14
But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
God’s Chosen Servant
15 Jesus, aware of this,
1withdrew from there. And
2many followed him, and he healed them all
16
and
3ordered them not to make him known.
17
4This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah:
18
5“Behold, my
6servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
7I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
19
He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
20
a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
21
8and in his name the Gentiles will hope. ”
Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
22 9Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.
23
10And all the people were amazed, and said,
11“Can this be the Son of David? ”
24
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said,
12“It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons. ”
25
13Knowing their thoughts,
14he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.
26
And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?
27
And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul,
15by whom do
16your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
28
But if it is
17by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then
18the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29
Or
19how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed
20he may plunder his house.
30
21Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
31
22Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but
23the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
32
And whoever speaks a word
24against the Son of Man
25will be forgiven, but
26whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in
27this age or in the age to come.
A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit
33 28“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad,
29for the tree is known by its fruit.
34
30You brood of vipers! How can you speak good,
31when you are evil?
32For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35
33The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
36
I tell you,
34on the day of judgment
35people will give account for
36every careless word they speak,
37
for
37by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. ”