[1] At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the sabbath; his
disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
[2] But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, "Look, your disciples
are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath." [3] He said to them,
"Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were
with him: [4] how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the
Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were
with him, but only for the priests? [5] Or have you not read in the law how
on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are
guiltless? [6] I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. [7]
And if you had known what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,'
you would not have condemned the guiltless. [8] For the Son of man is lord
of the sabbath." [9] And he went on from there, and entered their
synagogue. [10] And behold, there was a man with a withered hand. And they
asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath?" so that they might accuse
him. [11] He said to them, "What man of you, if he has one sheep and it
falls into a pit on the sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?
[12] Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do
good on the sabbath." [13] Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your
hand." And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, whole like the
other. [14] But the Pharisees went out and took counsel against him, how to
destroy him. [15] Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many
followed him, and he healed them all, [16] and ordered them not to make him
known. [17] This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: [18]
"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is
well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice
to the Gentiles. [19] He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will any one
hear his voice in the streets; [20] he will not break a bruised reed or
quench a smoldering wick, till he brings justice to victory; [21] and in
his name will the Gentiles hope." [22] Then a blind and dumb demoniac was
brought to him, and he healed him, so that the dumb man spoke and saw. [23]
And all the people were amazed, and said, "Can this be the Son of David?"
[24] But when the Pharisees heard it they said, "It is only by Be-el'zebul,
the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." [25] Knowing their
thoughts, 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 Be-el'zebul, by whom do
your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. [28] But if
it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God
has come upon you. [29] Or how can one enter a strong man's house and
plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may
plunder his house. [30] He who is not with me is against me, and he who
does not gather with me scatters. [31] Therefore I tell you, every sin and
blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will
not be forgiven. [32] And whoever says a word against the Son of man will
be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be
forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. [33] "Either make the
tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for
the tree is known by its fruit. [34] You brood of vipers! how can you speak
good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaks. [35] The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and
the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. [36] I tell you,
on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they
utter; [37] for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you
will be condemned." [38] Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to
him, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." [39] But he answered them,
"An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign; but no sign shall be
given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. [40] For as Jonah was
three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of
man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. [41] The men
of Nin'eveh will arise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it;
for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater
than Jonah is here. [42] The queen of the South will arise 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, something greater than
Solomon is here. [43] "When the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he
passes through waterless places seeking rest, but he finds none. [44] Then
he says, `I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes
he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. [45] Then he goes and brings
with him seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter and
dwell there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.
So shall it be also with this evil generation." [46] While he was still
speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside,
asking to speak to him. [47] But he replied to the man who told him, "Who
is my mother, and who are my brothers?" [48] And stretching out his hand
toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! [49]
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister,
and mother."
