7
And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
8
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[a]he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
9
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
10
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[b]a fish, will give him a snake instead?
12
Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Jesus and Beelzebul
14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.
15
But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.”
16
Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
17
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.