20
Then he went
1home, and the crowd gathered again,
2so that they could not even eat.
21
3And when
4his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, "He
5is out of his mind."
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
22 And
6the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying,
7"He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "by the prince of demons he casts out the demons."
23
8And he called them to him and said to them in parables,
"How can Satan cast out Satan?
24
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
25
And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
26
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end.
27
But 9no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. 10Then indeed he may plunder his house.
28
11"Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,
29
but whoever 12blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"--
30
for they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
31 13And his mother and his
14brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him.
32
And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you."
33
And he answered them,
"Who are my mother and my brothers?"
34
And
15looking about at those who sat around him, he said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers!
35
16For whoever 17does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."