Christ Heals the Demoniac

14 hAnd He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.

Christ’s Power Not from Satan

Matt. 12:25–30, 43–45; Mark 3:22–27

15 But some of them said, i“He casts out demons by 6Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

16 Others, testing Him, jsought from Him a sign from heaven. 17 kBut lHe, knowing their thoughts, said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. 18 If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if I cast out demons mwith the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 nWhen a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. 22 But owhen a stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted, and divides his 7spoils. 23 pHe who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

24 q“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. 26 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and rthe last state of that man is worse than the first.”

27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, s“Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”

28 But He said, t“More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Christ’s Only Sign is Jonah

Matt. 12:39–42

29 uAnd while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a vsign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah 8the prophet. 30 For as wJonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. 31 xThe queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a ygreater than Solomon is here. 32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for zthey repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Parable of the Lighted Lamp

33 a“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a bbasket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light. 34 cThe lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is 9good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is 1bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

“Woes” on the Pharisees

37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. 38 dWhen the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

39 eThen the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but fyour inward part is full of 2greed and wickedness. 40 Foolish ones! Did not gHe who made the outside make the inside also? 41 hBut rather give alms of 3such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

42 i“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and jpass by justice and the klove of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 43 lWoe to you Pharisees! For you love the 4best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 mWoe to you, 5scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! nFor you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”