7
Your friend inside the house answers, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.'
8
I tell you, if friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread, your boldness will make him get up and give you whatever you need.
9
So I tell you, ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you.
10
Yes, everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened.
11
If your children ask for a fish, which of you would give them a snake instead?
12
Or, if your children ask for an egg, would you give them a scorpion?
13
Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
14
One time Jesus was sending out a demon that could not talk. When the demon came out, the man who had been unable to speak, then spoke. The people were amazed.
15
But some of them said, "Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people."
16
Other people, wanting to test Jesus, asked him to give them a sign from heaven.
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But knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And a family that is divided against itself will not continue.