

27As he said these things, ^ra woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ^s“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28But he said, ^t“Blessed rather are those ^uwho hear the word of God and ^vkeep it!”

The Sign of Jonah

29 ^wWhen the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ^x“This generation is an evil generation. ^yIt seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30For as ^zJonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. 31 ^aaThe queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and ^abcondemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, ^acsomething greater than Solomon is here. 32 ^adThe men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and ^aecondemn it, for ^afthey repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, ^agsomething greater than Jonah is here.

The Light in You

33 ^ah“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34Your eye is ^aithe lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is ^ajbad, your body is full of darkness. 35 ^akTherefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. 36If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, ^alas when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”