Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
At that time aJesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and bthey began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, a“Look, your disciples are doing bwhat is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, a“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 athe 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 ain the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, asomething greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known awhat this means, b‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For athe Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
A Man with a Withered Hand
9 He went on from there and aentered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, a“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—bso that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, aif it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 aOf how much more value is a man than a sheep! So bit is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And athe man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
God’s Chosen Servant
15 Jesus, aware of this, awithdrew from there. And bmany followed him, and he healed them all 16 and aordered them not to make him known. 17 aThis was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18 a“Behold, my bservant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
cI will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20 a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
21 aand in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
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 aAnd all the people were amazed, and said, a“Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, a“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 aKnowing their thoughts, bhe 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 Beelzebul, aby whom do byour sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is aby the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then bthe kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or ahow can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed bhe may plunder his house. 30 aWhoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 aTherefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but bthe blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word aagainst the Son of Man bwill be forgiven, but cwhoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in dthis age or in the age to come.
A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit
33 a“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, bfor the tree is known by its fruit. 34 aYou brood of vipers! How can you speak good, bwhen you are evil? cFor out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 aThe good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, aon the day of judgment bpeople will give account for cevery careless word they speak, 37 for aby your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
The Sign of Jonah
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, awe wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, a“An evil and badulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For ajust as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, bso will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 aThe men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and bcondemn it, for cthey repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, dsomething greater than Jonah is here. 42 aThe queen of the South will rise up 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, bsomething greater than Solomon is here.
Return of an Unclean Spirit
43 “When athe unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through bwaterless places seeking rest, but finds none. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and athe last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this bevil generation.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, ahis mother and his bbrothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For awhoever bdoes the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”