24
When the Pharisees heard this, they said, "Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people."
25
Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, so he said to them, "Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And any city or family that is divided against itself will not continue.
26
And if Satan forces out himself, then Satan is divided against himself, and his kingdom will not continue.
27
You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons. If that is true, then what power do your people use to force out demons? So they will be your judges.
28
But if I use the power of God's Spirit to force out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
29
"If anyone wants to enter a strong person's house and steal his things, he must first tie up the strong person. Then he can steal the things from the house.
30
"Whoever is not with me is against me. Whoever does not work with me is working against me.
31
So I tell you, people can be forgiven for every sin and everything they say against God. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
32
Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, now or in the future.
33
"If you want good fruit, you must make the tree good. If your tree is not good, it will have bad fruit. A tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces.
34
You snakes! You are evil people, so how can you say anything good? The mouth speaks the things that are in the heart.