22
But when someone stronger attacks, he is overpowered. The attacker takes away the armor the man had trusted in. Then he divides up what he has stolen.
23
"Anyone who is not with me is against me. Anyone who does not gather sheep with me scatters them.
24
"What happens when an evil spirit comes out of a man? It goes through dry areas looking for a place to rest. But it doesn't find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'
25
When it arrives there, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.
26
Then the evil spirit goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and live there. That man is worse off than before."
27
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out. She shouted, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
28
He replied, "Instead, blessed are those who hear God's word and obey it."
The Miraculous Sign of Jonah
29 As the crowds grew larger, Jesus spoke to them. "The people of today are evil," he said. "They ask for a miraculous sign from God. But none will be given except the sign of Jonah.
30
He was a sign from God to the people of Nineveh. In the same way, the Son of Man will be a sign from God to the people of today.
31
"The Queen of the South will stand up on judgment day with the men now living. And she will prove that they are guilty. She came from very far away to listen to Solomon's wisdom. And now one who is more important than Solomon is here.
32
"The men of Nineveh will stand up on judgment day with the people now living. And the Ninevites will prove that those people are guilty. The men of Nineveh turned away from their sins when Jonah preached to them. And now one who is more important than Jonah is here.