28
"But 1if 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"2He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
31
"3Therefore* I say to you, anysin and blasphemy shall be forgivenpeople, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.
32
"4Whoever*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 5thisageor in the age to come.
Words Reveal Character
33"Eithermake the treegood and its fruitgood, ormake the treebad and its fruitbad; for 6the tree is known by its fruit.
34
"7You brood of vipers, howcan you, beingevil, speak what is good? 8For the mouthspeaks out of that whichfills the heart.
35
"9The 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 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
38Thensome of the scribes and Phariseessaid to Him, "Teacher, 11we want to see a sign from You."