Matthew 12:28-38

28 "But 1if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 "Or how can anyone enter the strong man's house and carry off his property, unless * he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

The Unpardonable Sin

30 "2He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
31 "3Therefore * I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32 "4Whoever * speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever * speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in 5this age or in the age to come.

Words Reveal Character

33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for 6the tree is known by its fruit.
34 "7You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? 8For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
35 "9The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in 10the day of judgment.
37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

The Desire for Signs

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, 11we want to see a sign from You."

Cross References 11

  • 1. 1 John 3:8
  • 2. Mark 9:40; Luke 9:50; Luke 11:23
  • 3. Matthew 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28-30; Luke 12:10
  • 4. Luke 12:10
  • 5. Matthew 13:22, 39; Mark 10:30; Luke 16:8; Luke 18:30; Luke 20:34, 35; Ephesians 1:21; 1 Timothy 6:17; 2 Timothy 4:10; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 6:5
  • 6. Matthew 7:16-18; Luke 6:43, 44; John 15:4-7
  • 7. Matthew 3:7; Matthew 23:33; Luke 3:7
  • 8. 1 Samuel 24:13; Isaiah 32:6; Matthew 12:34, 35; Matthew 15:18; Luke 6:45; Ephesians 4:29; James 3:2-12
  • 9. Proverbs 10:20, 21; Proverbs 25:11, 12; Matthew 13:52; Colossians 4:6
  • 10. Matthew 10:15
  • 11. Matthew 16:1; Mark 8:11, 12; Luke 11:16; John 2:18; John 6:30; 1 Corinthians 1:22

Footnotes 10

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.