27
"If I 1by Beelzebulcast out demons, 2by whom do your sonscast them out? For this*reason* they will be your judges.
28
"But 3if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29
"Orhowcananyoneenter the strongman'shouse and carryoff his property, unless* he firstbinds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
The Unpardonable Sin
30"4He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
31
"5Therefore* I say to you, anysin and blasphemy shall be forgivenpeople, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32
"6Whoever*speaks a wordagainst the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever*speaksagainst the HolySpirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in 7thisageor in the age to come.
Words Reveal Character
33"Eithermake the treegood and its fruitgood, ormake the treebad and its fruitbad; for 8the tree is known by its fruit.
34
"9You brood of vipers, howcan you, beingevil, speak what is good? 10For the mouthspeaks out of that whichfills the heart.
35
"11The goodmanbrings out of his goodtreasure what is good; and the evilmanbrings out of his eviltreasure what is evil.
36
"But I tell you that everycarelessword that peoplespeak, they shall give an accounting for it in 12the day of judgment.
37
"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."