Luke 11:14–36

Jesus and Beelzebul

^14yNow he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. ¹⁵But some of them said, “He casts out demons ^zby Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” ¹⁶while others, ^ato test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. ^17bBut he, ^cknowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. ¹⁸And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, ^dby whom do ^eyour sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. ²⁰But if it is by ^fthe finger of God that I cast out demons, then ^gthe kingdom of God has come upon you. ²¹When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; ^22hbut when one stronger than he attacks him and ⁱovercomes him, he takes away his ^jarmor in which he trusted and ^kdivides his spoil. ^23lWhoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Return of an Unclean Spirit

^24m“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through ⁿwaterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ ²⁵And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. ²⁶Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And ^othe last state of that person is worse than the first.”

True Blessedness

²⁷As he said these things, ^pa woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, ^q“Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” ²⁸But he said, ^r“Blessed rather are those ^swho hear the word of God and ^tkeep it!”

The Sign of Jonah

^29uWhen the crowds were increasing, he began to say, ^v“This generation is an evil generation. ^wIt seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰For as ^xJonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. ^31yThe queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and ^zcondemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, ^asomething greater than Solomon is here. ^32bThe men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and ^zcondemn it, for ^cthey repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, ^asomething greater than Jonah is here.

The Light in You

^33d“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. ³⁴Your eye is ^ethe lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is ^fbad, your body is full of darkness. ^35eTherefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. ³⁶If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, ^gas when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”