Matthew 12:22-37

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

22 ^aThen a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 ^bAnd all the people were amazed, and said, ^c“Can this be the Son of David?” 24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, ^d“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 ^eKnowing their thoughts, ^fhe said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, ^gby whom do ^hyour sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28But if it is ⁱby the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then ^jthe kingdom of God has come upon you. 29Or ^khow can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed ^lhe may plunder his house. 30 ^mWhoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 ⁿTherefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but ^othe blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32And whoever speaks a word ^pagainst the Son of Man ^qwill be forgiven, but ^rwhoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in ^sthis age or in the age to come.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

33 ^t“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, ^ufor the tree is known by its fruit. 34 ^vYou brood of vipers! How can you speak good, ^wwhen you are evil? ^xFor out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 ^yThe good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36I tell you, ^zon the day of judgment ^aapeople will give account for ^abevery careless word they speak, 37for ^acby your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Luke 11:14-26

Jesus and Beelzebul

14 ^adNow 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 ^aeby Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16while others, ^afto test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 ^agBut he, ^ahknowing 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, ^aiby whom do ^ajyour sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20But if it is by ^akthe finger of God that I cast out demons, then ^althe kingdom of God has come upon you. 21When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 ^ambut when one stronger than he attacks him and ^anovercomes him, he takes away his ^aoarmor in which he trusted and ^apdivides his spoil. 23 ^aqWhoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

24 ^ar“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ^aswaterless 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 ^atthe last state of that person is worse than the first.”